Results 961-980 of 1,158 for speaker:Fiona O'Malley

Seanad: Banking: Statements (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: I listened to the Taoiseach talk about this matter this morning. The international financial system is so precarious; it is all built on confidence. Let us consider the overnight decision taken 18 months ago to guarantee deposits. Had we not done that, the banks would have gone down. It is easy, with the benefit of hindsight, to say Anglo Irish Bank is not of systemic importance. Once...

Seanad: Banking: Statements (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: ): If Senator John Paul Phelan wants his colleague to be in a position to contribute, he should conclude.

Seanad: Banking: Statements (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: ): The Senator must conclude. He cannot ask any more questions because his time has expired.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: Senator Norris's suggestion of the use of the word "placement" is good in terms of changing the nature of the language used. I am interested in the principle that a person is branded, tarnished or tarred for life if he or she is tagged as having been in a detention centre or having been detained. I hope the Minister of State will be sympathetic to the proposed change in the language used....

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: The Minister of State has indicated that a child may need to travel abroad for two forms of treatment, one of which is psychiatric care. Is the nature of the medical advice or treatment for which a child will be allowed to travel specified or is the provision general in nature?

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: I disagree with what the previous speakers have been saying. Traditionally, we always thought the best interests of the child were served in the home and by the family. We have learned time and again that is not the case. This measure recognises that the home can be a dangerous place for a child.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: A child might run away if he or she thinks a care order might be applied for on his or her behalf. I think this provision should be retained because it offers flexibility. It is a recognition of modern life that it might not always be appropriate to consult those who represent the child - the parents etc. We need to modernise our attitude to the family.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: That was half of the problem in the past.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: It has happened time and again - more frequently in recent times, unfortunately - that people were afraid to send anyone into the family home or even into a foster home. People do not like to interfere with the traditional set-up. We are getting a bit more modern now. We recognise that children are not necessarily safe from their parents or, in certain instances, from themselves. The...

Seanad: Electoral Commission. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for providing me with an opportunity to discuss this matter. There is much discussion about political reform and it struck me that there is no way there will be any political reform until we have the establishment of an independent electoral commission. It is a vital hook on which we will set about establishing a new system of running elections. This...

Seanad: Electoral Commission. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: The boundary commission broke one of its own rules of establishment, namely, that where possible it should not break a county boundary. Unfortunately however, as soon as such proposals enter the political sphere for Members to discuss, it appears as though they only do so from the perspective of political self-interest. Consequently, Members were reluctant to take on the responsibility of...

Seanad: Electoral Commission. (31 Mar 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: I wish to ask a brief supplementary question. It appears as though much work has been done on this issue as the Minister of State indicated that thought has been given to the possible membership of such a commission. I ask the Minister of State to inform the Minister that I am keen to find out a date on which it might be started. I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2010: Second Stage (21 Apr 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: Notwithstanding what Senator O'Toole said about the Government not accepting this Bill, days like this make us proud to be in politics. We have agreed a consensus and I pay tribute to the Minister of State and Senator Bacik for dealing with this fluid situation. I am not sure we have secured agreement at this stage. The will of the Seanad is such that all Members are agreed we need to send...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: This is a first because I agree wholeheartedly, I would say for the first time in my life, with Sinn Féin and the previous speaker in that our Constitution offends both men and women and it drastically needs a rehaul. It is on that basis and having regard to speakers who are seeking a new system of election that I decided to approach this debate from a solutions point of view rather than...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: If it has made a difference, that is evidence it is not a bad thing. However, we are more concerned about what we can do in Ireland. I recognise it is quite a radical suggestion. How can I get it imposed because, as I said, the political parties will not really buy into it? I worry it will remain theoretical. We need real solutions to the issues we face. It is important to see if women's...

Seanad: Smarter Travel Initiative: Motion (28 Apr 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute on this subject because transport is the lifeline of a city or a community. We are all of focused on our own areas. Senator Carroll was very much focused on population growth and so on while my focus will be on the Dublin area. The motion is a fine one which has given us the opportunity to discuss what progress the Government has made in...

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: With the permission of the House I will share time with Senator Callely.

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: It is a matter of considerable regret that this motion is before the House. I place the blame largely on the three individuals who have chosen not to do the honourable and decent thing. The three speakers who have just contributed hit the nail on the head. This is total political opportunism and this is one of the reasons I will not support the Fine Gael motion. It will not deliver...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: Like the previous speaker, I am glad we are having this debate because it is very timely that we examine the future of Irish agriculture. It is also very important that people who have no vested interest contribute to the debate. In that sense, I count myself as one such contributor as I do not represent a rural constituency but, as a Senator, the nation as a whole. Given that agriculture...

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Fiona O'Malley: I would like to share my time with Senator O'Sullivan.