Results 81-100 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Private Members' Business. School Guidance Counsellors: Motion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am aware that Fianna Fáil obliterated this country.

Private Members' Business. School Guidance Counsellors: Motion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Fianna Fáil has made all our children pay for its mistakes.

Private Members' Business. School Guidance Counsellors: Motion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Absolutely. It was Fianna Fáil that ruined the country.

Private Members' Business. School Guidance Counsellors: Motion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Fianna Fáil.

Private Members' Business. School Guidance Counsellors: Motion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: They should act like professionals.

Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I broadly welcome the provisions of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2011. This legislation will strengthen the constitutionality and the legal framework of EROs and REAs in light of deficiencies in the original legislation. It will ease the concerns of some of our most vulnerable workers by reinstating protection for workers in the relevant sectors. A balance needs to be...

Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I would like to share time with Deputy Buttimer.

Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I warmly welcome the spirit of the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011. However, I draw the Minister's attention to section 8 (2) (a), that stipulates that the 11 members of the authority will be appointed by the Minister. This does not correspond to the make-up of similar regulatory bodies. For example, the Teaching Council Act 2001 prescribes for approximately 62% of teacher council...

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As a former teacher who taught in a rural school for 15 years before moving to an urban school, I acknowledge the excellent education provided in many of our small schools. I attended a small two-teacher school in Belmont, County Galway, and I had the opportunity recently to visit this school to raise its green flag and to see the great work in the school. I viewed their projects, their work...

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Could I speak, please? I welcome the confirmation from the Minister that the existing staffing appeals process will be accessible to small schools.

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: This will be of significant benefit to those schools projecting increased enrolment which would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing classroom posts over the long term. This is the reality and these are the facts.

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes.

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: He did that last night.

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: May I ask-----

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It is a disgrace that-----

National Disability Strategy: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Having grown up with a brother with a visual and hearing impairment, the treatment of disabled people is an issue of personal interest to me. In the past decade Irish people acquired more cars, houses and money, but in many cases we failed to develop and nurture values that really mattered such as tolerance and empathy. Adults are the worst culprits, but I am grateful that we are nurturing...

Pension Funds (9 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My purpose in raising this matter is to argue the need to allow a certain cohort of people to unlock part of their pension funds. This would allow for a more humane and flexible system, reflecting the reality of life for many people who are under financial duress. I draw the Minister of State's attention to three core areas. They are additional voluntary contributions, AVCs, private pension...

Pension Funds (9 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State but I would still ask him to look at this. The Irish Brokers Association gave a presentation yesterday to the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education and argued very strongly for the case of pension funds being released on a once off basis. It also argued that the Government should take a 20% tax and to put all of that money back into our...

Stroke Services (14 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: This subject is dear to my heart as my personal assistant had a stroke this weekend and he spent the weekend fighting for his life in one of the major Dublin hospitals. I draw the Minister's attention to the awareness created by the Irish Heart Foundation's FAST campaign, which refers to face, arms, speech and time. It is an appropriate stroke treatment strategy and, unfortunately, economic...

Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2012)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Deputy McConalogue's party took out 400,000 people.