Results 1,001-1,020 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business to debate No. 37. It is important that we discuss this issue. Yesterday, we saw further evidence from the Taoiseach of botched political reform with his apparent failure to follow through on the reforms announced in the budget. It is now unclear what he intends to do in regard to ministerial pensions and long service increments. Fine...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: What measures are they taking?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Could I call for a walk-through vote? The Cathaoirleach's decision to use his casting vote in support of the Government means we will not have a debate on the economy today. I call for a walk-through, manual vote.

Seanad: Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme: Statements (23 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment and wish her success. I note, however, that in the appointment of Ministers of State, she is the only woman and we have lost two female Ministers of State. I regret the number of women in the Government has taken a backward rather than a forward step, given our very low representation in the Houses generally. That is a backward step,...

Seanad: Care of the Elderly (23 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the need for the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to outline the implications of the recent cutbacks in the community support for older people scheme and his plans for the future of the scheme. I understand there has been a meeting with a number of the national organisations who have...

Seanad: Care of the Elderly (23 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State indicated there was a concern that the scheme was no longer targeting genuine need among older people. Will he elaborate on this? I take his point that the backlog of applications has been cleared. However, what is the case for those who apply between now and September? Are there contingency plans to deal with them? I welcome Minister of State's assurance that the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Every day in this country businesses are facing ever more pressure. As every Senator will be aware, unemployment is rising. We frequently meet people at the doors where there is not just one person unemployed but a family of three and four. If it is not direct family members, it is in-laws or daughters' sons who have lost their jobs and one meets parents worrying about mortgage repayments...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is ridiculous.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is spending €16 billion on health and there are no services.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the context of how the business of the House is organised, taking all Stages of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill is unacceptable. The Second Stage debate should take place and Members should then be given an opportunity to consider the important issues contemplated in the Bill, particularly in light of the report published by the ESRI this morning, before tabling amendments. I spoke...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It needs more staff.

Seanad: State Examinations. (30 Apr 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to raise the matter of leaving certificate result appeals, the delay in giving them out to colleges and third level institutions, the impact this has on college places and the implications for individual students. It can mean that they do not get to take up the course they want in the year they do their leaving certificate. A constituent of mine, Charlotte Joyce, has been in...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is no doubt that the major concern for families is the appalling job losses which are affecting almost every family in the State. However, there are other issues of concern with regard to children and I wish to raise three of those issues. I wish to table an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister for Health and Children should come to the House today to discuss these...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is disgraceful, if we are putting children's rights at the centre of our agenda. My final point is on the child care places. Child care providers do not know how many places will be available, are not happy about the costings that have been done and feel they will not be able to run their centres with the costings the Department has put out. These are three very serious issues about...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is all fine when it is going Fianna Fáil's way.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was the truth.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is called democracy. People are allowed to join political parties.