Results 1,021-1,040 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: When I talked about the holier-than-thou tone it was not directed at the Senator personally but rather at his line of argument.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will stick to the amendment. This is a very——

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish to stick to the amendment, which is concerned with whether same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children in this jurisdiction. The righteous tone is a little damaging. If only life were so simple and straightforward. The Senator's approach has worked perfectly for me. I am not talking about something with which I do not agree, but I am thinking about how complex life is for...

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am not straying from the amendment.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish to finish my point. It was regrettable that the word "destructive" was used, because it is a particularly damaging word in the context of parents and babies. I would use this word, however, in the context of which Senator Fitzgerald spoke — the damaging homophobic attitudes that have been upheld in our school system. These have contributed to serious mental health problems in some...

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have two concerns in relation to these amendments. I am inclined to agree with Senator Bacik in regard to the rigidity of section 16 in particular. What is the situation if the father cannot be found or if there is not certainty — this does relate to only this amendment — in terms of who is the father? The Minister of State might address those questions. Currently as I understand it,...

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: On a point of order, I did not get an answer to my question.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I know but I asked about a father who is consulted but chooses, wishes and requests not to be named on the birth certificate. What then is the right of the child?

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: If the social worker goes to the father and explains that he has a child and the father chooses to reject the child——

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: He may be supporting the adoption but does not wish——

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: My question is about the birth certificate.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I noted it was not here but thought it was an important issue in respect of the rights of the child.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are talking so much about rights today, the rights of couples, fathers, mothers, and of the child but is it fair to the child that the father can say he does not wish to be named?

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It could easily have been written into this Bill.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Would it be appropriate on Report Stage?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Ba mhaith liom, freisin, cur leis an méid atá ráite faoin am atá leagtha amach le haghaidh na díospóireachta sa teanga Gaeilge inniú. We all rightly condemn the death of the two soldiers and the constable in the North. It was wonderful to see such unison in that regard. The wife of the constable said she had been cheated of her husband's life. In the South, children have been...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I apologise.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: By mainstreaming the seven children, the State will lose €40,000 per year. If put into a mainstream class, these children will require five special needs assistants and a half time resource teacher, and that does not take into account the mainstream class teacher's salary. Members of this House spoke about how educationally unsound this move is but now we have evidence that it is also...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I call for a debate on the social partnership model. I understand that 1.5 million people working in the private sector, including in multinationals, are not represented at the social partnership table. The Taoiseach and the Cabinet are paying too much heed to a flawed social partnership model. We rely on the private sector to provide the revenue to pay for the public sector. Will the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Is the Leader seriously proposing an additional 50% for mathematics and science?