Results 1,061-1,080 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I also welcome Senator Dearey and look forward to working with him. It is great that his family are present to share in this lovely occasion. I endorse the points made by previous speakers on the need for the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to come before the House at some stage. However, it is not possible for us to snap our fingers and state he must...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Perhaps the Minister will come to the House and give simple answers to the question. Another issue which is very interesting is the ESRI study of family formation over a 20-year period from 1986 to 2006. It examined the correlation between low educational attainment and high rates of pregnancy. It also examined the non-standard families that exist today. This study provides us with...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute. All speakers are singing the same tune, which is that this is very much a worthwhile Bill that amends the 1998 Act. The original legislation recognised the significant contribution made by former US Senator, George Mitchell, to the Northern Ireland peace process. Many North-South initiatives have been...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: He had expertise but he did not have the commitment or the people skills. I am worried that students will be selected solely on the basis of their academic performance because many of them do not have organic connectivity with the world around them. It would worry me greatly that the scholarships would be given to academic high achievers because that is not enough. When the original...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Absolutely.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I also welcome the former Cathaoirleach. I am delighted this motion has been tabled as it affords a great opportunity to try to put to bed some of the misinformation that has been circulating in communities throughout the length and breadth of the country. I also have an educational background. In common with everyone else in this Chamber, I do not have a monopoly on what constitutes right...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I will let the case rest on that statement. I would welcome a review as any new concept that has been taken on board should be reviewed. The EPSEN Act was introduced in 2004 and I identify with the point made by Senator O'Toole about the desirability of having a step-by-step procedure. The way forward is to ensure that no special education needs organiser, SENO, will decide that a child...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The criteria will be based on the professional assessment and Senator Healy Eames should be aware that the professional assessment will make the decision on what are the criteria in any given case.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator knows this as well as do I. The Government has made efforts whereby 23,000 teachers were brought on an in-service course to be trained as resource teachers to help out in this area. That initiative was only last year and is a huge move.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I refer to 23,000 teachers.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator should acknowledge that something is taking place. I acknowledge there was a lack of consultation. I note the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, who is present, represents the health aspects of this issue and there must be greater consultation that must start very early on. Early intervention often comes from the health rather than the education sector because public health...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: That was out of order.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I am disappointed by the comments about the Minister for Education and Science. I was present throughout the two-hour debate last night when we had-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I would like to reassure parents that the Minister stated last night no child would be deprived of a special needs assistant.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Perhaps before we have the debate on the powers of the new lord mayor of Dublin, we should have a discussion on the effects of this change on the four local authorities in Dublin and those in counties Meath, Wicklow and Kildare. We should discuss the proposed new structure and the role of the councils and the county manager. Before the Bill is introduced, the House should be informed about...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Having listened to the debate, there is reason in the amendment which would extend the three-month period to 12 months. If the Minister has problems with the 12 months, he might agree to a compromise so we might come up the middle to identify all the problems which could exist in the transitional stage and allow people to familiarise themselves with the new inspectors, the local authorities...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I thank the Minister for listening to the comments made by Senators on both sides of the debate. It was Senator Bradford, I believe, who finally convinced the Minister to reconsider the position. I have said from the outset that 12 months might be too long but that a six-month period would not be beyond the realms of possibility. I appreciate that the Minister listened to what we had to...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I agree with Senator Burke on keeping the doors open to stakeholders. Agreements can only be reached through consultation. What the Minister is pursuing is not unreasonable but he cannot avoid sitting down with the stakeholders at the end of the day. He will surely meet a reasonable group of people.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse the points made about the 1958 Act. The IGB would like the Minister to consider these issues.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The Fine Gael Members should allow the Minister to give consideration to all the points that have been raised today and should allow him time to revert on Report Stage and then debate the amendment that will be tabled. Members should let matters rest there to allow him to revert and to raise the points.