Results 1,101-1,120 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Seanad: Fourth Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection: Statements (7 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Minister. I recognise the importance the Government attaches to child care. In this regard, it has established a Department of Children and Youth Affairs. That a Minister responsible for children sits at the Cabinet table makes a very important statement. Given the Minister's background and interest in this area, I am sure she will make considered and informed decisions when...

Seanad: Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness: Statements (8 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the jobs initiative and I am aware that small business is a subject close to the heart of the Minister of State. The initiative focuses on tangible areas where improvements can be measured, with an emphasis on the tourism sector. I welcome the reductions in VAT and employer's PRSI and the discussion over the reform of JLC and REA structures. The...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This Bill will enact the provisions of the jobs initiative about which we had a discussion last week in the House. Many speakers said that the Government does not create jobs, rather it creates the environment in which jobs can be developed and provided. Labour costs are extremely high and need to be reduced. We need to address competitiveness...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: This is an important motion on a small change that can and will be accommodated in an effort to make this House more relevant to the general public, to those who elected us and for those who have been appointed to this House. I would not like to see the choice being between abolition or retention of the Seanad, the question should be asked in the context of the total reform of our politics....

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Minister of State and the theme of her contribution is very important and provides an opportunity for us to explore jobs, enterprise and innovation across the EU and how it affects us. Recently we saw figures for exports and these are ensuring the recovery of economy. Exports are the strength of our economy and we have a large market of 500 million people in Europe. That was...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am pleased the Fianna Fáil Party is in agreement with the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. There are a lot of very important provisions in it and some of them have an overhang from the last Government. It is important they are enacted. I am sure we will discuss that later. I would like the Deputy Leader to consider the census data which will be released today. It is estimated...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am pleased to have this opportunity to contribute to the debate on this Bill. I welcome the Minister to the House again. He has been here frequently and I am sure we will see much more of him judging by the legislative programme coming from the other House and from the Department I will focus on a few measures in this Bill. Part 8 deals with amendment of the Family Law (Maintenance of...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (30 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, for attending the House. I raise this issue as it has come to my attention twice in the past two weeks. I met representatives of the Construction Industry Federation in Cork recently when they had a regular briefing for Members. Among a number of issues raised was the need to ensure commercial properties with loans under the auspices of NAMA...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (30 Jun 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the fact that the website will be up and running shortly. That will contribute to the debate and towards moving matters forward by ensuring that properties, particularly commercial properties, reach a marketable position.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: What about the health and safety issues?

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall. The Bill is broadly welcomed. It is another step on the way to help discourage people from smoking, particularly young people. The proposed text and images will be very effective in targeting the young age group to which so many speakers have referred. Senator Moran...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: That is before tax, if one is earning money. That amounts to a contribution of approximately €4,000 or €5,000 depending on one's income. It is a substantial amount of money for a person who is addicted to smoking. Mention has been made of young people, particularly young women. Anecdotal evidence suggests there is an increase in the number of young women smoking. Image and weight are...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the strategy announced by the Minister for Education and Skills regarding literacy and numeracy. The strategy, which was published following a consultation period, focuses on improving standards at higher and lower levels, increasing literacy and numeracy skills and setting standards for the uptake of higher level maths. It will involve changes in...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: We all know HIQA produced a report stating the services provided at Roscommon County Hospital were unsafe. Are Senators advocating that the Taoiseach should ignore this advice? If I was in opposition, I would always uphold standards in the interests of patient safety.

Seanad: A Vision for Change: Statements (Resumed) (14 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I also welcome to the House the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health services and wish her well in the portfolio. It is a highly appropriate appointment. While we do not share a constituency, we are from adjacent constituencies and the Minister of State has had a long-held interest in, and has campaigned for, this area. I am sure she knew exactly what direction she...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (20 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the Bill, which is the first step in reforming the Oireachtas and the local authorities. Many would have campaigned in the last general election, and I certainly did, on the need for reform because if we are not prepared to change, we cannot ask others to change. Never before has there been such an appetite for reform among the electorate and...

Seanad: SPHE Curriculum: Motion (20 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this motion. I support the call for the social, personal and health education programme and relationships and sexuality education to be fully implemented and extended. Senator Healy Eames referred to the difficulty teachers and parents have in finding language to address issues and talk to young people. I was reminded of myself as a teenager...

Seanad: SPHE Curriculum: Motion (20 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: It was informative in terms of how the courses developed and the language used in supporting young people not just in sexual relationships, but the relationships they have with individuals such as people sitting next to them on a bus or in the classroom and how to cope with those relationships. It is an excellent programme and is well constructed. I had concerns that, because of reaction...

Seanad: SPHE Curriculum: Motion (20 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Sorry. Reducing the number of examination subjects will relieve the pressure somewhat and ensure that such valuable subjects and courses can be introduced. I am concerned that boys' schools appear to be lax in implementing the programme, particularly when we have such a high rate of suicide among young males. That does not make sense. The high rate of suicide among young males should...

Seanad: Electoral Amendment Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Jul 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am sure this Bill is not the end of political reform by this Government. The Minister's contribution yesterday-----