Results 1,121-1,140 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Interception of Gaza-bound Humanitarian Flotilla: Statements (2 Jun 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Confidence in the Taoiseach: Motion (16 Jun 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I am pleased to have the chance to endorse my confidence in the Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen. The timing for this motion is appalling. I want the Taoiseach to give us hope. He is trying his best and putting the country before the party. He has given us courage. It is awful when such unrest is going on at this time. I wish the Taoiseach well. He has been subjected to such criticism by the...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Jun 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I wish to be associated with the many tributes being paid to Peter Callanan. Peter was elected in 1997 and, for his first several months in the Seanad, shared an office with me and the late Tony Kett. This experience consolidated my friendship with Peter. Whenever I had a problem, I would go to Peter because he had a way of assessing situations and judging characters. As I found out on...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I agree with some of the points made by Senator Coffey on how we can help school leavers. On Tuesday evening last, we debated job creation initiatives. Perhaps that debate should be ongoing. Many school leavers and third level graduates will be in difficulty and initiatives such as courses and work experience programmes will be necessary. These programmes are in place but they must be...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Today I am not asking that any item be included in the agenda because it will be condensed between now and the end of the session. However, I ask that at the beginning of the next session we have a long debate on Seanad reform. There has been much discontent in the House in the past two sessions and it starts on the Order of Business. At times we are told the ordering of business depends...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse the many points that have been raised on the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill. I was astounded by the decision that the amendments would not be introduced in this Chamber but in the Dáil Chamber. I compliment Senators Coffey, Cummins, Mullen and Senator O'Donovan on this side of the House for taking a stand and having the amendments brought forward. For the life of me I cannot...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I did not speak on Second Stage, although I had hoped to do so. While I believe in the principle of the Bill, I am concerned about an anomaly in the area of the protection and welfare of children. The Minister indicated he would revisit this issue and Senator Mullen referred to child centred legislation. The Law Reform Commission will publish a report on how children will be protected....

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I too extend my sympathies to the families of the eight men in the two car crash in Donegal. My thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased. This crash raises again the question of road safety. We have all the rules and regulations in place, but still things go wrong. The issue goes beyond rules and regulations into communities. We all have a role to play and must discuss this issue...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (13 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I pay tribute to the late Nuala Fennell whom I came to know in the late 1980s. We both ran for election in the general election of 1989. I knew her as a very reflective person who pursued and focused on the issues to which she was so committed, in particular, anything to do with women. Equal opportunity was the main theme. She was very aware of the lack of women in Leinster House, an...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse the comments made by Senator Mary White on the thalidomide issue. I compliment her on keeping it on the agenda. I have no doubt she has the support of every Member. Earlier I listened to the debate on the ESRI report which made gloomy reading. However, I compliment the Taoiseach on his efforts to implement a strategy to create initiatives between Ireland and the United States. I...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (14 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I wish to add to the tributes to the late Joe Doyle. Long before I became a politician, I knew about Joe from my late uncle, who also lived in Donnybrook and was a good friend of Joe. I have a sneaking feeling that, when the election came, that is where the vote went, but we were never told about it. Subsequently, I got to know Joe as a politician. While I did not have many conversations...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister. I acknowledge his response to the genuine concerns raised during the past couple of months in regard to this Bill. I acknowledge also the Minister's undertaking to re-examine the 1958 Act. This is very much welcomed by the sector. It is hoped we will deal quickly with the report before us. I hope the consensus on this issue in the Lower House will be carried...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I was also approached on this subject by some stakeholders who welcomed the provision for a review. It is very good that the Minister will allow an opportunity to assess how the legislation is working in practice. However, it will be necessary to consult stakeholders, not the Department alone. That is what a review is all about. I hope the Minister will succumb to our way of thinking on...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Points have been made. We are all talking about good standards in the operation of this Bill. However, there was a suggestion that to put one's house in order, one might have to apply for planning permission. Has the Minister taken into account that if the planning permission is refused, An Bord Pleanála might come into play? I am curious about that. I acknowledge he has gone some way...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I very much welcome the amendment. It is a good move to keep a register in order that the movement of dogs would be accurately known, which is important.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Last week and today Senators have argued that all parties should come together with a common purpose. Senator Harris brought the issue up in his article at the weekend. We need constructive co-operation. Nobody has a monopoly of ideas in any party and it is time to put petty politics out of the agenda for a short while.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator should allow me have a say. I am sick to death of this type of one-upmanship in politics. It involves putting down colleagues for one's own good at any cost. That seems to be a core activity in this Chamber and I do not like it. It should not be so. I love the cut and thrust of good politics but I am sick to death of the approach to politics where people look to destroy their...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I am not into that but I am into constructive co-operation at all costs. I also want to raise the issue of overseas development through Irish aid as it relates to the United Nations summit. I would like the relevant Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Peter Power, to come to the Chamber to give us an update on the challenge and commitment of 0.7% of GDP for...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I will try to come down after all that to say that I agree we need economic consensus. I agree with the idea of a cross-party forum. There is room for vision and change. The public want it. We are here to reflect the public's thinking at this stage. To get our country back, we need that cross-party discussion to tease out how best we can improve our economic position. Otherwise we will...

Seanad: Organisational Review Programme: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and this opportunity to do some thinking on the new organisational review programme. I also welcome the review, although I was not familiar with it until it was put on the agenda and I began reading about it. This discussion is timely. Given the major national economic and social challenges, it is more important than ever for Departments and Government...