Results 1,141-1,160 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Seanad: Report by Interdepartmental Working Group on Mortgage Arrears: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Minister of State's comment that, in addition to the Keane report, the Government is open to many suggestions on what can be done to move matters forward. That report is not the answer to all of the problems, but it is an important block in finding the solution. I share the criticism that the report does not represent consumer groups or mortgage holders, on whose behalf many...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Reform of Junior Certificate: Statements (8 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I did not realise I was restricted to questions. I carried out some research before coming to the Chamber. It is now 12 months since the OECD PISA report was published. It was a shocking indictment of our system. The Minister was surprised although he was in a different role at the time. For the first time it called into question our literacy standards. There have been warning signs...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing (8 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me the opportunity to raise this issue of the cost of alcohol. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Shortall, and I am glad she has come before the House because she has a particular interest in the area. The issue at hand is the price at which alcohol is being sold in many outlets across the country. It arose as an...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing (8 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Will the Minister of State be publishing the report of the steering group? There have been reports published on the availability of alcohol and the licensed premises that can sell it. That was never linked to planning regulations. I have been on councils where we tried not to grant an application for an off-licence when there were many objections among the local community, but An Bord...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Bill. It is a constructive, balanced, well-thought out approach to dealing with where we find ourselves today in that we have not complied with the necessary provisions to protect the water schemes and ground water, especially in respect of septic tanks. It is unfortunate that the European Commission has threatened to impose fines and that the necessary work could not have...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: -----they promised they would introduce a scheme for licensing and inspecting septic tanks and waste water treatment systems. That is what we are doing with the Bill before the House so I do not think it is crazy at all. It is practical, necessary and important legislation.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: A couple of issues were raised, including that the Bill might be unconstitutional. Everyone has an obligation to protect their environment and to ensure that their impact on it is reduced and minimised. Legislation such as this produces a framework within which waste water treatment systems can comply. Senator O'Brien referred to people in his constituency who have paid development charges...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services (22 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the matter of Ireland availing of the opportunity to provide tier 1 international connectivity to the south west by ensuring a connection is made to the Hibernia Atlantic Express cable being laid from the US to the UK and on into Europe. Ireland was not initially involved but there is an opportunity to provide a link which would give...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services (22 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister of State claimed there is no deficiency in connectivity in the area. However, a 2009 Forfás report on competitiveness in the south west stated: ... quality and cost of broadband services remains a significant issue. In particular, international backhaul from Cork city and other large urban centres in the region including the Tralee-Killarney hub is at least 25% more expensive...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute on this Bill. We will have debate next year on a road transport Bill, but none the less this is important legislation to ensure the directive is in place by 4 December. I do not know where the fault lies with regard to bringing it forward so late, but I am sure the Seanad and committees can build on the work we are doing now on dealing with EU...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)

Deirdre Clune: The climate change conference is taking place this week in Durban. While considerable attention is being paid to the economic situation in Europe at present, which is very important, in light of Dr. Mary Robinson's comments last week about the need to address climate change in a global forum, it would be useful for us to focus on the issue in the new year. The Minister for the Environment,...

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Deirdre Clune: This budget is about getting the country to a position where the economy can recover. We have seen the difficulties the Government has had in the attempt to take €3.8 billion out of the economy. Next year there will be further attempts to rectify the fiscal situation. I will focus on jobs and job creation and how they are dealt with in the budget. We need to get people back working....

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this Bill. As was stated, it is just a technical Bill extending for another 12 months the circumstances that have obtained since 2009. As every Senator has been saying, the Minister of State's contribution was very comprehensive. It certainly gives the background to where we are today, and the reasons therefor. I support many of the comments...

Seanad: Vaccination Programme (13 Dec 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond to this matter which concerns Pandemrix, a vaccine given to many because of concerns about the effects of swine flu. There are some concerns that a number of children and adolescents have since developed narcolepsy, a neurological sleeping disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep and waking cycles in a normal...

Seanad: Vaccination Programme (13 Dec 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad there will be a report next year. Is there a link between the studies ongoing in this country and those being undertaken across Europe? I raise the issue today because Finland yesterday acknowledged that there was a connection between the vaccine and narcolepsy in young people. The reasons should be available across the European Union.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Deirdre Clune: My opinions on the question of a referendum are similar to Senator Paul Coghlan's, in that there is no proposal as yet. Last week's political agreement will be transposed into text before Christmas, after which time the Attorney General will make a wise decision. Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Noonan, discussed what would happen in the event of a referendum. The agreement is on introducing...

Seanad: Report of Advisory Group for Small Business: Statements (11 Jan 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for coming to the House to debate his report. Since his appointment, and prior to it, he has been focused on this initiative. It is one of his main objectives and therefore it is welcome that he has got to this point. We are discussing the first report, The Voice of Small Business - A Plan for Action, and the initiatives the Minister of State...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Deirdre Clune: To clarify the issue referred to by Senator Walsh, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources indicated this morning that he is considering a broadcasting charge. Moreover, he made clear that this would not be an additional charge. In other words, any household already paying a television licence fee will not be required to pay any more. It makes sense to replace the...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Deirdre Clune: This is an important debate. We look forward to the Minister's production of his energy policy in 2012. That will be important. The International Energy Agency is currently carrying out an in-depth analysis of our energy policy in line with the IMF agreement. We look forward to that and to what it will mean for us in terms of efficiencies in the electricity and gas markets, which the...