Results 1,241-1,260 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Deirdre Clune: Two weeks ago, severe flooding took place in areas of Cork. In that context, Douglas, Glanmire and Clonakilty were particularly badly affected. We are now dealing with the aftermath of the floods, and reports from Cork City Council and Cork County Council in respect of what occurred are due to be submitted to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Minister of...

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Deirdre Clune: That is what this is about.

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome the Bill which paves the way for the introduction of the microfinance loan scheme. The legislation is an important plank in Government policy and I know it is close to the Minister of State's heart. I am delighted that he has been given the opportunity to introduce the Bill in this House. As he indicated, the legislation will, I hope, be...

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister and his officials for their efficiency in dealing with the Bill. I also thank the Members for their contributions. We had a most interesting debate on it last week. The Bill is an important element in supporting small businesses, particularly those that employ fewer than ten people. It is a niche area. This Bill is an important step and it will help increase...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbite, to the House in the autumn to discuss energy policy. The Government produced a policy document on infrastructure yesterday, to which Senator Byrne referred. We also had the recent announcement from Element Power that it will go ahead with the development of 40 wind farms in the midlands,...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It is an extremely important measure and was a commitment in the programme for Government. Much has been done to try to reduce the excessive cost of prescription drugs in this country. There has been much debate previously on the matter. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act focused on the wholesale mark-up...

Seanad: Flood Relief (19 Jul 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the need to support householders in the Cork area who were victims of flooding almost three weeks ago. Some of those whose homes were damaged did not have insurance, although others did. In all cases, people will find it difficult to get insurance following this episode of flooding. Even if they can get insurance, it will come at a...

Seanad: Flood Relief (19 Jul 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State. As his reply has provided the clarity I was seeking, I have no further questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Unemployment and Youth Unemployment: Discussion (18 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the participants for their submissions. I follow the Forfás report regularly and know it has been for many years tracking the skills needs of industry. We are in a situation where we had an over-dependence on one sector, the construction sector, so diversification is very important and the STEM subjects will be critical in this regard. The point about languages seems to come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Unemployment and Youth Unemployment: Discussion (18 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the delegation for its important contribution. Sometimes the word "entrepreneur" can be a bit offputting. It is about somebody who has an idea and can start a business and create employment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Unemployment and Youth Unemployment: Discussion (18 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: It is a word that many people do not really relate to or else feel is not for them. They feel it is above them, which it should not be as it is as much about somebody selling jelly beans as somebody working in the IT business so it is for everybody.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: Like other speakers, I am glad the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, has announced the wording of the proposed amendment to the Constitution. It is an important day. We will be asked to insert the new Article 42A which will ensure that children will be visible and will be afforded the protection of the State. It is important to state at this point, as...

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I also want to raise with the Minister of State the flooding in Cork in November 2009. I will not deny that Cork has had flooding problems for many years. I recall as a young child my father, who ran a shop in Cork city centre, regularly being called out by the fire brigade in the early hours of the morning because the shop was under two feet of water. Traditionally, flooding in Cork was...

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: This needs to happen, and there should be dialogue between local authorities, the OPW and insurance companies. Individuals are being left uninsured, and they feel it is unfair, particularly where it can be established that investment has been made and the risk of repeat flooding has been reduced. The Minister of State mentioned minor capital works, which are very important. In my experience...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Beverage Exports: Discussion with Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (25 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank Mr. Tobin for his contribution. It is good that so many Irish products dominate the top ten lists globally. Mr. Tobin outlined the importance of that success story and why new markets need to be developed. He has also suggested some ways in which we can facilitate that task. In regard to responsible consumption of alcohol, has the issue of below-cost selling influenced the sector...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Irish Exports: Discussion with Irish Exporters Association (25 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank both witnesses for their presentation. On the credit guarantee scheme, the joint committee might take this issue up directly with the Department to ascertain its present status and what are the obstacles. That is probably the best thing members can do at present. I would be interested to hear Mr. Whelan's response to the comments of the banks. Members are aware of the importance...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: On Thursday last we had statements on flooding and flood prevention measures when the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, was present. Senator Barrett and I raised the issue of insurance cover with him. I am concerned that there are areas in Cork and elsewhere where flood cover is not available because of a flooding history in the area. The Office of Public...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: The Cathaoirleach cannot ask me to follow that. I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Bill. What it sets out to do is clear. The Minister called it a transitional measure that builds on changes he has already made to the composition of the HSE board. I wish him well as he prepares to move towards a system of universal health care, which is a central plank of the programme...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I congratulate the Irish Farmers Association for organising today's rally and meeting. A figure of 20,000 people is some achievement. I also note another very positive jobs announcement today in respect of the 800 jobs to be created by the Kerry Group, which is another good news story for the Irish food sector. All of those jobs are to be in place by 2016. Listening this morning to the...

Seanad: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Statements (9 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for discussing SMEs and his work in that regard. We are facing into European SME week, which is another important milestone in the development of a strong SME culture in Ireland. I congratulate the Minister of State on the advisory group that he established. It has fed into the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 and will do likewise in respect of the upcoming 2013...