Results 1,341-1,360 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Election of Acting Chairman (26 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I propose Deputy Áine Collins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development: Discussion with Skillnets (26 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank Mr. Nuzum for his contribution. While we know about Skillnets, it is important for him to come along here and update us. His contribution has been most interesting. Perhaps Mr. Nuzum answer this in the previous question, but twice he mentioned barriers around value, quality and access. I ask him to elaborate. I note Mr. Nuzum is a member of the Expert Group on Future Skills...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have this opportunity to speak on the Bill, which I welcome. It will introduce a positive approach with more openness and transparency with regard to decisions in family court cases and child care cases. I am conscious of the concern about this issue. In general, the public is not aware of the details of decisions in such cases. The in camerarule originally was introduced for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (27 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister for attending. I wish to raise the issue of support for businesses, in particular, affected by flooding recently and in the past number of years. Unfortunately, Cork was in the headlines last week because of flooding, as it was in June last year and November 2009. Some commentators noted that if Cork city was to be built again, it would not be built where it is now; we...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (27 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister referred to the report he commissioned and the information he sought. That would have raised expectations that there would be something happening in the area. Will the Minister indicate what was the purpose of the report?

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am aware of research in this area. If one increases the number of axles, the load is spread more widely and this reduces the impact on the roads, which should reduce wear and tear. Senator Barrett would like the Minister to consider this suggestion. I know of engineering groups in the country and in America which have conducted studies on this issue. The transport operators are well...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (28 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Minister of State. I am glad to have the opportunity to raise the issue of the regulation of practitioners in the health and social care area, particularly counsellors and psychotherapists. The Minister referred to this area when we discussed the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill in this House and in the other House. A point raised was that there is concern that two...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (28 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for that and for outlining the roadmap that is ahead of us as he prepares to ensure that these professions are regulated. That is important. I hope that by this time next year there will be some developments but the report expected after the summer is important, and developments will follow from that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Black Market on Small Businesses: Discussion (16 Apr 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I agree with the points made by Mr. Fielding. I refer to the high level of operation of the black economy during the 1980s. Taxes were lowered during the 1990s and more businesses operated legitimately. There has been a resurgence of the black economy as taxes have increased. However, times have changed. People now will not pay for services in the black economy; they will write a cheque...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am not a member of this committee but this topic is of interest to me. I have been following the committee's hearings on this matter. I have also written to the insurance federation, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and the OPW on the problem. There was no engagement on the issue until January and I hope it is because of the committee's work. As Senator Keane said about a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Deirdre Clune: That is not our experience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Deirdre Clune: There seem to be different understandings of it. The two heads need to come together. If work is being done to alleviate flooding, the insurance companies must respond to that. Geomapping is obviously not reflective of ground conditions and does not recognise undulating ground or hilly territory. This is a small country with a few flooding hotspots and heads must be brought together on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I wanted to raise the issue of skills shortages, but I think Mr. Cotter has responded on that. This used to be an issue, but an attempt has been made to address it. Changes have been introduced and we are producing more graduates. There has been a question with regard to the issue of languages. This has been identified by the expert group on future skills needed in this country as an area...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I support Senator Ivana Bacik's call for a debate on the ICT sector. When Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn is in the House next week, it will be an ideal opportunity to raise the issue with her because, as the Commissioner responsible for innovation and research, she has a large budget from which Ireland could benefit if we were to take the right approach and have the right processes...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (8 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Commissioner is welcome to the House. I agree with her that Horizon 2020 is very important, particularly if we are to encourage states to continue to invest in research and innovation. The Commissioner mentioned a third-level call to consolidate research. I am conscious that there is so much research going on, although it may not be enough, involving that which is publicly funded...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: National Dementia Strategy (8 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: A national dementia strategy has been promised in the programme for Government and I wish to ascertain its status. May is European month of the brain, which aims to promote understanding of the brain and the challenges we all face in dealing with complex diseases affecting it. Tomorrows is Alzheimer's Tea Day, which will highlight brain disease as well as the need to support families and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: National Dementia Strategy (8 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister for his contribution. I am glad to hear that the strategy is still on track for development and delivery in 2013.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement: Discussion with Minister of State (8 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for her presentation. I wish her well for the coming months. It has been a busy, but successful, period for her. Regarding Libyan refugees, I am a member of the Council of Europe, as are one or two other committee members. Last week, I attended a meeting of the Council's migration committee. A representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Maintenance (14 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this issue on the need to address the serious condition of road surfaces in cities, particularly in my native Cork city. Recently, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, announced the provision of emergency funding for local and regional roads, although not in city areas. He wrote to 29 local authorities stating that...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Maintenance (14 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I agree that the main focus must be on the maintenance and repair of roads. I urge him to ensure local authorities enforce this priority because, unfortunately, from what I am hearing from members of the public, it is not yet happening. A failure to invest now in maintenance and repairs will mean greater costs in the future.