Results 1,361-1,380 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices: Discussion with Association of County and City Councils (14 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the councillors for their presentation and bringing this important point to our attention. The committee has previously discussed the development of the LEOs with the Minister. It was welcomed that the expertise of Enterprise Ireland was keying in with local authorities to provide a one-stop-shop. The association is speaking to the converted as I have served on a county development...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices: Discussion with Association of County and City Councils (14 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I just wanted to clarify that. The role of the elected local representative should be included in the new structures. The committee can discuss this issue and make recommendations on it to the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: As Members speak, workers in the Pfizer plant in Cork are being briefed on the proposed consolidation of the operations in Cork in particular. Pfizer employs 2,500 people in this country and this news comes as no surprise, as the company had flagged that it would be consolidating in light of products going off-patent and because getting drugs to a manufacturing point now is becoming...

Seanad: Wind Energy Guidelines: Statements (15 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this issue. Like Senator Sean D. Barrett, I will focus on the economic climate. I appreciate it is not within the Minister of State's remit, but we are discussing wind energy. The cost of energy has come down and we must keep it down. Competitiveness is a serious issue for us, if we are to continue to attract foreign direct investment. Energy...

Seanad: Wind Energy Guidelines: Statements (15 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: With regard to corporate taxation, this morning I heard Barry O'Leary of the IDA on the radio explaining clearly there are no special tax rates in this country for any individual. Tax rates are set on a statutory basis and the Revenue Commissioners follow these guidelines. Our corporation tax rate is 12.5% and we have agreements with 69 countries on taxation measures. Everybody must be...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I wish to raise a separate issue. Last week, the National Council for Special Education produced a report on how our special educational needs system should be reorganised. It is an important report and the Minister is due to set up a working group to examine the issue. The House should discuss it at some stage so that Senators might give their opinions. Parents, teachers and the children...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Creating Policies that Work: Discussion with FIT (28 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I apologise for not being here at the beginning but I had to attend another meeting. I read the overview beforehand and I thank the delegation for the report. Mr. Peter Davitt has attended here before and we had a lot of discussions on that occasion. He spoke about the survey at the time and it is important to discuss it now. Previously the committee held a meeting with Mr. Sean...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs Services Provision: Motion (29 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate. Senator Norris and others referred to children with Down’s syndrome. I am glad the Minister is to meet representatives of the Down's syndrome group. I understand, although I am open to correction, that children with Down's syndrome do have access to resources, but not dedicated resources, under the general allocation to...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: As other speakers have said, this is not an easy measure but it is one that must be put in place if we are to ensure we get our finances back on track. I hope it will not be necessary. I hope we will have agreement but we do not know how individuals will vote. We will leave that to themselves and their various unions but look forward to a positive result in that area. The overarching...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: That is not the point I was making.

Seanad: European Union (Accession of the Republic of Croatia) (Access to the Labour Market) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill. As the Minister has said, this is a short technical Bill but a very important one. He has outlined the reasons for the Government's decision to allow Croatian nationals to come here after 1 July to take up employment. I have read the results of the Forfás study. I am sure everyone will understand that there is...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (12 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after ''Seanad Éireann'' and substitute the following: ''notes that:-- the number of people in employment grew by 20,500 in the year ending March 2013, compared with a reduction of employment of 50,100 in the year ending March 2011; -- the rate of unemployment in Ireland has fallen to 13.7% at the end of Quarter 1 2013, down from 15% in Q1...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (12 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister for her contribution to date and I acknowledge the work that has been done, by her and the Tánaiste in particular, in progressing the youth guarantee and highlighting it during the period of Irish Presidency of the EU. She has ensured it is front-loaded, which is very important. This is a serious issue, not only for Ireland but across Europe. We all know the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: State Examinations Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to respond to this matter which asks for a full inquiry into how mistakes were made, particularly in the leaving certificate honours maths paper. The State Examinations Commission has apologised and stated it could have caused stress. It caused a lot of stress and distress. The subject of honours maths has received much attention recently. I...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: State Examinations Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister. I welcome that he will ask for a full and extensive report. I welcome in particular his comments on those students who will be expecting points for their CAO courses. It is important to acknowledge that.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Last Friday the European Council agreed to start talks with the USA on a transatlantic trade and investment partnership. It is a positive move which represents a great opportunity for indigenous Irish companies across all sectors to export to the huge US market. There is a great deal of work to be done on common regulatory standards and investment rules and I wish all those taking part in...

Seanad: Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Bill. It is a small but important body of legislation which will ensure there is a uniform approach to rents nationally. Everybody will welcome this. The debate provides Members with an opportunity to make contributions on the general issue of housing and housing supports for individuals who cannot afford to provide their own homes. It has been mentioned that there are...

Seanad: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have an opportunity to speak about the Bill and I congratulate the Minister for bringing it to this point. We badly need a co-ordinated focus on further education and training and co-ordination will play a very important part. FÁS had a bad name but, as the Minister pointed out, the legislation will not redraw the organisation. It will co-ordinate FÁS courses and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Home Care Provision: Discussion with Home and Community Care Ireland (2 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I have a few comments to make. I will not delay the meeting. We are an aging society and people generally want care at home. They also want to be sure, and we need to ensure, that those who are caring have a level of professionalism. I know there is a balance in terms of commercialisation. Most of the people providing care are women. We need to respect that fact and not just lean on...