Results 1,381-1,400 of 1,966 for speaker:Mary Henry

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Child Sexual Abuse) Order 2005: Motion. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Henry: It is a difficult area. Speaking as a doctor, it is important to remember that sexual intercourse frequently results in pregnancy. It is quite common. I have to deal with children as young as 11 who are pregnant and it is not a desirable situation. If we continue to lower the age of consent, young girls will become pregnant and will have problems. We have seen children as young as 12 being...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Henry: I welcome the Minister to the House and welcome his acceptance of this Bill, brought forward by Deputy Rabbitte. It is very important legislation and I am glad the Minister did not wait until the bringing forward of the major Bill to which he referred. In that context, I hope the Leader will make sure that he brings that Bill to this House so we can deal comprehensively with it. It will be...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Henry: I congratulate the Labour Party and Deputy Rabbitte in particular for bringing forward this important issue. I compliment the Minister and his officials for dealing with the Bill so swiftly.

Seanad: Employment Issues: Motion. (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Henry: I am delighted that this debate is taking place because I have just returned from Latvia which is currently sending us many workers. While I am glad the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been in discussion with his Latvian counterpart, who opened the conference I attended, I would like to read some extracts from this month's Baltic Guide, which is widely distributed in Latvia in English and, I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Henry: I support Senator White's call for a debate on ageing. As we are all getting older by the minute the sooner we have it the better. I congratulate her on the meetings she has organised in Dublin South-East on the topic, which have been very popular.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Henry: I am a constituent there.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Henry: I second motion No. 20 in the name of Senator Norris and other Independent Senators.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: Senator Norris is right to welcome the announcement by the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, of the increase in the number of places in medical schools. I suggest we debate non-Government motion No. 5, in my name and the names of other Independent Senators, which, in June 2005, urged that this should happen. Could the Leader invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and...

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements. (1 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: I wish to share my time with Senators Quinn and O'Toole.

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements. (1 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera. I am delighted that the Government is taking an increased interest in road safety. That so many people have been killed on our roads in recent years is appalling and depressing. I am glad the Road Safety Authority is to be given responsibility for research into road safety. We have been far too casual about this aspect of the matter in recent...

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements. (1 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: Yes.

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: I thank Senator Norris for sharing his time with me. I agree with some aspects of his speech, in that a great deal of this debate is focused solely on money and not on the fact that people should be able to have extra time with their children. To me, this is one of the most important facets of the entire child care debate. I deeply regret that the issue of flexitime has not yet been raised....

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: Moreover, I have some sympathy for their suggestions concerning a voucher system.

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: I am not accusing the Minister of State in this regard. There have been accusations outside the House to that effect. The Minister of State should note that I am also allowed to make statements in the House. I do not think any of those remarks was meant to be racist. It was that they were considering whether this accounting exercise had been properly carried out. There is quite a bit to be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: By seconding Senator Ross's proposal, Senator Bannon has deprived me of the pleasure of flexing my muscles and showing solidarity on the Independent benches. I support the amendment not least on account of the work done by Eileen O'Mara Walsh some years ago in putting the Great Southern Hotel Group back on track. I seek a debate on an issue raised by Senator Ulick Burke, namely, the fact that...

Seanad: Strategy for Men's Health: Statements (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: I am delighted this debate is taking place. In particular, Senator Glynn, who has promoted this debate for some time, should be congratulated. I am pleased that Senator Kate Walsh spoke about diabetes, which has been discussed by other Senators. I am president of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland so I am very concerned about the figures cited by Senator Kate Walsh about the increase in the...

Seanad: Third Level Education: Statements. (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: I welcome the Minister to the House. Despite being one of the university Senators I hope she will forgive me if I do not concentrate on the funding for third level education. I appreciate it greatly and welcome everything the Minister said in her speech. As I have been involved for many years in medical education I will concentrate on the Fottrell report. Although it has been said that the...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements. (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I also welcome this very fine report. It is a privilege to speak after Senator Lydon and we are very fortunate in this House to have someone of his professional experience comment on the report. In view of the fact that the chairperson of the expert group was Professor Joyce O'Connor, who is a friend of mine, I was not in the least surprised at...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements. (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: That concludes the statements on the national policy framework for the mental health services. When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Henry: I thank Senator Mansergh for sharing his time. It is a pity the Government has tabled an amendment to this motion, as we are all on the Minister's side. We want her to get everything she wants from the Department of Finance. Every issue has been well covered but I wish there was more cohesion between the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science regarding primary school...