Results 1,401-1,420 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I begin by paying tribute to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the staff of the aid agency GOAL and the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the role they played in securing the safe release of Sharon Commins and her colleague, Hilda Kawuki, from captivity in Darfur. The strength and courage they demonstrated has been remarkable and is a credit to them. We are delighted with the successful...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: In politics, it is easy to call for change by other people, change to the way the public sector works and change in the HSE, but it is not easy to change ourselves and the way we do business. Over the weekend, we saw a show of leadership and conviction from my party and its leader-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----in respect of the need to change the way we do our business in the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have had 13 reports on Seanad reform that have not been implemented, we have had two years of the current Government and 12 years of Fianna Fáil in government without Seanad reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Actions speak louder than words and we have proposed a radical package of reforms for the Oireachtas, which includes reducing the number of Deputies, reducing ministerial expenses and putting a referendum to the people on the future existence of the Seanad. The people will ultimately decide. We also recommend a list system to open up the political system in a way that it has not been opened...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: There have been many calls for change in other organisations over which we, as politicians, have authority but we need to look to ourselves in this regard. When one looks at the agenda for the business of the House this week, it proves the point we are making about the work given to this House by the Government, the way the Government treats this House, and the lack of accountability in...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----to speak about the problems facing mortgage holders, the negative equity that so many families in this country face, the spiralling unemployment affecting every family, and the 1,000 operations cancelled for children in Crumlin hospital. These are the issues we should be discussing in this House and hearing from Ministers about their accountability on these issues. For this reason, I...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We were told it was the final meeting at the last one.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I must hold the Government to account in respect of legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Senator is really in trouble when he responds like that.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not about dictatorship but reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Norris gets headlines often enough.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I ask the Leader if it is intended the House will sit next week. He might clarify the matter at the end of business today. There are many important issues we should discuss when we next meet. The trade unions made it clear again yesterday that they plan to engage in industrial action, while almost 16,000 families presented a petition to the Taoiseach urging the Government not to deliver...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will the Leader ensure that debate will take place next week? I raise with the Leader the extraordinary story on the front page of the Irish Examiner today that 73 bags of heroin were found in a jail cell in Limerick Prison. A man who had been convicted of murder was found to have 73 ready for sale bags of heroin when his cell was searched. What happened to the policy of the Minister for...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, we were.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Senator is wrong about that.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear, hear.