Results 1,441-1,460 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (26 Nov 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am interested in teasing out the position with regard to the quality framework for traineeships, a matter in respect of which Deputy Calleary posed a question. The Minister indicated that the apprenticeship scheme is being reviewed and that SOLAS has been established. I read a newspaper article yesterday which indicated that the City & Guilds has produced a report on the value of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (26 Nov 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I apologise for interrupting but I wish to make a further point in respect of the fact that under this model, employers actually contribute rather than just taking.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Order of Business is No. 1, Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 – Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. after the Order of Business; and No. 2, Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 – Committee Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Senator MacSharry tabled an amendment concerning the proximity of Committee Stage and Second Stage of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013, the next item we are due to discuss. The Bill was published last week and the matter was agreed by the leaders. Fianna Fáil has tabled a substantial number of amendments so I will not be accepting the amendment to the Order of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Initiatives: Discussion with ConnectIreland (3 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome Mr. Clune and Mr. McLoughlin. My comments are similar to those of Deputy Collins. Well done to ConnectIreland. It is a great idea. The fact that ConnectIreland developed it at the forum was also great. Rather than simply put a hand up and throw out an idea, the witnesses followed through. That is important because often these fora can produce great ideas but it is left to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank Ms Riordan and wish her well. I appreciate that she is getting to grips with Science Foundation Ireland but that she has much experience in the area. Similar to Deputy Calleary I wish to raise EU funding. The issue has come up previously that we do not do enough to leverage funding in the EU for our research spend. Ms Riordan probably has that in her sights, which is a good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Yes, it is something like that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Ms Riordan could please keep it in mind during her stewardship.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Excuse me, I have to go to the Seanad Chamber for a vote.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I say well done to the Minister of State on getting to the Bill to this stage and on the establishment of Irish Water. This is the second Bill this year and this one provides for the transfer of water services which are currently the responsibility of the 34 local authorities. I welcome the Bill and have always been supportive of the establishment of an organisation like Irish Water which is...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Traffic Legislation (4 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad that the Minister of State is here to respond to my question about regulating the clamping industry, particularly on private property. The Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, published heads of a Bill earlier this year and hoped to present the Bill now. Twice in the past week people have told me stories about the terrible way that clampers treat people,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Traffic Legislation (4 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State. I am glad to hear about the legislation and I look forward to its introduction. This House will be ready to take it whenever the Minister is ready to move.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Following the CSO figures last week on unemployment, it is important to note the live register figures yesterday, which have decreased from 12.6% last month to 12.5%. I wish I was welcoming a figure of 4%, but I am not. We will get there, however, as we are on the right track. Also, as Senator Hayden mentioned, Forbes yesterday announced that Ireland is the best country in which to do...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The last speaker said there was no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. There is a major difference. The Government has a plan for how it will proceed in the health service and the legislation we are discussing today and the changes introduced in budget 2014 are part of the Government's movement towards the goal of introducing a universal GP service for all before the spring...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The person who was speaking obviously had VHI or private health insurance. The value of a GP card should not be underestimated. It has been glossed over by the Opposition in this debate, but it is a very important support for the elderly. I have spoken to many people who depend on their GP for advice and support when they are worried about an aspect of their health. Free GP services which...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Housing (10 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue, which has featured for some time. It arose during the annual meeting between members of both the Oireachtas and Cork City Council. We discussed the issue of vacant local authority housing. This is relevant to local authorities across the country. There is a shortage of housing and many thousands of families are looking for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Housing (10 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I emphasise the urgency of addressing this issue. Local authorities are preparing their budgets as we speak and it is important that the funding announced in the budget be made available to them as soon as possible in 2014 in order that they can address the problem of vacant houses.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister is listening to the Senator.