Results 1,501-1,520 of 1,597 for speaker:Cecilia Keaveney

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: It is an interesting debate whether we have the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills in here to discuss what cannot be cut and in some respects I agree with Senator Alex White that we need a debate on what we cannot afford not to have. Between the two positions, of what cannot be cut and what we cannot afford not to be cut, is what can we afford as well. Therefore, in any debate...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: -----and how we achieve it and how we can afford it is a much more important debate that we need to have. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Skills to examine an issue which I raised last year. It is sensible that when people fill out forms for going to college they would fill out forms for grant applications at the same time so all of their administration happens...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I note the historic event where the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement met today with the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee from Westminster. It is a first which shows the evolution of the Good Friday Agreement where representatives not only from North and South but east and west were present. We are usually in separate locations but we had members...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: Some experts believe price increases are the only way to deal with the problem.

Seanad: Third Level Charges. (9 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me raise this issue and thank the Minister of State for attending to respond on it. I have asked for the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure that any increase in registration fees is ring-fenced for student services. I have also asked that students applying for college courses for the next academic year be simultaneously allowed to apply for...

Seanad: Third Level Charges. (9 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I am aware Committee Stage of the Student Services Bill will be taken this month and it will streamline some of the issues I raised. Students in receipt of means-tested third level grants do not have to pay the student services fee. However, if their forms have not been processed, there is no proof they are eligible for exemption from the student services fee. Some students have been badly...

Seanad: Sports Policy (10 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, for her attendance. To declare an interest, I am president of the Youth and Sports Committee of the Council of Europe and I ask why a country so interested in sport has not signed up to the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport, EPAS. People regularly argue that we are losing too much control on issues of importance to the EU. Membership of...

Seanad: Sports Policy (10 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I thank the Minister of State for her answer. I am very disappointed with it, however, because as regards the Council of Europe working with WADA, I have been asked to look at the Council's potential to deal with the organised crime issue. We are talking about putting together an international agency such as WADA under the EPAS to deal with organised crime. Ireland is putting itself very...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: The issue I wish to raise relates to something we have been discussing for months, the negative perception of the economy on the front pages of international newspapers and the visit of Commissioner Olli Rehn this week. Yesterday, courtesy of Senator Butler, representatives of Spirit of Ireland met a cross-party group of Members. They pointed out that in 2015 there would be a shortage of...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I endorse Senator Marc MacSharry's comments. The issue to be dealt with is the upcoming budget and four-year plan. Senator Donohoe asked us not to blame others. Last week I raised the issue of the scarcity of energy resources across Europe by 2015. Ireland has a significant opportunity to provide wind and wave energy, yet this point was not reported in the media, not even on "Oireachtas...

Seanad: Road Network (16 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I wish to highlight a cross-Border issue of great importance to the people of the north west, namely, the N2-A5 link between Dublin, Derry and Letterkenny. Anyone who has travelled around County Donegal to support Senator Ó Domhnaill over the past few days will recognise the need to progress that road with as much speed as possible. Considerable work has been done by the North-South...

Seanad: Road Network (16 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I will. The Minister of State's comment that the two remaining cross-Border bridges have been reopened is inaccurate. I have mentioned a third road, Coney Road-Canning's Lane, on a number of occasions. The road in question is still closed. If it were opened, it would improve access between the communities of Muff and Culmore, which are on either side of the Border. Perhaps the Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I share the view that we must continue to focus on mental health. Mechanisms must be found to encourage people to speak about their difficulties and have them addressed. One of the key requirements is to persuade them to come forward in order that intervention can take place to avoid single and multiple tragedies such as those which occurred in recent days. Such tragedies have touched all...

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (17 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: They say a picture paints a thousand words. If a painting were done of this scene before us today it would, in the same way that our memories of Kieran are painted and imprinted in our minds forever, be an eloquent enough tribute in itself. The day on which Kieran's funeral took place was another picture or moment in time that we will never forget. I recall walking into the local community...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: Any of us who speak about how woeful the situation is must be mindful of exactly what it is we are saying, given that the international media are listening to us.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: There is a need for balance. It is very important that we do not give anyone more fodder unnecessarily. Last week and the previous week I called for a debate on the strengths of the country in terms of being able to provide energy supplies for all of Europe because nothing starts or finishes without an energy supply. There is no positivity in the media. I urge them to be a little more...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I thank the Minister for listening to our contributions on what I believe to be a very important issue. The first indication I got about this legislation was from some of the union representatives who wanted it stopped at any cost. On investigation, I informed the people who contacted me that the legislation would provide whatever protection it could and that it was effectively the roll-out...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: This links into what I term the social advantage. The employment issues speak for themselves. As far as I am aware everybody currently employed in the postal service is engaged in the delivery of mail. I do not believe there is anybody hiding in a hedge waiting for time to pass. All the postmen I know are out from early morning until late at night delivering mail because of the increase...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (25 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: On a point of order, I express my disappointment at the fact that the Minister has no responsibility to ensure a television service is provided for us.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2010)

Cecilia Keaveney: I wish to refer to student grants, which are very important. Every year I have raised the need to bring back the criteria from the Department of Finance earlier and earlier so that grant applications and applications for college courses could be done together. Career guidance should have a grant element to it as well so people from councils and VECs could go to career guidance events in...