Results 1,681-1,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: We are talking about a serious situation in which a care order is made against a child. If this issue is not dealt with pending the resolution of disputes about expenses or other issues that arise, perhaps it should be clarified in advance of the passing of the Bill in order that the Minister of State can make a decision in the legislation about the role of a guardian ad litem. Perhaps the...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 24: In page 63, to delete lines 5 to 9. Which section are we discussing?

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: My apologies. This is tied in with the previous discussion. The Minister of State mentioned the fact that there were some issues with regard to guardians ad litem and their expenses. I tabled this amendment in order that I could ask him to clarify the matter. The Bill introduces a new subsection (3A) in section 26 of the Child Care Act which allows the HSE to apply for an order for costs...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The key question is whether aftercare for young people who have been in care should be provided for on a statutory basis. Obviously, there are responsibilities in this regard but too often in the past, once a young person had reached 18 years, that was the end of the responsibility. We know there has been significant informal contact between children who, for example, left children's homes...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State's extremely positive attitude towards this issue. I hope he will be able to amend the legislation in order to bring it into line with his thinking on the matter.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Alex White was opposing section 35.

Seanad: Lost at Scheme: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is a bit convoluted.

Seanad: Lost at Scheme: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I congratulate the Minister of State on his new appointment and wish him success. The Ombudsman states the following at the beginning of her report: The Office of the Ombudsman relies on the authority which comes from its independence, impartiality and confidence to gain fair play for people who have been wronged by public bodies. As Ombudsman, I do not make binding decisions. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: In recent days more and more facts are emerging about the way the banks have been run. We need a debate in the House on the issue. I, therefore, propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Finance come to the House today to update us on banking policy. The ordinary person is absolutely furious about the information which is emerging and the Government which is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The agenda was out; that is nonsense.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I join the Leader in paying tribute to the former Senator, Mr. Willie Farrell. Members will pay tribute to him at a future date, to be decided by the Leader, when his family can be present. We join the expression of sympathy by the Leader of the House on his passing. We spent a great deal of time yesterday discussing the banking situation and I wish to return to that subject. Today, we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Why is this happening? New information is emerging almost daily that shows the Government's policy is not being implemented. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that we ask the Minister for Finance to come to the House and deal with the specific issue of top-up payments, pension payments and excessive awards being made to bankers on a recurring basis. The Minister should also...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is disgust among the public about this. It is not enough to have general statements in the Dáil. I seek a discussion in this House about why this is happening, whether it can be prevented, the role of the public interest directors, and when action will be taken. As I said yesterday, the inequality in this regard is unacceptable in a democracy. We cannot continue to let the bankers...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Fianna Fáil could do with a bit of listening now.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: No. Question, "That the Order of Business be agreed to", put and declared carried.

Seanad: Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2010: Second Stage (21 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the information which has just been made available to the House, namely, that the Government will publish the heads of a Bill on this issue before the summer recess. We in this House must ensure this happens. We have had promises before, and we have to ensure the heads of the Bill come to the Seanad before the summer recess and that we see the Bill within six months. That is to be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: In recent days there has been a debate on the issue of pensions and, in particular, the entitlements of politicians to pensions and the conditions under which one should keep a pension if one is engaging in public service or continuing as a politician. Today all Fine Gael ministerial pension holders have voluntarily agreed to give up their pensions. Fine Gael will publish amending...