Results 1,801-1,820 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is extraordinary. We live in very difficult economic times, but we must have a serious debate on this issue in this House. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister with responsibility for disability strategy should come into House today to respond to what has been outlined by those individuals who will gather at the gates today, who are experiencing first hand...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----in their ability to manage their own personal situations. As far as I and Fine Gael are concerned, the 2004 disability strategy is in tatters. Two vital pieces of legislation, the Disability Act and the Education for People with Special Educational Needs Act have been shelved or have been cut so far back as to render them ineffective. There is an enormous human cost to these cutbacks....

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The decision is taken after democratic discussion in our own parties.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: It should not be on the record if it is not correct.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator O'Malley should not have put it on the record unless it was true.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: It will need to go to the people anyway.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister is back to his old ways, having given us a compliment.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is precisely what is happening.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (13 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is an honour to pay tribute in the Seanad to the late Nuala Fennell, former Minister of State, TD, Senator and equality campaigner, loving wife, mother, sister. I acknowledge the presence of her family here today. The first anniversary of Nuala's death takes place next month and it is an apt time, therefore, to pause and reflect on the lifetime of work of this remarkable woman and what...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The House will adjourn today until the end of September. The Government will remain unaccountable to the people through the Dáil and the Seanad, yet the major issues facing the country remain to be dealt with and intensify. All one has to do is look at the headline in The Irish Times today, which states, "120,000 expected to emigrate by end of 2011, says report". We speak about developing...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last night, we saw the fourth gangland murder in our capital city in just two weeks and the 17th overall. What other capital city in Europe tolerates the type of gangland murders we see in Dublin, almost week in week out at this stage? It is an extraordinary tally and very disturbing, especially for the communities most directly affected by them. In recent weeks we have also seen a series...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----despite the words we have heard time and again from the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach. Credit is not flowing, small businesses are not being supported and we are not giving a message of hope to the many people who are unemployed and who need access to jobs, training and education. This must be the priority and Fine Gael will oppose the Government's plans for the House not to...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (14 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the family of the late Deputy, Senator and Lord Mayor of Dublin, Joe Doyle. I welcome, in particular, his wife, Peggy; his daughter, Róisín; and his son, Michael. Our thoughts are with David in Singapore. I also welcome members of the extended families of Joe and Peggy. No doubt Joe is looking down with a wry smile at these proceedings. Joe was an excellent parliamentarian, an...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (14 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: A sensible man.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (14 Jul 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is fine.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Seanad resumes at a time when the most serious and critical issues face the country. To recap, the unemployment figure has increased to 442,417, an annual increase of 5.4%, while the cost of borrowing has skyrocketed to a level we could never previously have imagined and is reaching close to unsustainable levels. It was 7% yesterday, but, thankfully, there has been a slight decrease...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: End of Life Care: Motion (29 Sep 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank Senator Mullen and his Independent colleagues for tabling this worthy motion for debate. I was interested in a study supported by the Irish Hospice Foundation. The foundation's website states: "[T]he study paints a picture of a general public that is not very comfortable with or informed about the processes of dying and death." That is...