Results 1,901-1,920 of 4,931 for speaker:Mary White

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (22 Apr 2008)

Mary White: More time is needed.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (22 Apr 2008)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (Resumed) (22 Apr 2008)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (Resumed) (22 Apr 2008)

Mary White: I asked about the three vacant suicide prevention officer positions.

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (Resumed) (22 Apr 2008)

Mary White: The Minister did not address the point I was making. I asked about the three vacant suicide prevention officer positions.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: Eight.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: That is a nasty thing to say.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: I compliment the Leader on giving us a tremendously innovative experience yesterday of asking questions of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I found it the most dynamic statements session, whether one likes the answers one got or not or——

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: It was my first experience of being able to ask a Minister direct questions. I had raised the matter previously of how to make the statement sessions more innovative and would welcome more such sessions, with Ministers answering direct questions. I am disappointed in Senator Norris describing Senator Callanan, in his absence, as a person of little political significance.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: Senator Norris is very naive politically because ——

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: ——Senator Callanan is one of the wisest people in this Chamber.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: When I came here as a rookie Senator he gave me tremendous advice during my first years.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: When does the Leader intend to reschedule last Wednesday's business which was postponed owing to the death of former President, Dr. Patrick Hillery? I am especially concerned about the issue of older people. As Fianna Fáil's Seanad spokesperson on older people, I would like to hear the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Hoctor, bring us up to date on...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Mary White: On Monday last I attended the launch by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance of the OECD review of the Irish public service. It is an impressive report which has an executive summary attached. This is one of the most significant reports ever published on the public service and it is timely.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Mary White: The OECD concludes that there is a need for a more integrated public service, with all the Departments working together. The logo on the cover depictsgadgets fitting together.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Mary White: The Tánaiste stated also that the setting up of the Office of the Minister for Children was a significant development in integrating services and an important part of our policy making. The report recommends that rather than creating new structures there should be a network approach to working across existing structures to allow greater connectivity between different sectors. Importantly,...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Mary White: We must put the public at the centre of our public services. The launch was quite a long event with many senior public servants speaking, but in his final points the Tánaiste, and this is relevant to everybody in this Chamber, stated: "I am determined to take decisive action to improve Irish public services and look forward to working with the social partners to achieve this".

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Mary White: He further stated: "I intend that when I am Taoiseach, I and my successor as Minister for Finance will set out our more detailed response to the Review". I look forward, having worked in the public and private sectors for many years, to seeing the way the incoming Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, deals with this area. I believe he has a passion to reform——

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Mary White: ——and will be a leader in public sector reform.