Results 181-200 of 1,982 for speaker:Máire Devine

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I echo the dismay of Senator Freeman at the lack of implementation of A Vision for Change. The strategy was published in 2006 and was to be implemented by 2016, but 75% of it is yet to be implemented. Its funding was scalped in the name of the fiscal rectitude which has eaten away at our health services. I refer to Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, which is located up the road from...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: Proposing amendments seems to be a popular activity today, so I should probably hold off for now. However, I have been holding off on a particular matter since April 2016, namely, the appointment of a consultant sarcoma specialist at St. Vincent's hospital. Following meetings with patients, the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, agreed to the creation of this post. One of those meetings...

Seanad: Imminent Closure of Cuisle Accessible Holiday Resort: Statements (27 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Nobody here doubts his passion and commitment to his portfolio.This issue was raised by several Senators as soon as they learned of it and Senator Leyden pushed for it to be discussed further today. To term it that we cannot question and ask the Minister of State without him feeling we are questioning his commitment is somewhat misguided. I do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Developing Ireland's Sustainable Transport System: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I am sorry I missed some of the presentations. I was busy voting elsewhere. I wish to ask Mr. Cogan about ethanol. I have read through this and done some research. In northern Europe, Sweden in particular has gone down the route of flex-fuel cars, running E85, involving the use of biofuel, petrol and diesel at different mixes. It has not invested in electric vehicles. Are we being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Developing Ireland's Sustainable Transport System: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I am still not clear, perhaps I missed it. Brazil and India are using biofuels. What about northern European countries? We are all fans of electric vehicles but why would we invest in them? Is there something to learn from countries such as Sweden? Are there problems that I cannot see or do not understand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Developing Ireland's Sustainable Transport System: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: Perhaps I am not saying it right. Mr. Cogan is promoting ethanol and here I am saying that if Sweden does not go down the route of electric vehicles but goes down the route of overwhelmingly using ethanol for its cars-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Developing Ireland's Sustainable Transport System: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: Perhaps we could build them with a composite.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Developing Ireland's Sustainable Transport System: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: My first question is to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. I was recently contacted by a man who had purchased an electric vehicle. As I understand it, the standard is not the same for all models. Perhaps the officials would educate me on that point. This man had to go to a particular station which had a Tesla charging point. The Applegreen stations have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Developing Ireland's Sustainable Transport System: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: We have peatlands that will not be in use and we could barter them to enable a growth in this fuel option.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I raise the cost of and access to medicines in Ireland. We pay six times the global average for generic drugs, that is drugs which are out of patent and can be produced for less than the original. I know many people who go on medical holiday to Spain with prescriptions in their pockets who return with six months of medicines for the same cost as two months here. Debate on this is ongoing...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: The Bill relates to the transposition of an EU directive on the recognition of professional qualifications, which was agreed under the Irish Presidency of the European Union in 2013. It is important that we transpose these directives, especially with the looming prospect of Brexit, as referenced by the Minister of State, and that we provide the mechanism for the recognition of professional...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I want to address the issue of our youth and the massive and insupportable increase in their anxiety levels. I am not sure what the reason is but the My World 2 survey, carried out by UCD in conjunction with Jigsaw, tried to build up a picture of our youth and their mental health and well-being. It recently conducted this survey of almost 20,000 young people between 12 and 25 years of age....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: Me too.

Seanad: Emergency Aeromedical Support Service: Statements (19 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. The top Army official has put the blame for the cutbacks in the air ambulance service such that the service will be withdrawn for 16 days this winter squarely on the Minister of State and the Taoiseach. Incentives were put in place to entice pilots to stay in the Air Corps but it is clear that they have not worked. This is not a new...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I raise the threatened imminent closure, on 29 November, of Cuisle, the national respite centre and holiday resort for people with disabilities. The facility is funded by the Health Service Executive and run by the Irish Wheelchair Association. We have been informed by the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, that the HSE is moving away from...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: Is that how it was known? I prefer the term "letter from America". We need to be careful-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: The letter from America was part of the culture of the 1960s in most, if not all, households. We need to be very careful. The rise of the right and of racist language is worrying, as is the pointing at others and whipping up of emotions. People who are dispossessed and feel they do not have a stake can react to this. Legislators and this institution should not allow such language to go...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I also commend and congratulate Senator Conway. I thank him for the booklet he has provided, which outlines in very readable terms the motion on the eye clinic liaison officer services to be rolled out across all Irish eye clinics. Senator Conway is a champion for those with disabilities and those who have lost their sight in particular. He made me much more aware of the difficulties...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Nov 2019)

Máire Devine: I second the proposal by my colleague, Senator Gavan, to amend the Order of Business. Every week, we find out more about the destruction of our environment. We now have something that happened recently, which has been spoken about by two other Senators. Yesterday, the State was fined €5 million by the European Court of Justice and faces daily fines of €15,000 until compliance...