Results 20,121-20,140 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service Bill is awaiting Committee Stage.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: In the unlikely event of that happening there will have to be a thorough investigation of all these matters, which the Government is willing to conduct. This is not the only such case. I am aware of other cases in private institutions and unfortunately we cannot open up every private institution in this situation.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: I compliment the Deputy on the very distracting tie he is wearing.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: I will ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to respond to the Deputy on that matter.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: Professor Drumm is accountable to the House under the legislation passed last year. If the Labour Party wishes to propose the abolition of the role of Minister for Health and Children in its next election manifesto we can have a good debate at that point.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: I wish to take the opportunity to wish the Ceann Comhairle, Members and the staff a happy Christmas. As this is our last sitting day before Christmas, on my and the Government's behalf, I thank all the staff who serve the Members with great integrity, enthusiasm and dedication.

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Financial Resolution. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the charging in accordance with the Act of certain fees, being fees for the granting or renewal of employment permits, for the purpose of permitting persons who require such permits to be in employment in the State.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: It is proposed to take No. 3a, Appropriation Bill 2005 — Order for Second Stage and Second and Subsequent Stages; No. 13a, Employment Permits Bill 2005 — Financial Resolution; No. 14, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on co-operation in combating organised crime and...

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: With regard to the Appropriation Bill, the recommendation of the Committee of Public Accounts has been referred to the Attorney General for his advice. As the House knows, the Minister for Finance announced in his budget speech that he is fundamentally changing the manner in which Estimates and the budgetary process will be conducted in future. This will have a major impact. With regard to...

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: With regard to the social partnership process, it would be good to discuss the format of the discussion — if there is a new agreement — which would take place in this House. There is much emphasis on democratic deficits but it is clearly a negotiation between Government, employers, trade unions and other organisations, such as farmers and voluntary groups. I would personally like to see a...

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy is aware, the legislation gave a three-year cut-off point, which in all circumstances was reasonable. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, has met with Marie Therese O'Loughlin. The other institution which the woman spent time in is included. She is free to apply on the basis of this other institution, which she should perhaps be encouraged to do.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy is aware, the first institution was not owned by the State and the State had no inspectorate role. Any injuries inflicted in that institution are not covered by the Residential Institutions Redress Board.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: If any damage was caused to Marie Therese O'Loughlin in the other institution she would qualify. We cannot make exceptions for individuals, difficult as this may be. If the State had no role, it should not be expected to——

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: There will be many other examples with people in the same situation.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: We cannot cover all private institutions in the country, as that would be unreasonable.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: The commitment was to publish these Bills before the start of the next session. There is still over a month left and we believe most of the Bills will be published.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: One of the Bills, the Building Control Bill 2003, which Deputy Quinn has a special interest in, was cleared by the Government this week.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: The appointment of a Minister of State to the Department of Transport is a matter for the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach will make a recommendation to the Government. I understand the Taoiseach has stated his intent to do so in January.

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: The Government has agreed the key elements of a scheme for the repayment of long stay charges for publicly funded residential care. All fully eligible persons who were wrongly charged and are alive and the estates of all those who were wrongly charged and died since 9 December 1998 will have the charges repaid in full. The scheme will not allow for repayments to the estates of those who died...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: The correspondence referred to by the Deputy was received in my private office on 9 November 2005. The Deputy will wish to note that this correspondence was subsequently acknowledged and referred to the parliamentary affairs division of the Health Service Executive for investigation and direct reply to the individual concerned.