Results 2,001-2,020 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: He is in the US.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Urgent work is going ahead in Longford-Westmeath General Hospital. The Department of Finance is right to look for value for money. If one is going to invest large amounts of money, there should be a proper explanation of the value to be obtained from such an investment. Senator Morrissey raised the matter of the Railway Procurement Agency and sought a debate on public transport. As he said,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Indeed. Senator Coghlan raised his hardy annual, or hardy daily, which is the Great Southern Hotels group. He referred to the paintings therein, which have gone to de Veres for valuation. I cannot see those hotels being sold. There is a lot of mouthing going on about them but I do not know if they will ever be sold. It is like a perennial story with no ending. Senator Mansergh mentioned...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: It is so interesting because everyone hated the Luas until the day it ran and then everyone loved it. One can see all the faces of passengers looking out when the Luas comes along. Thank God something worked out.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Norris sought a debate on housing and house prices. He also mentioned the US-EU summit meeting in Vienna. I would be very suspicious of all that. He also referred to the age of sexual consent and said it was correct to seek young people's views. I would have my own views on that, however. Senator Brennan raised the non-return of 300,000 census forms. The forms are supposed to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I am sure he is delighted with the good news for the hospital. As regards the cost of housing, I agree with the Senator about freeing up zoned land. Equally, however, no matter what explanatory guidelines are issued, the biggest question facing anyone dealing with people is planning in rural areas. One cannot obtain one-off planning. There are three or four weeks before validation is issued....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Castlecoote is a nice place. I know where it is. I have been in it several times.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator O'Meara raised the report on regional hospitals and the delivery of services. She indicated that certain facts were suppressed concerning what is in the report.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The full report rather than taking pieces out of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Ó Murchú said that human life is sacred and referred to the "official murder" of three Palestinian children. He asked if a wedge was being driven between the Palestinian people. Of course it is, leading to civil war and a diminution of their own efforts to govern themselves. Senator Terry said that anything which attracts over €50 in customs tax is returned by the US postal...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: It is hard to say "Let's have a balance" in that situation. Of course, Hamas will fight back. Senator Bradford sought a debate on the carnage in Iraq. He met some elected representatives of that country here yesterday. I was not able to attend that meeting but they need our support. Senator Bradford also referred to the plan to build a high security prison at Spike Island. There was always a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, and No. 24, motion 21. No. 1, statements on adult and further education, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 1.30 p.m., spokespersons will have 12 minutes and other Senators eight minutes, and the Minister to be called upon to reply not later than five minutes before conclusion of the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I will not be in the tent.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Brian Hayes welcomed the announcement of the fruition of the partnership talks. He spoke about high-wire acts. However, it was never laid out that they would succeed. It was quite difficult and I understand there were quite a lot of hiccoughs in its passage. It certainly was not ordained that it would just happen. It was prolonged and difficult. The Senator is right to state the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The Programme for National Recovery was truly such. The Fine Gael Party played its part through the Tallaght strategy of Alan Dukes on which I fully commend him. However, the idea that everything was hunky-dory in 1987——

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I never challenged. I keep my eyes down when I make my points so I will not engage with people.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I try not to be confrontational. Senator Brian Hayes is correct to state we face different challenges now. It is a ten year framework which will require a great deal of monitoring. The Senator asked for a debate and then an ongoing monitoring role for the Seanad. I fully agree with that. Senator O'Toole echoed what Senator Hayes stated about partnership. He also raised the fact we will have a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The collections are wonderful. CIE offered sponsorship through the Arts Council, encouraged new artists and bought their paintings, many of which are now very famous and have accumulated great value over the years. Senator Ó Murchú pointed out, quite correctly, that there are two types of stem cell research, namely, embryonic and adult, and asked that there be another debate on the matter....

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Daly made the sensible suggestion that the Minister for Finance should brief the House on how the conclusions were arrived at and what will constitute the outcome. He would also like a debate on class sizes. I commend the INTO in this regard in that it is engaging in a proper campaign. I hope its representatives will come to Athlone. We did not hear from them yet on the matter but...