Results 20,261-20,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have come from a meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children where the Government members voted against an Opposition motion calling for the appointment of an independent arbitrator in the pharmacy dispute. The motion stated no changes should be made to the contract before independent arbitration takes place. I raise this issue because Fianna Fáil Members are supporting those...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senator Cummins for sharing time with me. I welcome this opportunity to make some brief comments on this debate. The Irish Family Planning Association is a collaborating non-governmental organisation with the UNFPA and, as such, has assisted in the work of the all-party committee on sexual and reproductive rights, founded in 2000 by Mary Banotti, a former MEP and the former Senator,...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not relevant.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: It happens all the time.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: On a point of order, the IPU wants the deadline of 1 March removed and the only person who can do that is the Minister for Health and Children. It is my job to ask the Minister to come in here.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: He made known his concerns.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: On a point of information——

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want the Leader to address the issue of speed cameras. I have asked on several occasions about speed cameras.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Leader is speaking about other issues and is not answering the questions which have been asked about speed cameras.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Mr. Noel Brett made known his concerns.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am extremely concerned about the current situation as regards the pharmacists and their negotiations with the HSE. There is still a deadline of 1 March in place. There appears to be a great deal of intransigence on the part of the HSE and the Government in this regard. I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business as I want the Minister for Health and Children to outline her...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the event of their closure, these are the people who will suffer from a lack of service. I want to move an amendment to today's Order of Business and I want the Leader to ask the Minister for Health and Children to come to the Seanad and explain the Government position. Is the Government happy to leave in place the deadline of 1 March or will it remove it, appoint an independent...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to return to a question I raised last week, because it was not answered by the Leader. I asked why a crucial part of the national roads strategy campaign was not being implemented, namely, the speed cameras. It seems from a report by Tim O'Brien in today's The Irish Times that apparently the Government had shelved its plans to roll out a countrywide network. I raise this issue...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not sub judice.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is inconsistent

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: He might like to pilot it in Westmeath.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Once again, I am talking about families who have to go to court, but in this case I know the number involved. There are 150 families awaiting a hearing who have taken a case against the State to obtain services for their children. Why is the Department of Education and Science allowing this situation to develop? It is extraordinary that 150 cases await court hearings at present. How has...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State. I note his statement that he was sickened by parents, as the media commented, being dragged through the courts. The Department may not believe it is dragging people through the courts, but the parents believe they have no choice. That is the reality. Will the Minister of State ask the Government to pay the Ó Cuanacháin family's legal costs because it...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Defending the cases is the issue.