Results 2,061-2,080 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I believe not, but I do not know how one would frame a constitutional referendum to encompass everything that one would need to do. I know that we now have the National Children's Office and a Minister for Health and Children, as well as Ms Emily Logan, the Ombudsman for Children. However, that is toleration rather than an encompassing framework. I ask whether our safeguards for children as...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Exactly.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Now.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The Minister wishes to leave the Chamber for a few moments. I propose that we suspend the sitting for five minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is Nos. a1 and b1 on the Supplementary Order Paper. No. a1, Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006 — Second Stage, to be taken at 3.30 p.m. and to conclude not later than 6 p.m., although it may conclude earlier than that; the contributions of spokespersons are not to exceed 12 minutes, those of other Members are not to exceed eight minutes and Members may share...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Amendment No. 19.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank Senator Brian Hayes, the Leader of the Opposition, for his kind words. I also thank the Deputy Leader, Senator Dardis, with whom I worked closely on this matter. It was good for this House that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was here for a considerable period on Wednesday evening to expand on his ideas. Am I correct in thinking that Senator Brian Hayes asked that we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: We would have to set time limits on speaking.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I was not sure whether the Senator intended to say that the time allotted to people to make their contributions should be open-ended.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: It might conclude earlier. I want to be clear on this. The Senator did not intend to say that the time allowed for contributions should be open-ended but rather that there should not be a time limit in respect of Second Stage.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: That is acceptable. We should play it as it goes. We will see how the debate proceeds, who contributes and what time we have available. The Senator's general idea is fair and we could agree to that. The time allotted for contributions could not be open-ended because if everybody took half an hour to speak, we would be here for the weekend, though not that it would matter. We were keen to come...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I am happy to speak on this debate about developments in the BMW region during the present plan and am pleased to see the Minister has opened the National Development Plan 2007-13. As he devoted considerable time to it in his speech I can speak on this matter. We are inclined to forget the feat it was to get 75% funding for the national development plan. At the time, making the application...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: This refers to the line from Athlone to Mullingar so Senator Bannon cannot do very much about it. The Senator has his own railway and station in Longford, and I am happy for him.

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator should excuse me and allow me to continue.

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Yes I bet he will. He should not impinge on me. I am happy about the hopeful note the Minister struck in respect of education. I am reluctant to call it the fourth level but that is the postgraduate, research and development, and thesis area in which we have fallen behind. We cannot emphasise enough the importance of research and development. We were far back in that field, but we have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: There is no dissent, only unanimity, on the important issue raised by Senator Brian Hayes and others. It is correct that the Opposition raise it but it is equally correct that the Government parties should share the moral outrage which is rife throughout the land and among all political parties and Independent Members. Fianna Fáil mothers and fathers are outraged at what happened in the same...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Those recommendations are sometimes ahead of their time. The commission sees society going in certain directions and steers the law accordingly. Many Law Reform Commission reports would, if implemented immediately, result in mayhem throughout the land, but in five or ten years they may be acceptable in changing the social mores of the country. Senator John Paul Phelan wants a debate on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I accept what Senator Hayes has said and it is worthy of him that he has put his suggestion forward in a gracious way. I would need to leave the Chamber to arrange that but I will seek to arrange a debate. Senator Brian Hayes wishes to know where we are going in this quagmire.

Seanad: Treaty of Amsterdam: Motion. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion provided by Article 1.11 of the Treaty of Amsterdam to take part in the adoption of the following proposed measure: a proposal for a Council Framework Decision on simplifying the exchange of information and intelligence between law enforcement authorities of the member states of the European Union, a...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements. (30 May 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator is some goer.