Results 2,761-2,780 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator said it is not a State church, which is true.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: We understand that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Hanafin also mentioned the Crisis Pregnancy Agency. Senator Norris referred to the Irish Ferries dispute and said he would call for an emergency debate on the matter under Standing Order 29. He also called for an ongoing debate on Iraq, with which I agree, and suggested the establishment of a cross-party committee in this House to examine what he described as the "torture flights"....

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Attorney General serves the Government and it would be an odd Government that was not guided by his advice. The Senator asked about the e-voting machines. As I understand it, the commission did not issue a final report on e-voting. That has yet to come.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I do not know. A Member of this House, a person of integrity, is on that commission and we could ask him.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Kitt mentioned the sugar beet industry and suggested that the €145 million provided should go to the workers. He is glad that Archbishop Brady has said the guidelines on child protection will issue before Christmas. Senator Ulick Burke called for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to attend for a debate on the sugar beet industry. There is no point in having a debate without the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Bannon wants to know when we can have a debate on the report of the Barr tribunal. I will inquire whether the report is available and when we can debate it. Senator Browne contributed to the debate on the sugar industry in January and says that the warlords in South America will do well out of it all.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator McHugh said he would be positive and optimistic, but changed as he went on. He spoke about the broadband cry for help issued by Forward Emphasis, a company in Inishowen employing 120 people. He pointed out that Transport 21 did not include one road for the Inishowen area. Has the Senator checked with Donegal County Council? I am sure it will do many of the roads in its road map for...

Seanad: Treaty of Amsterdam: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

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 the European evidence warrant for obtaining objects, documents and data for use in proceedings in criminal matters, a copy of which...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is Nos. 1, 2 and 20, motion 25. No. 1 is a motion which was referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights and it has completed its deliberations. It concerns a proposal for a Council framework decision on the European evidence warrant for obtaining objects, documents and data for use in proceedings in criminal matters. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Brian Hayes, the Leader of the Opposition, told us he attended a poignant service for those who lost their lives to drugs. He welcomed yesterday's judgment of the Supreme Court. We are always quick to decry court judgments but we would all welcome this judgment, although one should not comment on any judgment of the courts. Nonetheless, the lessons from the judgment were very strong...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: ——the car will be clamped, which will be costly. That should be a matter for either the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government or the Department of Transport. I have never seen people abuse the blue form. In Athlone we have these signs for the disabled in shopping centres and anybody I have ever seen emerging from such a car was disabled. Nevertheless, I accept the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Nor do we want the return of third level fees. I thank the National Competitiveness Council, but we do not like its submission. It was as if it had to publish something to prove it was at the game, or whatever. It was that type of submission rather than a properly thought out position. It gave no reasons, or at least I could find not them. I am sure, or rather I hope its recommendation will...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank the Senator. That is all right.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It has, indeed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Finucane raised the matter of the 350 people killed on the roads. It is a constitutional issue. The Taoiseach has expressed deep discomfort and annoyance at the length of time it is taking to work through the issues involved. As the Senator says, if there is a need for an amendment to the Constitution, let us get on with it. He says the matter should be treated seriously and he...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I will arrange for that to be done. Senator Kitt referred to the disabled drivers' regulations. As he knows, the Department of Finance deals with that area. In this regard I have come across other anomalies apart from the matter raised by Senator O'Toole. It must be a limb that is disabled, for example. Perhaps if the Cathaoirleach would speak to Senator Kitt today, he could raise that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Lydon wants a general debate about children who are sexually abused. We had three separate sessions on this, albeit as regards the Ferns Report. I agree with the Senator when he said it was a great sign of democracy that somebody like Mr. Gilligan could bring his case to the Supreme Court. We should be glad about that and the Senator is right to draw attention to it. Senator McHugh...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: All the information we have to date indicates that the majority of the single payments will be made before Christmas, but we will submit a query on this.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Callanan, the voice of authority on agricultural matters, said that the single payments would be made before Christmas and that the nitrates directive——