Results 3,221-3,240 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Is amendment No. 15, in fact, amendment No. 14?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It is confusing.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Will the Minister of State reiterate the genesis of the Dáil amendment and how it is now reflected in the legislation? He spoke quickly and I did not catch his latter points.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Why?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Okay.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Brian Hayes, the Leader of the Opposition, praised one of the finest public servants the country has ever had, Mr. Kevin Murphy. I agree with the Senator in this regard. Mr. Murphy talked about parliamentary scrutiny and said he felt Deputies and Senators were not holding the public system sufficiently accountable because they are rushing around doing constituency business. These...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: We await Fine Gael's return to office to do that. The proposal regarding Seanad reform was raised by Senator Brian Hayes and SenatorBannon. As Senator Brian Hayes is aware, there was a delay regarding two Members being put forward for the committee. The Progressive Democrats, Fianna Fáil and the Independents put forward their Members. There was a long delay following which the Labour Party...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: That is right. Senator O'Toole also said a Minister should be responsible even where he or she is not always accountable. The failure by some Departments to draw down allocated moneys is extraordinary. I got caught once on that, in my first year as Minister for Education, but I never got caught again. Every three months I would ask the Secretary General of the Department for an update on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Department of Education and Science has a great many calls on its resources and should use its money accordingly. The needs are myriad in education and health and the money could well be used. Senator O'Toole said that this was making a laugh of the budgetary system. In one of today's newspapers, Dr. Moore McDowell argued that it was a mark of honour to return money. I believe it is a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: We should suggest to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that next year's census would offer an opportunity to change the system. Senator Feeney raised the issue of Irish as a spoken language, which the House discussed last week while she was attending a committee meeting. The Senator is concerned about how the language is taught and the possibility that it will...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Is that what the Senator would like?

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Minister could come into the House to discuss it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Cathaoirleach can tell the Leas-Chathaoirleach to behave.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Browne asked about PPS numbers being used when people are registering to vote and for polling days to be national holidays. Would that be every time there is an election?

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator also asked about MRSA. I will invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children into the House to address the issue.

Seanad: Treaty of Amsterdam: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That the proposal that Seanad Eireann approve 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: proposal for a Council Decision on the exchange of information and co-operation concerning terrorist offences, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Seanad...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Why was amendment No. 1 not moved?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Amendment No. 2 proposes to include in the definition of disability, "a person who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial long term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activity". Is there a list of the impairments or disabilities that are covered by the Bill? The Minister of State is shaking his head, so I take that as a "No". Correspondence from...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Can I not speak?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Kett did not speak.