Results 3,261-3,280 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Minister of State referred to good governance but I would call it good housekeeping. One cannot spend what one does not have whether one is buying clothes, food and so on. One's credit card can only hold so much before one begins to receive letters. The amendment seeks to delete the words, "...to make provision consistent with the resources available to them and their obligations in...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Subject to the——

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Rights to resources.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Does the Senator refer to former Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mervyn Taylor?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I propose that the amendment should state that the report should be laid before Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The amendment is demeaning to us, given that we are here, debating the Bill.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It would be better to state "before the Houses of the Oireachtas".

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: This issue arose with another Bill, Senator Quinn spoke on it and the Minister agreed, there and then, to change the phrase to "Houses of the Oireachtas". If we are fit to debate this Bill——

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Like the previous speakers I commend this amendment. I always rail against quotas, including quotas for women. There are no quotas for men.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I have worked in Departments where the 3% quota has been filled and in Departments where it has not been filled. All types of excuses are offered as to why the 3% is not filled. I agree with Senator Quinn that it is a case of "think ability", not disability. There is great potential in everybody, regardless of one's disability. If one has a disability, one will generally be capable of...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator is obviously both.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: She is a woman and a lady. This would be good for the Civil Service because Civil Service personnel will be implementing it. A Secretary General will be obliged to perform and report what has been done about this matter. He or she will have to think about it and might discover that 20 or more people are required. It is a good amendment in that it will propel the Secretaries General and civil...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Perhaps the Minister will think about this amendment over lunch.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I propose a change to the Order of Business. Private Members' business will begin at 4.30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: We had a long discussion this morning about knocking heads together within the Civil Service where attitudes have to change. As I have said all along, one cannot legislate for changes in attitude. One can, however, legislate in cases where change comes about as a result of people being obliged to adopt certain attitudes, even if such circumstances are forced upon them. Perhaps the Minister of...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Perhaps the Minister of State's officials have the figures and, if so, I will wait until they are available.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: He did accept some.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator is merely offering advice.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: That would bring everybody down on top of one.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I echo that view. The clause following the one referred to by Senator O'Meara provides up to three months for making the appeal. The system will get snarled up forever if we extend it to six months as people with new assessments will be waiting for consideration, etc. The idea is to simplify matters and keep appeals running without a snarling up of affairs. Three months is adequate. In other...