Results 3,381-3,400 of 3,693 for speaker:Lynn Ruane

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Health Care Issues - Crisis Pregnancy Management: Ms Janice Donlon, HSE (15 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Many of the questions I had have been answered so I have only two brief questions. I apologise for interrupting Deputy Fitzpatrick earlier on but I think it is a point that is worth noting. I probably should have waited my turn. In respect of adoption and whether it is decreasing or not, when we are having any conversation about women and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Health Care Issues - Crisis Pregnancy Management: Ms Janice Donlon, HSE (15 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: It concerned the impact of socio-economic circumstances on a woman's options. All options might not be available to her given the circumstances in which she finds herself. It is probably quite a broad question. It has been said that there are as many reasons as there are pregnancies so it is such a wide range to capture. We think we have options and a choice in those options but sometimes...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: This morning I read an article in The Irish Timesby the director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive on volunteers. I was very disappointed with the language used in it. Basically, it states that it is not helpful for volunteers to be giving out food and clothes to the homeless. I do not believe such comments are helpful to volunteers who give up their time in the evening, after their...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: It is an election rally comedy tonight. Give over.

Seanad: Housing and Rental Market: Statements (14 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I thank the Minister for his time today. I also thank the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government for conducting work in this relatively new and rapidly developing area of the housing crisis. It struck me as I was reading this report, which is timely and welcome, that a sort of reversal of roles has taken place as the issue has developed. On the one hand, we have Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Business of Joint Committee (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I think it is important to say that there is a very clear strategy in my eyes to undermine this process every step of the way. Pulling out of giving statements at this committee is part of that wider strategy to undermine the work that has been happening and to undermine the Chairman. Everyone was asked to submit recommended witnesses and if it was broken up proportionally, the people that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: International Legal and Services Context: Dr. Gilda Sedgh, Guttmacher Institute and Ms Leah Hoctor, Center for Reproductive Rights (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I will use five minutes now and reserve five for later. I thank the witnesses for their presentations, which were very informative. I have two questions for Ms Hoctor and one for Dr. Sedgh. An issue of which we are aware is the difference between making abortion procedures nominally legal in State laws and ensuring practical and real access to abortion services for women. What are the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: International Legal and Services Context: Dr. Gilda Sedgh, Guttmacher Institute and Ms Leah Hoctor, Center for Reproductive Rights (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: Has any research been done on the impact of broad socio-cultural views on the acceptability or stigma surrounding abortion within a state on abortion rates or abortion access? I am a little concerned that after a potentially divisive referendum campaign the stigma surrounding abortion could become a practical barrier to access. Has this issue arisen in any other countries and what is its impact?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: International Legal and Services Context: Dr. Gilda Sedgh, Guttmacher Institute and Ms Leah Hoctor, Center for Reproductive Rights (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Medical Law Review: Dr. Ruth Fletcher, Queen Mary University London (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I thank Dr. Fletcher for her presentation, which was very practical and useful in the way it is laid out in possible heads of Bill. It could be very helpful to the Department of Health, which is currently looking at drafting legislation. The point regarding objective value versus societal value is a very interesting one. Will Dr. Fletcher expand on it? There is a great deal of confusion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I thank the witness for the presentation. When I read it I could tell how person-centred it was and I appreciated how human it was as well. I am sure that translates into how the witness treats women when they come to him. I got some solace from that in reading the presentation. Senator Gavan posed the questions I wanted to ask so I will some comments instead. Senator Mullen upset me...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: Up to now we could not apparently use words like "mesmerise" but when a person on the committee wishes to express her distress-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: The Senator has a problem with a woman making such an expression. We are talking about the experience of pregnant women. I happen to have been one of them and my comments are valid.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I am raising the issues of sexism, abuse of power, misogyny and sexual harassment that have come to light in the last few weeks in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. The discussion of these issues has obviously made its way to Ireland. I thank my friend, Grace Dyas, who was very brave in releasing a blog post two weeks ago about the ex-director of the Gate Theatre.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: It has broken the seal for other women to come forward and speak about abuse of power and sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace. We are going to see a lot more of it over the coming weeks and months. It will take varying amounts of time for women to feel comfortable. Some may have to talk to family and friends first, and tell them first about an experience they have had before they...

Seanad: Defence (Veterans Lapel Badge) Bill 2017: First Stage (8 Nov 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I second it.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I wish to raise one issue relating to school. A parent of a senior infant child in Firhouse Educate Together contacted me. I do not usually raise things based in Tallaght. I usually try to steer away from that, but I believe it is important in this case. On budget day, it was announced that schools would look to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. However, the situation in Firhouse at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health of Pregnant Women: Professor Veronica O'Keane (25 Oct 2017)

Lynn Ruane: I thank Professor O'Keane for her presentation. It is a very important topic that we do not talk much about. She made a comment about the women who are left behind and that got me thinking about the women who cannot travel or who cannot access abortion, who may be in the mental health system for whatever reason in terms of the severity of their condition. Without identifying women, in my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health of Pregnant Women: Professor Veronica O'Keane (25 Oct 2017)

Lynn Ruane: The Chairman needs to do something about Deputy Mattie McGrath standing up and pointing his finger at the Chair. Deputy Mattie McGrath is so disrespectful. The Deputy is standing and shouting across at the Chairman.