Results 3,401-3,420 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: That is a fact.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The original urban renewal scheme, which was a feature of the "Prime Time" deliberations, was introduced by the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition in 1985.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I did not barrack the Senator. Will he let me speak?

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I would not dream of misrepresenting you because I would not be interested in doing so.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition introduced the scheme in 1985. I do not know if it was Mr. John Bruton or Mr. Alan Dukes who did so but they fell out over something with Dick Spring, although I cannot remember the details.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It was one of them. The holiday resort incentive scheme was introduced by the then Minister for Finance, Deputy Quinn, in 1995.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The rural renewal scheme was introduced in 1998 by the then Minister for Finance, former Deputy McCreevy. If one wishes to speak of equity, one should remember that these three schemes were introduced by Fine Gael, Labour Party and Fianna Fáil Ministers, respectively.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator asked when it was announced. It was announced in the budget and the review will be reannounced before the next budget. He also raised the issue of new apartments, and I agree that many of them are little better than shoeboxes and that no guidelines have been issued. No. 13 on the Order Paper stands to be resumed and we can ask the relevant Minister to come to the House and address...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: When I was in Dingle three weeks ago, the Irish name Daingean was already appearing on signposts. Tourists and domestic dwellers know it is Dingle. Senator O'Meara mentioned people who avoid taxation. She also said that the Minister for Health and Children, in a letter to a colleague, said that the report of the task force on medical staffing, previously called the Hanly report, will be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I do not know of a coalition government that did not have tensions. Senator Ormonde wishes us to revisit the guidelines on apartment blocks and I agree. Senator Finucane mentioned the postal unions, the social dimension of An Post and the fact that workers have not received their incremental payments under Sustaining Progress. We will ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The matter is a nuisance. Senator Mansergh mentioned the various tax schemes and that the Minister is issuing his review before the end of the year. Senator Coghlan spoke about Dingle and its Irish name Daingean. Well done to the Senator on his knowledge of the Irish language. He described the present situation as farcical. Senator Scanlon reminded us that many of these tax breaks are the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The new apartments do not have such management companies, but the older blocks did and some of them still operate. It is a good point because one knows that the money is being spent on tending the grass, cleaning and painting, etc. Senator Kitt asked that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs be invited to the House to discuss the new placenames regulations. Senator Ulick...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the current situation in Iraq, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and the Minister to be called upon to reply not later than five minutes before the conclusion of the statements; No. 2, Statute Law...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Which scheme is this?

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Brian Hayes spoke about the carnage in County Meath yesterday and that is the only way to describe it. I propose to have a minute's silence at the end of my reply, if the Chair is amenable. It is very sad to think of those five young girls, four of whom attended the same school. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, visited the schools last night, having cancelled a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I expect we will know soon how the accident occurred. For the record, it was not an old bus and there was a seat for everybody. Senator Norris also raised the dangerous overcrowding of hostels with asylum seekers. I passed on the Senator's views to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he raised this matter previously. I agree with the Senator that the way the situation...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Ulick Burke sympathised with the families in Meath affected by the tragedy. Based on what the Loreto nun I heard said, the Minister for Education and Science has said that her Department will make resources available for counselling. The Senator asked for a review of school transport for the coming school year. He also supports the call for a review of the Disability Bill on which we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the report of the national task force on obesity 2005, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 5.30 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes. Next week the Disability Bill will be before the House, as it is to be concluded...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The first matter I shall address is the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Bill 2005, which has already been proposed and seconded. Late last night, a call was made to my office with regard to this Bill. I can imagine my welcome if I had informed people at that hour of the night, as Senator Bannon suggested.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I first learned about the Bill at that time. The purpose of the Bill is to protect the interests of IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and Údarás na Gaeltachta. As Senator Morrissey noted, prompt action had to be taken to prevent incursions on the properties in question. I share the common disquiet at rushed legislation. I would prefer that more debate on legislation took place in this House....