Results 3,441-3,460 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Six-monthly Report on Developments in EU: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Dec 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I would like some clarification and a little more detail. The Department cannot put the kitchen sink into the report but must compress it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Six-monthly Report on Developments in EU: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Dec 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: Is Mr. Moran happy that they are being maximised?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Six-monthly Report on Developments in EU: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Dec 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I would like to congratulate Mr. Moran and his officials for their hard work, enormous effort and perseverance with this matter, not just over the past six months but well before that. I wish to seek a couple of clarifications. Mr. Moran mentioned the team that has gone out to China, but I would like to hear more about what they are hoping to achieve there. It sounds as if negotiations...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I will be brief and I know the Minister is very patient in this regard. Those elected to the previous Seanad state this Seanad is very hard-working and its Members are very dedicated. Asking for this expenditure to be realigned is evidence of our desire to work harder and be more effective. With more people doing more with less we are asking for this to be taken into account in the spirit...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is the human condition.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I agree with Senator Zappone's comment on the AV Room and appreciated the intervention of the Leas-Chathaoirleach. The debate underlines the importance of this room. As she rightly pointed out, the legislation has been awaited for a long time and is hugely important. The idea that we would be unable or hindered in our own understanding of it, particularly following her efforts to organise...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I asked Mr. Bryan a question but he has not answered it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: It was indicated that up to 30 marts are owed millions of euro and I asked if this event was a one-off or whether there are more waiting to happen. Is the witness suggesting there are other receiverships coming down the track?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: What is he saying in that respect?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: The IFA has stated it knows of up to 30 marts that are owed millions of euro. How many marts will go down this road? With regard to the ICOS, it was stated there would be danger without rationalisation or consolidation in some form. Is this an aspiration or is it becoming a reality? How much work has been done in this regard?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Special Report and Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Garda Commissioner (20 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Commissioner. I was not suggesting at all that he would have been criticising another State body. I was thinking that the observations made by the Garda ombudsman were so serious, it did not appear they were echoed in Mr. Callinan's remarks. With regard to oversight, the Garda ombudsman, when dealing with the off-the-book elements, stated: "The oversight systems in Ireland do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Special Report and Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Garda Commissioner (20 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: Perhaps the Garda ombudsman might throw some light on that. The two paragraphs in question are very specific. Forgive me but I do not understand it and there is a suggestion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Special Report and Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Garda Commissioner (20 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: Obviously, as other members have noted, the original report and the meeting the joint committee had on this issue were fairly shocking. The language used was carefully chosen and when one sees carefully chosen language. one always knows it speaks volumes about what is not being said. I am quite shocked today by the Commissioner's initial presentation. I have been sitting here thinking of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Special Report and Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Garda Commissioner (20 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: The words I wrote down were "constant stream of complaint" and the record will show I took them directly from what the Commissioner said. I would have thought the Commissioner would want people to be able to complain and would welcome that ability. I am absolutely astounded by the idea that the Commissioner would even begin to consider that it was using time and energy which ought to be...

Seanad: Report on Grocery Goods Sector: Motion (20 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State. While we are awaiting some figures, research that has already been conducted, particularly from the University of Sheffield's alcohol research group, clearly showed that a policy of minimum pricing or price controls led to fewer deaths and hospital admissions. There is a price tag on both. We all agree that we need to tackle prices. We just have to work...

Seanad: Report on Grocery Goods Sector: Motion (20 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: No. We must take into account the fact that the price paid to farmers is not great. The committee's report refers to the own brand problem. I say "problem" because problems have arisen from the widespread use of own brands. I am old enough to remember when there were no own brand products. When they began to be introduced, people were circumspect about them until they embraced them...

Seanad: Report on Grocery Goods Sector: Motion (20 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: He likes chocolates.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I agree with Senator Conway regarding the proposals for packaging of cigarettes. We are aware of the difficulties with the tobacco lobby, and Senator Barrett has raised this on many occasions. I am delighted there are strong moves afoot to introduce that type of packaging. Sometimes practical actions are what is required and the sooner this legislation is brought forward, the better. We...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Driving Licence Issues (13 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I appreciate some of the clarification provided. Perhaps it was unfair of me to ask about the cost of the service when it was not in the original question. Should I redirect my queries to the RSA? In terms of the fraud concerning driving licences, I imagine that is something on which the Department has figures. I appreciate entirely that the RSA was the contracting authority and therefore...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Driving Licence Issues (13 Nov 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: Like everybody else, I am keen to ensure that national documents such as driving licences and passports are fraud-proof, and I am aware that Interpol has often discussed this, particularly with regard to passport fraud. The 34 national driver licence services centres have, at least in theory, been put there in order to counter fraud with regard to driving licences. I could not find the...