Results 3,521-3,540 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Public Petitions Received (16 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: That would be very helpful. I thank the Chairman. It would be incorrect of us to abdicate our responsibility. It would also be incorrect if we overstepped our responsibility.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Public Petitions Received (16 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: This is a complex and difficult case for the petitioner but we ask that the committee write to the Minister for Justice and Equality on foot of the Supreme Court ruling of 18 July 2013, which directly affects this particular petitioner because it gave relief to another person. It would appear as if the petitioner in this case, Mr. Des Keane, may be able to get relief under that ruling but we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Public Petitions Received (16 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I would like to put on the record that the Tobacco Free Policy Review Group has a very large task before it, which is to try to establish whether a smoking ban should be extended to all public areas such as playgrounds, parks, sporting grounds in education and so on. I am aware that University College Dublin recently voted to have a smoke-free zone so obviously we will have to wait. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Public Petitions Received (16 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: And that the work of the review group will take time.

Seanad: Statistics (Heritage Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I apologise for my absence when Senator Ó Murchú introduced the Bill. I was attending a committee meeting. As with Senator Ó Clochartaigh, I welcome the spirit and intent of the Bill. The Seanad had a useful debate previously on the valuable work done by the Central Statistics Office. I share the Minister of State's views on the splendid work done by the CSO. We are not in...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: We look forward to a timeline and framework for the proposals. When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: We started at 6.05 p.m. so it was two hours. Is it okay to overrun?

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: At least one set of sixth year students has been asked to write an essay tonight on the outcome of the referendum on the Seanad. That is an example of how it has impacted across the country. I call the Leader.

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: The Senator's time is almost up.

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: That is a very fine note on which Senator Norris ended his contribution, and we all share his view that at last, Seanad reform and political reform are firmly on the agenda. We cannot walk away from it, and nobody who has been through this referendum wants to walk away from it. My colleague Senator Bacik said perhaps it was too soon and maybe we would come back to it, and I feel sure we...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: We were not really scrutinised. It became a debate about something else. I am glad the referendum is over because it gives us a firm and proper opportunity to discuss reform, which is where we all wanted to be. Not to be provocative, but most people, whether they voted "Yes" or "No", were looking for change of some description. Some wanted to change it by throwing us out, but that was a...

Seanad: Issues Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural Towns: Motion (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and add my support to the motion. Two aspects concern what we should do for towns centres that are struggling and our vision for their future. I live in Sligo where we have we are lucky because we have the Cranmore regeneration project. While it is slow, it is slow for a good reason because people want to make sure the mistakes made in...

Seanad: Issues Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural Towns: Motion (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: They can offer the life people imagine online but can never lead. We must reimagine towns as offering the authentic version of a life we can lead online. Until we start to realise in our heads and the Civil Service and Government mentality that towns are not what they were, there is no point in restoring them to what they were because it no longer the case. There is a menu of things that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: Given that it is so complex, will we have the chance-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am trying to clarify this in my head. Have I understood correctly that this deals entirely and solely with everything produced within the EU? I cannot see where it deals with what is coming in. The EU cannot regulate for food production in other countries outside the EU - I accept that. I am sorry if I am having a stupid day.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: To go back a little, what I am asking is whether there is going to be an improvement, a tightening, an escalation or a further investment in controlling goods coming from outside. Is that what we are saying here? Is it too early to know what the regulation is saying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: So all countries will, effectively, have to invest in better border control. Is it correct to say they will be obliged to do so - they will not have a choice?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (8 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I apologise for not being here for the entire presentation. Ms Sheridan has referred to the fact that the regulations will not just apply to production animals but also to fish, wild animals and pets. I am confused about how we can have regulations for wild animals. Whose responsibility are wild animals? Ms Sheridan went on to say that at the core of the regulations was the principle that...

Seanad: An Appreciation of the Life and Work of Seamus Heaney: Statements (3 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: Minister, Marie, distinguished poets and guests and my friends from the Yeats Society in Sligo, thank you for being here to share in this moment. It is very difficult to pay tribute to a man of Seamus Heaney's immense stature. I am honoured to stand here as a Senator and to be able to contribute. At his death, the Irish Independent described him as the best known poet in the world. In...

Seanad: An Appreciation of the Life and Work of Seamus Heaney: Statements (3 Oct 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I know, but may I finish?