Results 3,561-3,580 of 4,884 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I was contacted last week by constituents concerning a report that there may be a shortage of allocations of special education teachers next year. A new allocation system was introduced in 2017, which allocated special education staff based on factors such as number of students, the number of children with complex needs, standardised test results, gender spread and if there was disadvantaged...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We are nearly eight years on.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will support the teachers and the nurses. We are eight years on.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Where is the recovery?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is why the teachers are not happy and that is why there are 10,00 people on the housing list.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Leader cannot even get the floor right.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Fianna Fáil fully supports what is being done in the legislation in respect of Cork because it is important. As I said to the Minister of State last night, we have all seen major changes in local government. We lost nearly half of our county councillors in recent years and we also lost our town councils, which was detrimental to nearly all councils. The Leader spoke about changes. I...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We all got brollies.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: My name is attached to the Bill also because, following detailed discussions with local representatives, it became clear that Galway should be dealt with in a separate, comprehensive Bill. That is what we are looking for. We have all spoken in favour of the Cork proposal and believe the Bill we are discussing will be good for Cork, but there are major concerns about the Galway proposal....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (18 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for being here, although I am disappointed that neither the Minister nor the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government could be here to address this issue. While I understand and respect the fact that all Government Ministers and Ministers of State are busy, the situation with regard to housing is at crisis point and deserves...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (18 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State. In fairness, it is a concern that it has been seven years since we have had a review. At our last housing meeting we got an assessment of the price to rent a house in Carlow, which was €700 a month. That is totally wrong. It is €1,000 per month if not €1,100. The figures are totally wrong. The biggest issue here is that when people...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2018: Second Stage (18 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: My colleagues in Fianna Fáil and I will table significant amendments to this Bill before we support it. We support and agree with the changes in Cork, as advocated by several expert reports. However, local government reform has to be about more than just a slash and burn approach that has characterised Government policy. Following detailed discussions with local representatives, it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister of State and our colleagues, the councillors. It is important that we represent the councillors. Most of us have served as councillors. I was a councillor for 20 years so I know exactly a councillor's role. I was a little disappointed by some of the Minister of State's remarks about councillors because he was once a councillor. By the way, he is in my constituency,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: When town councils were abolished, there was a €5 million saving with a 40% reduction in the number of councillors. As I said, the Minister of State needs to look at this. It boils down to funding. No matter what anyone says, I firmly believe that the reason the town councils were abolished was funding. Regarding the €5 million that has been saved through the abolition of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Medical Products (4 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House at a very busy time. I appreciate the time he is giving me today for this important issue. I have been contacted by a number of my constituents regarding uro-gynaecological transvaginal mesh implants for the management of stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse and the many and often severe complications following these...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Medical Products (4 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Minister of State is aware of the seriousness of this issue. The people I have been dealing with have been trying to go England because the mesh itself cannot be taken out in full, once one has it. That is a concern. Evidently, part of the mesh can be taken out. This is a crucial issue and I ask the Minister of State to convey to the Minister for Health that this cannot happen to...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish to raise an issue with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. Something is very broken in the system when between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters lined the streets last weekend to protest the Government's policies on housing. We are all working hard but there is no joined-up thinking. People are overspending on rent and the State is not building the houses that are...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I congratulate Senator Ruane on winning the non-fiction book of the year award last night. We are very proud of her. I welcome Senator Ardagh’s mother to the Gallery. We are all proud of her as she does a great job as Fianna Fáil leader in the Seanad. Maire herself was a councillor and mayor of south Dublin. I want to impress on the Minister of State at the Department of...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will just let them continue on with what they are doing.