Results 3,801-3,820 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance. He is championing this legislation which we all support. It is good to see a significant injection of enthusiasm and energy into that work. The taxi industry review group, chaired by the Minister of State, should also be thanked for its hard work in this matter. It could be said that everybody is an expert on the taxi industry because we...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I offer my condolences to the family of the late Minister of State, Shane Shane McEntee, and acknowledge the enormous courtesy, generosity and dedication he showed as a Minister of State and public representative. Senator Feargal Quinn spoke about the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. I have serious concerns about the failure to fill vacancies on the board of the authority. I ask the Leader...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (10 Jan 2013)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the witnesses for their time. It seems they have effectively dismissed the Supreme Court judgment, both referendums, the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, the expert group's findings, the master of the Rotunda and the bona fides of psychiatrists, and they appear to want to believe that the clarity we have is sufficient and that legislation is not required. Perhaps it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Senator Leyden has his Christmas tie on. He made the effort.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am not sure if we are spending the last day of the world in the Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: It may happen. If it is today, I will be glad to have spent the day in the Seanad with all of my colleagues. Like others, I wish Members, staff, the Cathaoirleach, the Leader and Whips a very happy Christmas and thank the Leader of the Labour Party group, Senator Bacik, for her efforts and hard work this year. Like other speakers, I would like to draw attention to some of the good done by...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Like Senator Comiskey, I welcome the fisheries deal. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Coveney, having been up all night, is having a well earned rest today. If not, he might manage to do so tomorrow. While there are still other difficulties in the fisheries area, it is important to pay tribute to the Marine Institute of Ireland, which in the context of the debate on the reduction in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: The result of that was an increase in our prawn quota, which given the industry is worth approximately ¤40 million to the Irish economy was important. We should pay tribute to the institute, which is not often mentioned in fishery debates, for its contribution. The confirmation on all sides that there will be no loss of jobs in the fishing industry in Ireland is important. There will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (19 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Ladies do not do bi-location.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (19 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: May I add to the recommendations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (19 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: We could perhaps write to the petitioner to ask him for the response he has undoubtedly received from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence because he has already made an application for this to the Minister and obviously has a problem, which is why he has come to us. It might better inform our letter and the way that we advocate our recommendations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (19 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Yes. In that way, when we write to the Minister, we could articulate and take into account what was said. Otherwise we would be wasting the Minister's time.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Interesting.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Better.

Seanad: Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for attending. Like others, I welcome the Equal Status (Amendment) Bill. It is not often we welcome a measure that could increase prices, at least for people like me, but I understand most of the price increases affecting women will affect younger women. Once one is over the age of 40 or 45 years - sadly, I am in this age bracket ? the price difference becomes much less...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: That is disgraceful.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: How could Senator Mullen link the death of children in Connecticut with this debate?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: On behalf of the Labour Party group, I would like to express our condolences on the enormous tragedy in the United States last week, on the deaths of 20 small children and of the teachers who tried to protect them. I am sure we would all like to express our sorrow and I ask the Leader, on behalf of the Seanad, to write and express this on our behalf. I agree with Senator O'Brien. I am glad...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White to the House. I commend the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas services for the work they have done. It is always incredibly difficult to be doing the same or more with less and it is good to see this is happening. As Senator MacSharry has said, such is the growing cynicism about politics...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Senator Leyden is wasted here.