Results 3,941-3,960 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Sep 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Sep 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, to the House.

Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance. As other Members have noted, he has given them a good account of his visit, which has brought home to them the importance of being on the ground. I believe Senator Mac Conghail referred to how there is a sense of powerlessness. When something of this scale involving thousands of people in such difficulty takes place, it is very hard to...

Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance. As other Members have noted, he has given them a good account of his visit, which has brought home to them the importance of being on the ground. I believe Senator Mac Conghail referred to how there is a sense of powerlessness. When something of this scale involving thousands of people in such difficulty takes place, it is very hard to...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I join others in calling for a debate about policing. The brutal death of a kind and gentle man, Mr. Eugene Gillespie, in Sligo is a reminder to all of us that life is fragile. Although we can never hold a Minister directly responsible, the way in which police forces or gardaí have assistance and the technology and funding they need is something we must debate. As Senator Noone mentioned,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I take the opportunity to add my voice of welcome and support for the wording of the children's referendum. The Minister, her officials, staff in her Department and many others have worked tirelessly to ensure that the wording is a good one and that is why we have seen such a warm and positive welcome over the past 24 hours. However, a good start is only half the battle and we all have an...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister and agree with Senator Keane that these amendments are very welcome. We have had a series of tribunals and the public rightly claim their reports ended up on the shelf with no action ever taken. To see action taken directly on the recommendations of the Mahon tribunal with this legislation is indeed welcome, as is the general thrust of bringing more clarity,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is good to be last and not least. It is a memorable day for politics. It is rather strange when we consider that the Bill brings together two things that may not have any commonality - the idea of having more women in politics, and the need for greater transparency, accountability and clarity on donations and how we run our business. However, when one examines them more closely they may...

Seanad: Developments in the European Union and Ireland's Presidency of the European Council: Statements with An Taoiseach (18 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Tá fáilte roimh an Taoiseach. I echo the sentiment expressed by others regarding the remarkable disconnect between the politics of Europe and national politics. I would proffer that a more informed public understanding of the European Union would be gained very quickly if a reformed Seanad took on scrutiny of European legislation. This would ensure a more coherent dialogue and debate...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister. We will miss the almost-weekly instalments of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which has become almost a fixture in the Seanad in the last while, but a very valuable one. We are grateful to the Minister for bringing the Bill to the Seanad first. It has been a fine example not just of how the Seanad can operate, but also of how the legislative process can be very a...

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: On a point of information, I want to correct the record.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: The Acting Chairman has allowed me to speak. Let it be a point of order then.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: There has been no attempt to stifle anybody.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Well, whatever it is.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I wish to add my voice to those who have spoken about the need for change with regard to alcohol consumption. It is not something I do very often, but if I may I will disagree with Senator Barrett. It does not matter if the figures show that we as a country are third or 23rd in terms of consumption. What matters is that our culture and attitude to alcohol needs to change. The attempts at...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome this Bill which will allow people chosen on a random basis from the electoral register to participate in the constitutional convention. I appreciate Senator Reilly's comment that the electoral register is not a complete picture of the people who live in the country, but it is a good place to start. If it had been proposed that people would be...

Seanad: Childhood Obesity (12 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello. Some years ago the county child care committee in Sligo established the Early Years health promotion project which is now co-sponsored by Sligo and Leitrim child care committees in collaboration with the counties' sports partnerships, a community dietician and community workers from the Health Service Executive. What is being done under...

Seanad: Childhood Obesity (12 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: In regard to cost, the Minister of State's indication that the cost per beneficiary is high is completely at odds with what the managers of the Early Years scheme have told me. Second, while I understand talks have taken place with voluntary education centres with a view to rolling out the scheme across the State, that process of engagement has apparently stalled. As such, the people...

Seanad: Childhood Obesity (12 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: It will only be a missed opportunity if the Senator keeps shouting.