Results 3,961-3,980 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank Senator Brian Hayes, Senator Ryan and others for their comments about the Taoiseach and his remarks in the Dáil yesterday. It is important that we show solidarity on this issue and I will ensure that the comments of this House are passed to the Taoiseach and his office. They are significant and I welcome them. I said yesterday that the scales had fallen from many people's eyes and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: He is around the House bustling and busy, talking and mingling.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It is a compliment. He certainly projects himself, in the best possible way. He will never need a PR representative.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: All right, I will forget about him.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator asked about the critical infrastructure Bill which is currently being prepared in the Department and also about the Finance Bill. I have bad news in respect of the latter for the entire House. It appears we may have to be back in the House on 22 and 23 March to debate the Finance Bill. That is Holy Week, so Members will have their penance done in advance of Easter. This has yet to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Department of Education and Science is the lead player in that regard. Senator Paddy Burke raised the matter of public private partnerships. That question arose in the House before Christmas in the context of education. However, the broad question of public private partnerships should be dealt with comprehensively. I will seek to arrange a debate on that matter. I believe Senator Feighan...

Seanad: Tributes to Usher of Houses of the Oireachtas. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I believe the entire House agrees with the Cathaoirleach and wishes Mr. Edwards a happy retirement.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I pay tribute to Mrs. Eileen Desmond, a former Member of the Oireachtas who was a Member of this House for a period. She was a Member of the Dáil, the Seanad and the European Parliament. During her tenure of those various positions she displayed considerable intelligence and political acumen. I do not often agree with Fergus Finlay, nor he with me, but he wrote a wonderful article about her...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Brian Hayes, welcomed the President's recent decision. He raised the matter of the tsunami disaster and the House could benefit from a thorough debate on that subject. It is less a question of who gave what so much as what is going to happen to the relief funds raised. I will seek to put this in train. The Leader of the Opposition also raised the issue of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator spoke about ESB bills and how energy costs have risen by 45% and felt that the Minister responsible should come to the House and debate the matter. Senator Hanafin spoke about telephone charges and also asked for a debate on An Post. He asked for that before Christmas, as did other people. We have a debate scheduled for next week but I hope no one calls for it to be cancelled....

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator O'Meara spoke about Northern Ireland and the PIAB. She also called for a specific debate on the care and education of young children. Senator Mansergh said he would congratulate the Revenue if it could find a way of paying back people. Senator Bannon spoke about the generosity of the people following the tsunami and asked that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. (26 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That the practice of calling the Leader of the House to reply to the Order of Business not later than 30 minutes after the proposal of the Order of Business shall be continued until the Easter recess.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (26 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I hope we have everybody's approval to move the motion of sympathy to the family of the late Ms Eileen Desmond tomorrow. I explained the matter to the Labour Party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, a sessional order as agreed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which will be taken without debate; No. 2, Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002 — Second Stage to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business until 5 p.m. with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: On behalf of the House, I thank the Minister for the attention he has paid to the House in its discussion of this Bill. We have had three debates on Second Stage and five on Committee Stage. I acknowledge not only the highly intellectual content of the debate but also the gusto with which the Minister approached it. I thank the officials, who were always here on time and who were very...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: At 4 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Dec 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: It has been suggested to me that Christmas wishes be conveyed with the Order of Business, rather than having everyone getting up twice or three times. I am very pleased to echo the Cathaoirleach's felicitations for Christmas and for 2005. I wish every Member of the House a very happy Christmas, and particularly time to be with their families and enjoy one another. We all look forward very...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Dec 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: I wish everybody a happy Christmas. We have had a busy term and there is an even busier one to come. Legislation awaits our return. I am grateful for the even tenor of business we have maintained here. There are spats from time to time but that is what our business is about. We are here because we come from different political parties so spats are par for the course. However, they do not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Dec 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: I was ready to go to the next party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Dec 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business today is Nos. 1, 2 and 3. No. 1, the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004 — Second Stage, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude no later than 2 p.m. Spokespersons have 12 minutes and other speakers have eight. Members may share time. The Minister is to be called on to reply no later than five minutes before the conclusion of Second...