Results 4,041-4,060 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am not. I am supporting the proposal but not saying I want the debate to happen. If there is to be a debate, that is up to the Leader to decide. One of the great dilemmas facing the Minister for Education and Skills is that along with the 850,000 pupils in primary and post primary schools, an additional 70,000 children are due to join the system. Senator Ó Clochartaigh and others are...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: In light of the deaths in Syria today and over the past year-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I was going to ask the Leader if we could again ask the Government to call for support for the Syrians.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for being present again. Nothing succeeds like success. Therefore, if we can achieve the 30% that germ of success will create further success and encourage other women to come forward. The idea of pushing the quota to 40% may make it more like a chore, a task or struggle or something to argue about and therefore take some of the goodness from it. I echo Senator...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome also the amendment to the Bill. As I am sure others have said, it is good to be in agreement and to have a Bill that gives definition to "practise a veterinary medicine". When one speaks about the Bill outside, people ask what it is about. When we think about it seriously, the professionalisation of veterinary practice is important. People...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Perhaps that is what we are getting at.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Therefore, there was no need for a vet, thank goodness. Following the dioxin scare in 2008, even though that had nothing to do with vets, we became aware of the danger of contamination. Given that Irish pork was supplied to 23 countries throughout Europe and the world, one realises how intricate and complex the food chain has become and each step in the chain requires a higher professional...

Seanad: Food Wastage: Motion (15 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I second the amendment and thank the Minister for returning to the House, where it always is good to discuss food issues. I believe there is good architecture in place and that between the national waste prevention programme, the Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009, the landfill levy, the food labelling directive and the Stop Food Waste programme, the Government has put in place...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister. On balance, we should ban politics altogether, and then we would not have any of these difficulties. I would love to be able to say "Let us ban corporate donations". It is the easiest and simplest solution. However, I do not think it would work in practice. That is the problem we face. With our urge for transparency pushing us towards an approach of zero corporate...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Senators were briefed yesterday on the subject of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, by representatives of Tamboran Resources and others. However, a great deal of uncertainty remains as to how the process works, how Tamboran Resources and other companies propose to do business, how they are licensed and at what point certain things must be done. There remains enormous uncertainty, concern...

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister of State. I commend the cancellation of the decentralisation programme, which has resulted in some savings. Will that ultimately lead to a better regional approach to deployment? Given all the criticism vented in the House today about how the media has handled this debate, would the Minister of State's office run a proper briefing, perhaps over a full day, where some...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am sure our thoughts are all with the family of Melanie McCarthy-McNamara after her untimely and appalling death. I commend the Garda on its prompt recovery of the weapon and vehicle involved. Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House in order that we can raise the issues of gangs, gang warfare and the difficulties that arise? This is still a...

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Tánaiste for coming to the House. I commend him on his continued support for Palestine. I ask and hope that he would reiterate his condemnation in December of the human rights oppression in Syria. I commend him also on his rebuilding of Ireland's support and image in the world and for managing to avoid the use of the words "green" and "jersey". The Minister for Agriculture,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Cuirim fáilte libh go léir, agus le mná na hÉireann go speisialta. I welcome the Minister, who spoke about this being groundbreaking legislation. It is groundbreaking, and it is great to be able to agree with that expression, as it is used insincerely sometimes. I welcome the former Senator, Mary Henry, and the former Minister, Ms Niamh Bhreathnach, to the House, and many in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is probably a red letter day or a red dress day for women in Ireland who are delighted about the publication of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill, which will be introduced in this House later today. It is fitting that the Minister, Deputy Hogan, has chosen to introduce it through the Seanad given the work that has been done here in the past in raising the issue of...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I support Senator Paul Bradford's call for a question and answer session with the Minister in regard to the various forthcoming celebrations and commemorations. Senator Bradford neglected to mention that the Labour Party is 100 years old this year. It is an anniversary my colleagues and I will remember and salute. It is interesting that we find ourselves in a situation where the very notion...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: ----- it merely serves to obfuscate the entire debate about what is happening in Europe. We can no longer hear what anybody is saying in regard to the fiscal compact and so on in the midst of the clatter and clamour of screaming for a referendum, even though the Attorney General has not yet given her advice on whether it is required.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: How can the public want something that has not even been-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I had understood that there was an honourable tradition in this country in regard to referenda, but that is not what I see in this climate. Instead there is nothing but shouting and clamour. That will not help anybody.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Yes. I will finish my point by urging that this House, in the debate on this matter should seek to inform and enlighten Members and the public as to what is happening, without a great deal of shouting about what certain Members would like to happen. Will the Leader urge the Minister for Health to indicate the minor capital funds allocation for this year? Those funds are necessary if certain...