Results 4,081-4,100 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am grateful for that.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I ask the Leader for a debate in the new year on moneylending. Coupled with it are organisations and companies offering debt solutions. People are under pressure, not just because of the times we are in but because Christmas is upon us. They are incredibly vulnerable when they hear advertisements on the radio promising that one should not worry if one has debts of €10,000 because one can...

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: How dare the Senator wish us luck.

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I wish to share my time with Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: How long have we spent on this? I do not understand. We wish to share the time. I will not exceed it.

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: As agriculture spokesperson, I welcome what is a creative proposal in this budget that reflects the desires among the farming community and those in agriculture to support younger farmers. Many criticisms have been expressed in the House of many aspects of the budget and one I have observed is that there is nothing creative in this budget but one knows that is not the case when one sits down...

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: In that sense, he had great vision. We are at a moment when we need great vision again. We are in the 21st century when technological changes in the film industry will drive it ever further. The area of CGI effects, for example, is one in which we should invest and ask whether Ireland can become good at CGI and a place to come to for post-production. The film industry is not simply about...

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: There is something in the Kerry water, evidently.

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: Galway could be a hub with spokes in smaller towns such as Sligo, Castlebar or Ballina.

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister. I am slightly confused but rather delighted by the lack of opposition, both physically and mentally. This is a technical Bill which allows the Minister's Department to make available money to the Irish Film Board should it need to do so. It raises the amount from €200 million to €300 million. I am sure the Minister would like to have the money his pocket to...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: Senator Norris already referred to the temporary agency worker directive. It is not true that there was no attempt to seek a derogation - there was an attempt but it failed. We are now left with confusion on the part of workers and employers. This is an unusual situation in that it is often one side or the other, but not both. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I support the call for this House to become more involved on a substantial basis in discussing European Union matters. This issue has been raised a number of times in the House. Will the Leader either provide a forum for debate on how we could do this or invite the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, to the House to discuss ways by...

Seanad: Address by Dr. Mary Robinson (24 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is good to have Dr. Robinson in the House. I stand here, proud to be hatless and a woman in the Seanad. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for standing up for mná na hÉireann. I wanted to touch on the issue of participation, which she raised. I would like to pay tribute to a group of women who were well ahead of their time, namely, the women who educated Dr. Robinson...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am sure if I went to my local hardware store I would probably find wallpaper with a design called "Fianna Fáil promises". I would like to wish the Cabinet well in its discussions on the budget. In the midst of all the rumour, innuendoes and suggestions, protocol always is that the budget will be announced when it is announced. I would like to see some sort of decency maintained in that...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: On a different matter, I would like to commend a model which is coming to the Button Factory in Dublin on Thursday. It is the "Leitrim Equation 2" model of musical delight, which is about more than music. It is about bringing older and younger people together in a spirit of co-operation to discover the sort of traditions and the cultural richness of Leitrim. I would like to commend that as...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State, who has displayed a warm and very genuine commitment in respect of this issue. I was grateful to hear her give a commitment in respect of getting to the bottom of the problem of alcohol misuse. There have been some dark moments in our history and perhaps this is another such moment which we will be obliged to tackle. As more people come on board and discuss...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (10 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister and the members of the Humanist Association of Ireland who have joined us today. I am delighted to welcome this Bill to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004, the Act that regulates the registration of civil marriages. As my colleague, Senator Bacik, indicated, the figures reveal very clearly that an increasing number of people are seeking a non-religious or civil...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (10 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: While the numbers may be small, Humanist marriage ceremonies enhance the quality of the lives of those involved directly and others indirectly. In the grand scheme of collapsing governments, soaring interest rates and bond crises, we have found time in this House to reach out beyond that vista to remember that people are sustained by their core beliefs, whatever they are. Society's...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I join others in congratulating the President-elect, Mr. Michael D. Higgins. I note his generosity over many years as a public servant. We will now all be able to benefit from that generosity for another next seven years in another guise in addition to his roles as Senator, Deputy and Minister. We have much to look forward to. I join Senator Mooney in congratulating Sligo Rovers'...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements, Questions and Answers (27 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: Could our questions be given priority by the Minister's office?