Results 4,121-4,140 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: Company Closures: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am sorry. We have seen with TalkTalk how workers can-----

Seanad: Company Closures: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: There is no doubt it is an employers' market and that workers' rights are in danger of being reduced. Senator White can shake her head but that is not the experience I have had or that of my colleague who spoke of people seeking their rights through redundancy taking months -----

Seanad: Company Closures: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: If we are discussing Ireland as being an attractive place to work and encourage inward investment, then we must ensure also that the protection of rights for workers is of paramount importance as well as the other attractions that can be offered. It is fair to point out as much. I am somewhat heartened by the Minister's letter today giving an update on the MBNA workers. While it will...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: The Senator was not here-----

Seanad: Reporting of Lobbying in Criminal Legal Cases Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for coming to the House and presenting in a clear way the core reasons why the Government will not accept the Bill. I am reminded of a statement made by the former Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, who said that the business of Government should be done as if it were behind a pane of glass. I hope I am attributing it correctly.

Seanad: Reporting of Lobbying in Criminal Legal Cases Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: Okay. It is fair to say that the aspiration was a fine one and that Senator Crown, in bringing forward the Bill, will have had that in mind, as I and all the Members of the Government do. If it were at all possible to have a pane of glass we would do so. Senator Thomas Byrne said that the Government is not behaving in a new fashion and that we do not understand the concept behind the Bill....

Seanad: Reporting of Lobbying in Criminal Legal Cases Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I beg your pardon.

Seanad: Reporting of Lobbying in Criminal Legal Cases Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: The registration of lobbyists Bill will be introduced. All Members on this side of the House will push for that but I do not believe we will need to push it hard as it will come forward. The essence of the Bill is to continue to support free and open access to Government but to it in a way which is properly scrutinised and where there is accountability. The essence of Senator Crown's Bill...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: On foot of Senator Barrett's point, I, having worked with the BBC, would like to say that "Today in Parliament" became known as "TIP" and "Yesterday in Parliament" became known as "YIP". While I support the idea that we should have a programme such as "Today in Parliament", I hope the acronyms do not stick. I take issue with Senator Cullinane's suggestion that the Minister for Health is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: Many Members would like him to attend so we can raise various issues with him directly. To suggest a Minister is hiding when there are so many important matters to deal with-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is a cheap shot to suggest a Minister is hiding from us. Will the Minister for Health ensure people such as young Meadhbh McGivern will not have to worry about how they get home when their transportation is arranged? Our thoughts are with Meadhbh as she recovers in London and with her brave parents. Without their decision to enter the public arena we would not have discovered the...

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I particularly welcome the idea of the Economic Management Council having a working group. Perhaps it would help if in three months time it or the working group came back to us and let us know how they are getting on. As we all agree, there is no quick and easy solution. If there was I am sure the Minister of State would have found it by now...

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: If, based on advice, the Bill has been deemed not to be constitutional then we should not try to agree with each other just for the sake of it, which is what I understood was suggested by Senator O'Brien, or for the greater good of the Seanad or unity outside the House. I do not think anybody outside this House believes anything other than that politicians are unified in trying to find a...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation Report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne: Motion (27 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank those people who worked to produce the Cloyne report. I also thank those in the church who care about their congregation and who work hard to minister to them and look after them. I commend the joint action taken by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, and by the Minister present, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on bringing in new legislation and on the Children First guidelines. I commend...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I echo the calls made today for a debate on the Cloyne report. I have brought it with me in the knowledge that there is a risk of our simply using the words "the Cloyne report" and forgetting what is contained therein and the people directly affected. I urge caution when we say we want a debate. It is as if we want to hurry to be part of the story. I would prefer if we took a more...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (20 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for coming before the House. I welcome the Bill. Before commenting on it, I wish to comment on what Senator Wilson said in respect of piecemeal reform. The Senator is correct. What we are doing is being done in pieces.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (20 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: With respect, if we were not doing it in pieces and if we were waiting for a package of reforms, the Senator would, quite rightly, be inquiring as to the whereabouts of such reform.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (20 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: There is no harm in bringing forward reform in pieces, particularly when one considers that it is only summer and we have already done quite a lot. It is to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government's credit that we are putting the Bill, which is a mechanism of reform, through the House in order that by the time the next general election takes place, the legislative...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for agreeing to be the canary in the mine in regard to all of this. We had hoped for Minister's questions to be a routine part of our work. I refer to the impasse in regard to Leader funding for small food projects such as those we saw in their magnificence last night in the Shelbourne Hotel and previously at a Tesco function. I know there is an impasse and that it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: When we talk about victims sometimes we forget that they are real people. Today we are reminded by these fantastic four young people who won the Imagine Cup yesterday in the United States. They are Áine Conaghan, James McNamara, Calum Cawley and Matthew Padden. They are the future of our country and these are the people on whom we rely and whom we hope will build the future for us. We...