Results 4,161-4,168 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (Resumed) (21 Jun 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I will try not to exceed my time. However, I am heartened by Senator Norris's enthusiasm and for the perseverance shown by various Members of the House, before some of the new Members arrived, in the pursuit of change and reform. Perhaps it is easier to do this now that the notion of reform has extended well beyond the House and that the public is now pressing for it. We appear, in a...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (Resumed) (21 Jun 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: We should not invite them as some kind of favour, telling them that they can come to the Seanad to make their point. We should not dress up the idea of change or reform that we know the public wants. That is the first word of caution and I suggest we take advice from Vincent Browne, a man some of us in this room know well. Recently, on his television programme, he made a public appeal to...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (Resumed) (21 Jun 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: As a journalist for many years, I have talked about rounding up the usual suspects and I do not want to see the usual suspects in here. Some will be welcome but we should not fall back on those. The battle for light versus heat is at the heart of every debate and it should not favour heat. It is easy to look for heat because it is always a moment of car crash television. In return, I will...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, to demand that Ulysses be rewritten to ensure Leopold Bloom visits Dublin Airport on Bloomsday. I commend Senator Norris on his suggestion that Terminal 2 be renamed "James Joyce terminal". On a more serious note, I would like to express my disappointment at the constant absence of the mammogram service from Sligo General Hospital. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: There is deepening concern in Sligo, as there is in Roscommon, about what that might mean for the future of these hospitals. It needs to be treated as a matter of urgency.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, to the Chamber. I particularly welcome the optimism expressed in the contribution made this afternoon by the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes. The idea of turning a corner or of looking to the future or for things to be positive always is welcome. As for the research and development tax credit in particular, I intend to return to the...

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to discuss this issue with us. I commend the Government's initiatives so far in relation to tourism. It is perhaps fair to say it is at local level that we will succeed. It is, after all, the product people come here for. When people from China or India arrive here, they want to enjoy themselves. In that regard, I commend the launch tomorrow...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome some of the younger people who have just arrived in the Visitors Gallery. I am sure some of them may be Senators in time to come if we can ensure the future of the Seanad. At the risk of overburdening the Minister for Health, I ask that he attend this House to discuss the future reconfiguration of hospitals. There has been much discussion throughout the country about the way in...