Results 401-420 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Apr 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I agree that the treatment of the Gama workers and everything to do with this case is a matter for us all. We will debate the issue of migrant workers tomorrow, which I welcome because it reflects badly on the country that this should be allowed to happen. It is time a line was drawn in the sand, not only as regards this, but also because of what has happened recently to Filipino workers. My...

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Senator has one minute remaining.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: In the past, women were an under-used resource in our economy. I am glad that they now have the choice as to whether they wish to be at work. Most women choose to be at work. We did not strive to be educated so well and then not use that education to some end. However, there are times in our lives, as mothers and parents, when we want to spend more time at home with our children. We do not...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Senator is very welcome.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank all Senators who contributed to the debate. I make no apologies for bringing forward this motion only two weeks after our debate on the equal opportunities child care programme to which the Leader was good enough to concede at my request. Senators Terry, Cox, White and I have spoken about this matter on various occasions in recent years. However, we seem to have made a breakthrough in...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move: That Seanad Éireann: —recognising the huge difficulties faced by working parents in securing child care for their children and meeting the huge costs that the Taoiseach has acknowledged can be as much as €800 per child per month; —deploring the failure of the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that there are sufficient child care places available; —expressing...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Minister should spare us. He can do better than that.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: Can we have the real debate now?

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: This issue is a priority for us.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is a priority now.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Government took money out of the pockets of the elderly. Is the Senator proud of that?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I would not be laughing.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: Did the Senator read the report?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: Muck-spreading will get the Senator nowhere.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I have done so.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: Good for them. I have a great deal to quote from it.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: How very convenient.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: There is a great deal to be lost.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to debate this very important legislation. We are here again with this Bill on the thorny subject of charges levied on long-stay patients in public institutions. Let us not forget that we are talking about elderly people who were charged — illegally, as it now turns out. We now know from the Travers report that it had been known about since 1976....

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: Or local authorities indeed. Is this practice endemic? Do they just chance their arm and if they are challenged settle but under no circumstances do they stand up and take responsibility because they know they will be found out? Where else is this practice operating? The Minister of State mentioned local authorities. We must ask if this practice is endemic in Irish public life. Those of us...