Results 4,261-4,280 of 4,887 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I read in today's newspapers that yesterday a Galway court heard 82 repossessions. For that to happen three weeks before Christmas is a disaster.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The tracker mortgage scandal is a blight on this country. Like the Famine, it has caused people to be turned out of their homes and families separated. We should be under no illusions about the effect it has had on thousands of lives, and it will be felt for many years in the future.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We are not doing enough. The Central Bank calls for individual executives and board members of the Irish banks to be held accountable for overcharging of at least 20,000 mortgage customers. These calls are not enough. Threats of fines from the Government do not go far enough. For over 20 years these banks have been able to hoodwink us and it is not acceptable. What the banks are doing is...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As a Government we can try and solve these issues. We can all work together.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We are here in a confidence and supply agreement. At least we are trying to work and look after the people of the country.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Sinn Féin has to have a rant every day.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Sinn Féin comes in here every day, and it will not go into Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Okay.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister. I want to speak mainly about climate change.Recently our entire country shut down because of a hurricane called Ophelia. Why did it shut down? It was because we were not clear about how it would arrive. Thank God for Joanna Donnelly, meteorologist in RTÉ, who became over 20 hours the face of Storm Ophelia. She issued warnings to people around the country and...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (29 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Transport is now responsible for about 20% of Ireland's greenhouse gases. Recent figures show that transport emissions increased by 3.79% in 2016, bringing the total rise over the last four years to 13%. This is particularly shocking given that the technologies needed to decarbonise our transport sector already exist. The Government has failed to meet our targets for getting more electric...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Disability Services Provision (28 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister of State. The Holy Angels Day Care Centre was opened in Carlow in 1978 in the basement of Carlow's old district hospital by a Presentation nun, Sister Columba. She was given a cheque then for £100 by the South Eastern Health Board and, with the names of five children with special needs from the local area, Holy Angels was set up to provide a day care service for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Disability Services Provision (28 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am disappointed because I was hoping for clarification today. The school was originally founded in a hospital basement 39 years ago and it progressed to prefabs. It is unacceptable to have babies and young children in prefabs. Those children are the most vulnerable in the community. The Holy Angels centre does a marvellous job. The staff are excellent and the children are getting the...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I was shocked to receive several phone calls to my office in Carlow this week regarding the Department of Children and Youth Affairs removing the upper age exemption for an extra preschool year for children who may not be ready to start school. This was done without consulting practitioners in the sector. I am told that the announcement came from out of the blue. I call on the Minister,...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes. This announcement is very bad news and the Minister needs to come to the House to discuss it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Vacant Housing (Refurbishment) Bill 2017: Discussion (23 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Bill which has great potential. We were all trying to work with local authorities recently on the repair and leasing scheme, which has not taken off at all. The uptake has been very poor. The scheme only covers housing or apartments, but this Bill covers commercial and residential property. I compliment Deputy Cowen on working with all of the agencies involved because that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Vacant Housing (Refurbishment) Bill 2017: Discussion (23 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with the previous speakers. Timing is crucial. I understand and totally agree that we must have regulatory requirements in respect of building control, conservation, disability access and fire safety, but we have a housing crisis, with more than 230,000 vacant properties from houses to apartments and flats. People do not understand this. I told the Chairman this morning that,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Funding and Budgeting of Mental Health Services: Health Service Executive (22 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am very much in favour of funding to heighten awareness and more needs to be committed in that regard. The HSE ran a media campaign for the Little Things initiative. The campaign is being developed for priority groups and its website had 1.5 million page views in 2016. Those groups are looking for funding. What level of future funding has been allocated for them? A lot of the page...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Funding and Budgeting of Mental Health Services: Health Service Executive (22 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have been coming and going from the meeting so apologies if I have missed something.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Funding and Budgeting of Mental Health Services: Health Service Executive (22 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: There have been cuts in services.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Funding and Budgeting of Mental Health Services: Health Service Executive (22 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Services have been cut.