Results 421-440 of 504 for speaker:Mary White

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Mary White: Through our participation in Government, €350 million per year was earmarked for new service developments in education. The Green Party also ensured the programme for Government's commitment to long-term funding for the 12 centres in the ABA pilot scheme. While nobody could have predicted the recent economic turbulence resulting from worldwide credit crunches and the sub-prime mortgage...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Mary White: Good fiscal management, as the Opposition always tells us, must take into account the economic climate. The Opposition can be sure we are spending more on new service developments than it would. We will hear the Opposition say little about what the Government is delivering for primary education throughout the country, day in, day out. We will not hear it speak about the €586 million being...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Mary White: ——that will deliver 2,600 additional permanent school places in existing schools.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Mary White: I will tell Deputy Tom Hayes in a minute. We will not hear it speak about the work on more than 150 devolved projects under the permanent accommodation scheme which will provide 8,000 extra places in existing schools. Among the important work in the developing areas unit is work on a school accommodation project in my constituency of Carlow which will open in September.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Mary White: Class sizes must improve, but for parties to single out the loss of a teacher in some schools, blatantly overlooking the nuances of teacher allocation decisions and the substantial number of new teachers being provided by the Government, is shallow and disingenuous. The Opposition will also fail to mention the fact that the Minister told the House last night that the Government is well on...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Mary White: The school was given a principal and two mainstream teachers for 2007 to 2008 because of an enrolment of 49 pupils in September 2006. These figures are significant. Unfortunately, the enrolment in September last year was 47 and next year the school will have only a principal and one mainstream class teacher. In the case of Ballymurphy, I know there is the possibility of retaining the third...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Mary White: We will pursue the targets and investment needed in budget 2009 and we will reduce class sizes in line with the commitments in the programme for Government. As I learned in school, festina lente — hasten slowly.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Mary White: In terms of the diktats of the economic situation, the commitments in the programme for Government are in safe hands.

Democratic Process in Zimbabwe: Motion (15 May 2008)

Mary White: I am delighted and privileged to speak in the House. Over many years when I was a student we had family and friendship ties to Africa. Many of us who have experienced those ties have developed a deep friendship with African people. It is with a sense of great sadness that I speak on this motion. I spent many years as a bookseller, reading books about Africa, particularly the great novels...

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion. (7 May 2008)

Mary White: Cuireann sé áthas orm go bhfuil an Teachta Brian Cowen tofa mar Thaoiseach. Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an dTaoiseach, a chlann agus muintir Uíbh Fháilí ar an ócáid stairiúil seo. Those of us in the Green Party got to know the Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, as a tough-as-old-boots negotiator when we hammered out a programme for Government last May and June. It is not...

Chemicals Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 May 2008)

Mary White: I wish to share time with Deputy Charlie O'Connor. Perhaps the most enlightening and pleasing facet of Deputy Durkan's contribution was his interest in organic gardening. I will share with the House my interest in reading, which probably got me into the Green Party. In the 1970s, I read a most incredible book entitled Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, which tells the story of chemical...

Chemicals Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 May 2008)

Mary White: Very good.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Apr 2008)

Mary White: Question 333: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide a school (details supplied) in County Carlow with a third teacher for the coming school year. [15250/08]

World Trade Organisation Negotiations: Motion (17 Apr 2008)

Mary White: As someone who was elected in a rural constituency by many small hill farmers and land owners, I welcome this debate which encompasses many issues concerning Irish agriculture, such as food supply and security, prices and issues of fair trade, socio-economic progress in developing countries and environmental protection. I commend the Minister on her efforts on behalf of Ireland during the EU...

World Trade Organisation Negotiations: Motion (17 Apr 2008)

Mary White: I will be finished before that. Finally, any agreement may be guided by the principles of fair trade.

Cluster Munitions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2008)

Mary White: I wish to share time with Deputies Chris Andrews, Barry Andrews, Cuffe, Ardagh and Mulcahy.

Cluster Munitions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2008)

Mary White: I welcome the debate on this Bill at a time when we are also debating the future of Ireland's role in the European Union and various issues of foreign and military policy, a good example of assertive and positive Irish neutrality. Fine Gael is to be commended for introducing this Bill. There is a need for national legislation on cluster munitions and I welcome the forthcoming international...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (9 Apr 2008)

Mary White: On behalf of the Green Party, I wish to pay tribute to the long legacy of Gene Fitzgerald. Mr. Fitzgerald had left national politics and even the European stage by the time of my entry into the former arena. Unlike others present, therefore, I did not know him personally. However, I am well aware of his legacy. I spoke to those who did know Gene Fitzgerald and several themes continually...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Apr 2008)

Mary White: Question 113: To ask the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent on recruitment advertising, excluding any advertisement conducted by the Public Appointments Service in 2007. [12773/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Apr 2008)

Mary White: Question 114: To ask the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent on recruitment advertising, excluding any advertisement conducted by the Public Appointments Service in 2006. [12774/08]