Results 4,461-4,480 of 4,887 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Order of Business (31 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Today is World MS Day.

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (31 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As previous speakers stated, this is a crucial Bill which should be implemented as quickly as possible to assist the most vulnerable. We see victims of domestic violence in our clinics day in and day out. The statutory guidelines which judges will take into account when deciding to make an order are crucial, especially with the definition of violence placed in context. The guidelines will...

Seanad: Report on Use of Section 12 of Child Care Act by An Garda Síochána: Statements (31 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for addressing us today. This recently-published audit reveals a shocking lack of consistency and resourcing in how we treat our most vulnerable children. It demonstrates very poor level of co-operation between the agencies of the State. It reveals several cases where children were placed back into extremely abusive and dangerous situations because of poor co-operation...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with previous speakers. I welcome the announcement today of 120 new jobs at Merck, Sharp & Dohme in Carlow. It is a great achievement for Carlow, along with all the other new jobs announced throughout the country. Merck, Sharp & Dohme provides great employment in Carlow, as do many other factories. Well done to them all.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I want to revisit the issue of revaluations, about which I have grave concerns.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am raising this issue again today because a new appeals system will come into effect in September. While there have been meetings held by some local authorities around the criteria and so on, there are also new categories provided for this time. I am calling on the Leader to ask the relevant Minister to come to the House to address this issue, which is not only a Carlow issue but a...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is why I was calling them by their first names instead of using "Minister" and "Tánaiste".

Seanad: Commencement Matters: HSE Correspondence (24 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. The reason I have brought this matter to the attention of the Minister and the Minister of State is because I am looking for a formal structure to be put in place for meetings with the HSE. I will give a rough guide of what has been happening to me in Carlow. In August 2016, I requested follow-up on Tír na nÓg respite...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: HSE Correspondence (24 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State. I ask that she go back to the Minister and ask for some kind of structure such that the health board would meet with Deputies and Senators, even if only three times a year, and for there to be numbers that we can get and which are relevant. I understand that everyone is busy. That 82-year old lady was waiting for weeks due to issues relating to private health...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: HSE Correspondence (24 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is what we need to go back to.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I think we all have a bit of a bone to pick today. I welcome the fact that €17 million has been paid out so far as part of the new help-to-buy scheme. It is a great scheme. As we all know, it is for first-time buyers, whether it be to build one's first house or to buy a new house or apartment, provided one is going to live in the property. It is an excellent scheme. It provides...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is a very good scheme.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: No, it has been taken up.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also want to pass on my sympathies to the people of Manchester in the wake of this devastating event. Our thoughts are with them. HSE figures for 2017 show that 2,520 children and young people are waiting for an initial assessment by our mental health services.There has been an increase of 44 on last year. That is unacceptable. Children are waiting more than a year or two years for...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am the only one who gets addressed for that.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is a first.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: There have been cuts across the board.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: He is very busy at the moment.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Closures (17 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I will give him a rough guide to the school and the service it gives to the students, particularly to those in the area of Bagenalstown. The proposed closure of the Muine Bheag vocational school, which was announced in March 2016, was a devastating blow to the community of Bagenalstown. Parents, students and staff alike were shocked by the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Closures (17 May 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also thank the Minister for his reply. The situation was handled very badly. Damage was done. If one is a parent and believes that a school could close, one looks at one's options as a mother or father and whether to leave one's child the school even though it is unclear whether it will be open in five years' time. It is important that the Muine Bheag school is kept open. It is a DEIS...