Results 4,701-4,720 of 4,932 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Action Plan for Rural Development: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the plan but I have a number of concerns, for example there are 270 action plans in the plan. In my view that is a plan on a plan, which does not make a plan. There is a proposal that by 2020, approximately 135,000 new jobs will be created but where will the jobs be created? I represent rural County Carlow and was a councillor for years. What proposals in the plan will benefit...

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish to share time with Senators Daly and Wilson. My time starts now.

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for his kind words. I was a councillor for 18 years so I know exactly how councillors feel today. My bugbear is the fact that town councils were abolished in 2014. In 2014 we had 1,627 councillors. We now have 949 councillors, with the loss of 678 councillors. That is an absolute disaster. From funding from local authorities, extra workloads, and even with the...

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Am I finished? I have so much more to say to the Minister, but I have to share.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I congratulate the Senators behind this Bill. There are some flaws in it, which I will go through them. However, the Bill is a start and the Minister needs to address it. While there are elements of the Bill with which we agree in principle, the Bill is flawed. It is also poorly drafted and we believe it could be in breach of Standing Order 178. It is clear that it would have the effect...

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with parts of it.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Bill is slightly flawed.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As previous speakers have said it is a good Bill but there are flaws in it.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am not speaking rubbish. Withdraw that. I spoke a lot of-----

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Some of the Senator's amendments were flawed.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We were all so affected by RTE's "Prime Time Investigates" programme last night. The Minister needs to direct the National Treatment Purchase Fund to obtain accurate and real figures on waiting lists. There are two waiting lists, one of which involves massaging the figures. Waiting lists are already shockingly high, with the number of scheduled procedures having risen from 50,000 in 2013...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I can provide figures and statistics. All I can say is that it is unacceptable. We need to ensure the health service and the people are not suffering any more.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: On Brexit, I agree with previous speakers that it is important that we try to work out the issues involved. It is going to be a long-term problem for Ireland. While travelling here in my car this morning, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, was on RTE radio speaking about rural Ireland and his Ireland 2040 plan. In the past few months...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am not; I am being honest. I was not in the Dáil or the Seanad at the time.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: What I am saying is that lessons have to be learned-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: No, hang on-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is crucial and very important that the Minister include all parties and that public meetings be held.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As spokesperson for housing in Fianna Fáil, I have major concerns. I have met Minister for Housing, Deputy Coveney, on several occasions. We have our housing meetings every Wednesday morning.