Results 4,781-4,800 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: School Staffing (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister. As we are from the same county, he should be intimately familiar with all the issues I intend to raise. I compliment Senator Doherty on putting the west on the agenda. It was time this was done. In the early 1990s, I returned from the United States, having lived there for four years. I saw an advertisement in the paper asking whether one wished to live in the west...

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What about the funding?

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am glad to hear it.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I hear it when the Minister is there. Perhaps the Minister can give me better news in respect of the outer city bypass, which is something of a joke.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Half of the outer city bypass is approved but the other half is suspended.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am trying to speak. The issue is that we have two arms of the State.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We have planning and the national parks and wildlife service. The Minister knows how much work was done in bringing that application to the planning stage, only for the national parks and wildlife service to knock it.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Something needs to be done about that. While the infrastructure is eventually on its way to Galway city, it basically links the city southwards as opposed to northwards into the entire region. The Atlantic corridor is to be upgraded to motorway status from Letterkenny all the way to Limerick. However, there is no sign that it will happen faster as a result. I would like to hear the...

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Very good. It is a political hot potato with people being misled. It is mentioned in the programme for Government.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like the Minister to document that in the text of his answer. I do not want to lose all my time because the good Cathaoirleach might just cut me off. I am delighted the western rail corridor is proceeding. I understand the link between Ennis and Athenry will be open by August.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am delighted to see that happening. However, the project needs to be kept going because until the western rail corridor runs to Sligo the region will not have the full benefits. While I know the Minister supports it, we do not want to see the funding in any way jeopardised. Can the Minister tell me when the Oranmore rail station will be open? I cannot count the calls I have received on...

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We need improvements on the interurban rail services. For example, the Galway to Dublin service was supposed to be an hourly service to allow people to put in a full business day in Dublin. For a trip from Galway to Wexford, for example, the only option is five hours by car, which is not good enough. Air connections from the west to international destinations are critical. Shannon Airport...

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In eastern Germany GPs are getting older and they are not being replaced. Instead telecommunications are being used to diagnose and treat people, and network them into centres of excellence via broadband and television monitors in order to link to the medical expertise and records. This is a solution we could use here but we are not doing it.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: First, we need the vision and, second, we need the broadband infrastructure. Let us consider the debate about BreastCheck, which does not cover people north of the Dublin to Galway line.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am disappointed to put on record that——

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. I would like to say, because of the toing and froing, I have probably lost two minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: As other speakers have indicated, the view is widespread among the public that there is a strong likelihood that Fianna Fáil is closely associated with the inner circle, the inner ten, in Anglo Irish Bank. This situation is leading to great instability——

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: ——both politically and economically. The reason people are suspicious includes the following: the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, did not show real muscle in dealing with the banks. He did not clear out the boards in line with good international practice; he did not adequately protect home owners; and he did not use his leverage to unburden hard-pressed couples with fixed...