Results 4,801-4,820 of 4,931 for speaker:Mary White

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: I am delighted the Minister is here again because I thoroughly enjoy the sessions when he is in the House. He is a politician whom I did not know heretofore, but he is a pragmatic man and I congratulate him on having the courage and conviction to push through this dual mandate aspect of the Bill. It is easy for me to talk about this matter because I am not a county councillor. When we...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: I do not dispute that, but I am talking about overall participation.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: I have not been lost for words since the day I learnt to speak.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: I see the abolition of the dual mandate as an opportunity—

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: The Oireachtas is a man's club. I see the abolition of the dual mandate as an opportunity for women to go forward for election. It is unnatural that women comprise only 13% of the Members of the Oireachtas, particularly in view of the fact that they comprise more than 50% of the population. It is most undemocratic that there is such a low level of participation by women.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: It is undemocratic and unjust that there is such a low percentage of women in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I agree with Senator Bannon—

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: —that nobody is stopping women contesting elections, but I see the abolition of the dual mandate as an opportunity for women. As I said, I am not a councillor so it is easy for me to speak. However, I would like to see women rise to the challenge because there will be approximately 123 vacancies which women could seek to fill. I agree with Senator Bannon that nobody is stopping women...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: We have to be strong-minded. Every man in my life, from my father to my husband to men in business, wanted to help me. I was chairwoman of my cumann in Fianna Fáil where I found that men helped me. I am the eldest of six children, so I am not easily intimidated. Women need a helping hand to go forward and they require encouragement.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: I compliment the Minister on being a pragmatic politician. Technology changes by the minute. The same is true of business because there is so much competition, but I find social change only occurs on a piecemeal basis. I congratulate the Minister for expediting opportunities for women to rise to the challenge and to avail of the abolition of the dual mandate.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: It is one's own fault.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: It is undemocratic.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: It is to do with society.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: Two.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: The Minister said that women candidates melt away when sought. The Minister should appoint a body to study why that is so and why, with 50% of the workforce now women, only 13% of Dáil members are women. There is something seriously wrong if women are melting away when there are 123 new opportunities available. A consultancy group should study why women are not going forward. I was...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: She deserved it.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: The Minister spoke about reform of local authorities and county councils, the elimination of the dual mandate and defining the powers of the local authorities. I eagerly await the day when the people in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway can elect their own mayor.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Mary White: It will define the role. There are major examples of icon mayors throughout the world, such as Mayor Giuliani, who have defined a city. These mayors have been given powers, but the power of the mayor here is confusing. I would be supportive of such a reform in the future.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Mary White: I have no problem with it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Mary White: I am not a technical expert on the Bill. but, having been a public servant for most of my working life, I feel that there has been an amount of tongue in cheek in contributions from the Opposition side of the House. Senator Quinn spoke about trust in the public service and the Government. He and I do business together and we trust each other 100%. I do not understand why there cannot be such...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Mary White: Senator Ross's accent is not particularly Irish and that is why I thought I was in Oxford or Cambridge. It was a joy to listen to Senator O'Meara.