Results 4,821-4,840 of 4,931 for speaker:Mary White
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I disagreed with her but it was a pleasure to listen to her expert knowledge of the period when she worked with the former Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I had a visceral reaction to Ms Fitzgerald's Bill, having been a public servant. This country is in safe hands with regard to the quality of its public servants. It is wrong to call them an elite group who want to keep information to themselves. I never met public servants like that on any Government body of which I was a member. There is always information available if people look for it....
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: A controversial subject was raised and one member of the organisation, who never came to the meeting, said she would get information on it from the relevant Department under the Freedom of Information Act. I was repulsed by that. The woman did not go to the meeting but could then be controversial and freeze the discussion going on at the council.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: We could not continue the discussion because there was to be a freedom of information request. I look forward to Senator Brian Hayes's contribution. I will be interested to see how long he detains the House.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I have worked with public servants since 1962. They are an outstanding group of people of the highest integrity. We are privileged to have such an elite group serving the country. The failure of two or three politicians to hold such standards should not be used as an excuse to enact legislation where concerns about public disclosure will paralyse meetings and decision making. Those in the...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: Opposition Senators are seeking to cause controversy. They lack Government experience. If they were in government for long enough they would wish to make decisions without worrying about public disclosure.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: Exactly.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: Exactly.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I thought it was agreed earlier that Senators could not read their speeches.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: We will get our own back.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: Do not say that again.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I will take the Senator on.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I worked in the public sector which Senator Phelan has never done.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I have dealt with public servants all my life. The Senator does not know what he is talking about.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I have been there. I am a practitioner.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: The Senator is taking what I said out of context.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: That was the reaction to the legislation when introduced by Eithne Fitzgerald.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
Mary White: I trust public servants and the Government. The Senator is distrusful.