Results 4,841-4,860 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: They did not set up Irish Water.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is Fianna Fáil doing the right thing.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We have done the right thing. People cannot afford it.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Fianna Fáil did not set up Irish Water.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We have Minister.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: On a point of order, we discussed local authorities and mix-ups with Irish Water and the Minister of State indicated he would revert to me on the issue.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is a point of order because the matter relates to the manifesto to which the Minister of State referred.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: May I seek clarification on the manifesto about which the Minister of State spoke?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: May I ask a specific question?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am very disappointed as this is a serious issue.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am disappointed that is the case. I will speak to the Minister of State when the debate concludes.

Seanad: Citizens' Assembly: Motion (15 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Fianna Fáil Party will abstain on the vote to set up the establishment of the citizens' assembly. We believe the issue is of such sensitivity and complexity that it cannot be adequately dealt with by putting together 100 citizens. Fianna Fáil favours a judge-led commission which would be able to call and listen to various interested groups. It could provide a coherent report...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish to address the leader of the Fine Gael group about a disappointing matter. Three weeks ago, I put down a Commencement issue for the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, relating to Tír na nÓg respite services. I am very disappointed because on the day I received an insufficient reply. What should happen when a Minister is called to the House to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Tenant Purchase Scheme (13 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish to discuss the need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to amend the terms of qualification for the new tenant purchase scheme so that people on social welfare are not excluded. It has been over two years since a tenant purchase scheme was brought back to local authorities to enable tenants to purchase their homes. I am very disappointed in this. How...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Tenant Purchase Scheme (13 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: On a point of order, we have had no tenant purchase scheme in any local authority for nearly three years.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Tenant Purchase Scheme (13 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: To clarify, the scheme was introduced in January and the local authority in Carlow only sent out the forms in March, so in my eyes the period in question for the scheme to be examined was only three months. My point is that no scheme was in place for the previous two and a half years. We have a housing crisis. From what the Minister of State said, everything must be addressed, including...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Tenant Purchase Scheme (13 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes, it is very good.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Previous speakers have spoken about back-to-school expenses, but it is frightening to think that in 2012 it cost €686 for a child to go back to primary school and now it costs €967. It cost €1,090 for a child to go back to secondary school in 2012, while it now costs €1,474. To know that parents have cut back on food is frightening. As I have said to the...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Fianna Fáil supports this Bill in principle but it will be putting forward amendments to it on Committee Stage. I welcome all of the contributions thus far on the Bill. I would like to put it on record that Fianna Fáil was the only parliamentary party to oppose the abolition of the Seanad in 2013. I believe reform has started in the context of the 42 new Senators elected in 2016....

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Fianna Fáil is happy to support this motion. We need to ensure that people with disabilities are given equal opportunities and access to essential services. Some 13% of the population is classified as having a disability. I hope the new national disability inclusion strategy, which is due to be in place by the end of 2016, will reflect this. I think this is crucial. I also welcome...