Results 4,861-4,880 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Like previous speakers, I welcome the publication of the Cassells report and the recommendations for addressing the funding crisis in the higher education system. This report makes it clear that there is a funding crisis across our third level education system and that more funds need to be invested in this sector to accommodate the young population. There has been a decrease in Exchequer...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water Services Infrastructure (6 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, to the House. I am seeking clarification and a commitment from Irish Water to allay residents’ fears with regard to systems installed by county councils in housing estates over the past 50 years where main water and sewer lines pass through households, gardens and yards. In October 2015, the then Minister for the Environment,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water Services Infrastructure (6 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister's of State reply. This issue must be addressed seriously and urgently. A timeline is important. The old age pensioner I mentioned cannot come up with €2,500 for this work and every house on his road is affected because they are all experiencing problems relating to their water and sewerage systems. Will the Minister of State come back to me as soon as...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish to propose an amendment in line with non-Government motion 6 on the Order Paper. The Fianna Fáil group proposes: “That Seanad Éireann calls for a Seanad committee representative of all the political groups to be established in order to examine councillors’ terms and conditions, including PRSI class K status, pension rights and other related matters and that...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes. Following the 2014 local government reforms, the areas served by councillors have expanded and their workload has increased. In counties with a small population, like Carlow, councillors are faced with a shortage of funding to carry out even basic works like grass cutting, for example. This leads to a lot of frustration. Councillors have to deal directly with communities who are...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Senator O'Donnell is correct that the noise was very loud.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely. It is not only important but essential that the Minister sets up this committee to liaise with AILG, LAMA and all of the political groups. Councillors deserve a proper stamp and pension rights. I was a councillor for 19 years on Carlow County Council, and like other councillors and Senators who have been councillors previously, I was honoured to represent my community....

Seanad: Local Authority Members' Terms and Conditions: Motion (5 Jul 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I move:That Seanad Éireann calls for a Seanad committee representative of all the political groups to be established in order to examine councillors’ terms and conditions, including PRSI class K status, pension rights and other related matters and that this committee consult representatives of both the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authority Members...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am very disappointed to realise that the pay-by-weight system the Minister agreed to a week ago has not been clarified. My Fianna Fáil colleagues and I will agree to the Sinn Féin amendment. I proposed yesterday that the Minister address the Seanad. A week ago, we agreed there would be a 12-month freeze for everyone and that there would be information and consultation so that...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: May I raise a point of order?

Seanad: Waste Disposal Charges: Statements (30 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister. I have to say I am a little confused. I spoke to the Minister about this issue last week. I have three or four questions for him and I want him to answer them for me. I thank him for coming in to clarify these matters. The Minister said last week that it had been agreed that there would be a 12-month freeze from 1 July 2016 to 1 July 2017. He said there would be an...

Seanad: Waste Disposal Charges: Statements (30 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes. It will be available in January 2017. I am trying to get my understanding of these issues confirmed. I understand that as part of these arrangements, the transitional 12-month period for the operation of the pay-by-weight system and of the wider waste market will be reviewed. I also understand that when a decision is being made on the arrangements beyond 1 July 2017, the intention...

Seanad: Waste Disposal Charges: Statements (30 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.

Seanad: Waste Disposal Charges: Statements (30 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I spoke on the pay-by-weight issue last week. There is confusion. The Minister needs to clarify this for us, especially for the people using Greyhound and other facilities. I would like the Minister to come to the House to explain the situation. I believe it will be sorted but we need confirmation of what the situation is. In the last local elections, the name of the Leader programme...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will give the Minister of State a brief synopsis of this matter. The Holy Angels Day Care Centre opened in Carlow in 1978 in the basement of Carlow's old district hospital by a Presentation nun, Sister Columba. She was given a cheque for £100 from the south east health board and with the names of five children with special needs from the local area, Holy Angels was set up to provide...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Will I not?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is the same situation.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Do I have to finish?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: This is so important because unless one knows the particular details-----