Results 5,061-5,080 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: I need guidelines when there is a call for a debate. I keep a list in the office which I tick off when we get a Minister to come to the House. Should I scrap that, or what do Members want? I am annoyed at the statement about waffle. The Senator made a good point about Oireachtas committees. I believe they are under-resourced because "authority" — I do not mean political authority — never...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: The Minister for Education and Science is actively engaged in the obesity debate. He is giving great leadership on smoking, obesity and all the things which will make us healthier. Senator Maurice Hayes made the point that committees should be well resourced. He also referred to a letter from a woman in Dingle. I think we all received one, except for Senator Ross who said he did not get one.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Maurice Hayes also spoke about political strikes. He believes in the point he made, which was interesting and well made. The friendship between Members of the Independent group is wonderful.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator McCarthy referred to the marked drop in the number of nurses. Even when they qualify and get their degrees they go abroad. He referred to the commission on nursing and called for a general debate on nursing. Senator Paddy Burke inquired if I will be in charge of implementing the smoking ban in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I have no intention of being in charge of it. I do not smoke,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: He clarified that yesterday in the other House.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: He rectified what he said at the weekend.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Hanafin called for a debate on competition. Senator Ross said nothing good came out of Dingle, which was a joke.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: He then spoke about what he called a power struggle between trade unions, which he suggested was a danger to political life. We hope this will not happen. Senator O'Toole informed us that there are serious attempts to mollify the situation between the two groups. I hope this will be successful. Senator Coghlan called for a debate on Aer Rianta. He sought clarification on the situation...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: I do not spend my time rollicking around hotels.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: I share Senator Coghlan's praise for Aer Rianta's wonderful hotels. I will endeavour to have the Minister come to the House to inform us about this. Well done to the Senator on his Private Members' Bill. We were delighted to see it this morning.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Ulick Burke called for the Minister of Education and Science to come to the House before he moves on. He does not have a notion of moving on. He will stay put. The Senator also referred to the crisis in the science area, which is an ongoing one and I agree that it should be addressed. Senator Feighan referred to the IRFU, the GAA and the FAI. He alleged that all of these bodies were...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: I do not agree with the Senator. We are all in favour of all those wonderful sports. The Senator has tabled a motion on the IRFU. Senator Browne referred to a school in Mountmellick, which is building two classrooms rather than erecting prefabs. Between 1987 and 1990, the then Government sanctioned work of that kind at 300 schools. It was a policy which some Members will remember. I travelled...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That Seanad Éireann, notwithstanding the Order of 10 December 2003 requesting the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, or a sub-committee thereof, to consider, including in public session, the report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and to report back to Seanad Éireann within three months, now requests the...

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: This is good news.

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Does Fine Gael want rural housing? It has been baying for it for months.

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: That is not true. He has been here on many occasions.

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Why then is Fine Gael seeking rural housing?

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Wait until the people in Ballymahon discover that the Senator does not want rural housing.

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: He should withdraw that remark.

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Who told the Senator that?