Results 5,681-5,700 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am concerned about the two accounts of rogue solicitors that have come to light in the last few days. This is a very serious issue. These solicitors have been abusing clients' accounts to fund property deals for themselves and for personal gain. I ask the Leader to check with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whether new legislation is needed to protect homeowners and...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Not without fall-out.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Government.

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I am disappointed the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has left the House given the importance of today's debate. I congratulate Senator Regan on the timely nature and relevance of the motion tabled. I am an ordinary citizen, a mother and an educator and I am concerned about the growth in crime rates in our society. It should be...

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: May I finish?

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Many of the people to whom I refer who have been taken into custody have false paperwork and the Garda cannot obtain background information on them. If the force had a comprehensive database similar to those in other countries, it could match up DNA samples. I would like it if the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would take on board the three points I made in respect of...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I did not get the opportunity last week to express my sympathy and horror at the brutal murder of Manuela Riedo in Galway city. The people of Galway city and county are shocked. It is a different murder in that it has an international dimension. All murders are horrific but this was exceptional in that the young girl was in the country only two days. I, as a Member of the Seanad, checked...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Chairman. I compliment the gardaí in Mill Street in Galway on the manner in which they have dealt with the tragedy. They have presented a good picture of Ireland internationally. As Members probably know, there are two German-speaking gardaí in Mill Street and they have communicated daily with the victim's family to present a better picture of Ireland internationally. I do...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I support Senator Joe O'Toole on the need for an urgent debate on Brazilian beef. I ask that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food be invited to the House to address the matter. The real issue concerns the need for appropriate labelling of beef, in respect of which we have already enacted the necessary legislation. It is a consumer issue and a matter of pubic health and we need...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Science to the House to have an urgent debate on the fact that our education system does not suit at least 20% of children at second level. They are not being retained in the system and an ESRI report issued last week stated many are drifting by the age of 15. The failure to retain pupils in the system has serious implications...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The problem has serious implications and follows on from what Senator Dominic Hannigan said about literacy and learning problems. Appropriate educational provisions should be made available at second level to address them.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: He did not respond.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Absolutely.

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, for attending the debate. I am a Senator from Galway West and I represent the west's perspective in the national context. My speech is much longer than the time available to me. The Minister for Transport and the Marine, Deputy Dempsey, addressed the House at the start of the debate. Despite what he said about what has been done by the...

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister, whom I have met on a number of previous occasions in various educational contexts. As the Fine Gael spokesperson on education and science in the Seanad, I welcome the Labour Party motion that no child should be denied access to education on the grounds of religion or race. This follows from the position articulated by my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, in the Dáil...

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: For the overall good of society, we need to embrace diversity in our publicly funded State-run schools. The time has come for a national debate to address important questions such as whether the current model of denominational education is suitable to our needs.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am summing up. I was sure I had timed myself accurately. I apologise but I am somewhat nervous, so I appreciate the Acting Chairman's intervention.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Do we envisage an integrated education system in which all races and religions are welcome or are they only welcome when signed up to denominational education? That is dangerous because the issue will then become one of access and enrolment policies will exclude rather than include children.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Fidelma Healy Eames: If the two steps of forward planning and a national database are taken, we will have fewer problems with selectivity and the exclusion of children. That is the way to build a fairer society in Ireland.