Results 561-580 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: The legislation is necessary to prevent the collapse of trials such the Keane trial, in which gangland criminals intimidated people to avoid paying for what they did. As I said, I wish we did not need a Special Criminal Court, but we do. Therefore, it is incumbent on all of us, as legislators, to ensure we have the most effective criminal justice system possible and to give the Garda the...

Seanad: Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: I join colleagues in strongly welcoming the Bill and commend Senator Quinn for bringing it forward. I welcome the Minister of State's remarks that the Bill is accepted in principle. I hope we can move it forward at a faster pace than his initial response indicated. The early availability of defibrillators has been recommended in a number of different reports and much of the research work...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: I appreciate that the Minister of State is replying on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. However, I am disappointed with the reply provided for him which does not reflect the reality on the ground. While reference has been made to the additional posts allocated, they have been in the pipeline for some time and are not yet filled. The reply does not reflect the urgency...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: That would be appreciated. On the Minister of State's suggestion that I forward the letter to the Minister, I write to him weekly and the longest reply I have ever received is two lines. As stated by many other Members in the past, everything is referred to the HSE which cannot reply because it is constrained from a policy point of view. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am disappointed the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, is not here as this issue relates to his geographical area. However, I ask the Minister of State to highlight the issues for the Minister on my behalf. The reason I have tabled this matter is the need to discuss the chaotic situation regarding mental health services in the north Dublin...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: In response to the Minister's comment, unlike his Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, I accept that there is a need for increased sewerage treatment facilities in north Dublin. Neither myself nor other members of my party have ever argued that capacity should not be increased. However, we have questioned the logic behind having only one plant. We have argued...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: That is the kind of small-minded nonsense that one might expect from the Minister, Deputy Reilly, but we have not actually taken that approach. The Minister referred in his response to the fact that, on the basis of the figures published yesterday, the preferred site option will cost €80 million less than the other options. That is as much as he has said on the costings. Has the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: These are all important issues which must be taken into account and which, by the Government's own criteria, have to be taken into account. I ask the Minister to assure me that these elements have been costed and that he, as the line Minister who will be signing the cheque for this project and putting his own imprimatur to it, has seen those details. Will he further ensure that those...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: Fianna Fáil has been arguing since 2006 against having only one plant and is on the record in that regard-----

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: -----when it was proposed to locate it in Portrane.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: The Minister is not correct. He should check his facts.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: The Minister will have to check his sources on that.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: Even when we are talking about millions of euro?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: I genuinely think that-----

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: -----it is extraordinary that up to €1 billion-----

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: Before the Minister leaves the House, the Cathaoirleach accepted an Adjournment matter on a proposed sewage treatment plant for north County Dublin, which was tabled to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. More than a year ago, the Minister gave the House a commitment to investigate this matter.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: The Cathaoirleach ruled on this issue this morning. I am being entirely reasonable. In the past two days, my office has received a succession of telephone calls from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform seeking to transfer this matter to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I have refused to accept this suggestion because the matter I raise relates...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: His decision is offensive, not only to me but to the House.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: This project will cost almost €500 million, yet the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform does not believe it is appropriate to answer questions about it. That is an absolute disgrace.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Jun 2013)

Averil Power: While I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, to the House to debate this matter, the proposed massive sewage treatment plant in north County Dublin comes within the purview of the Department of the Public Expenditure and Reform. This matter was tabled to the Minister at that Department, Deputy Brendan Howlin, who gave a commitment to...