Results 6,181-6,200 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Members wish to have the time available to them to deal with the Finance Bill, for which there is a timetable. I am prepared for the House to continue with Report Stage of this Bill until 4.10 p.m, but the question should then be put.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I am extending the time for Report Stage from 4 p.m. to 4.10 p.m., but the question must be put at that time.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the commencement of military action by a United States led coalition against Iraq, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and on which Senators may share time. There will be a sos from 1.30 p.m. until 2 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Coghlan referred to the Competition Authority report on the professions, in particular, the legal and medical professions. For a long time Senator O'Toole has been calling for a for a debate on competition law. Perhaps the latest report could form the catalyst for such a debate for which I believe the Tánaiste would be interested in coming here. We will not be able to have a general...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: We do not. The way the war is being depicted strikes horror into me. It is being depicted like a third rate movie with bangs, illuminations and breathless commentary. These are heightening it as if it was an event with a capital "E" rather than the terrible thing it is. I watched it recently on Fox Television which portrayed it in a "gee, gosh, golly" way all the time. I am surprised at the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Yes, I am conscious of that aspect. In relation to the references to RTE, I will make a telephone call to that body as soon as I get back to my office. "Oireachtas Report" involves both Houses and the proceedings in the Seanad are covered in quite some detail. I was not aware that an edition of "Oireachtas Report" is not included in tonight's television programme schedule. I will make...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That Seanad Éireann, noting the commencement of military action by a United States led coalition against Iraq; –reaffirms Ireland's commitment to the United Nations as the guarantor of collective global security and as the appropriate forum for the resolution of disputes threatening international peace and security; –condemns the continued refusal of the Government of Iraq over a...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: His time is up.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, for his generosity with his time and open approach to debates such as this, which does much to raise the tenor of the Seanad. It is clear that none of us approves of war or wanted to go to war. How could one unless one was of a most avaricious or bloodthirsty mind? On balance, we regret very much that war without the go-ahead from the United...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003 – Report and Final Stages. There will be a sos from 1.30 p.m. until 2 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: We missed the punch-line.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Some Members may not be aware – although I did make an effort to obtain the information for them – that there will be a debate on Iraq tomorrow which will take the form of a resolution. I have not yet received the wording of the resolution, but it will be sent to everyone later today. The debate will be as relevant tomorrow – if not more so – as it would have been today.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Coghlan supported Senator Bryan Hayes on the postponement of Report Stage while Senator Quinn said today's debate was a waste of time because amendments would not be accepted. He also alleged that consultants were standing idle for reasons beyond their control.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator is entitled to answer.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: When I spoke on Second Stage, I brought up the fees issue. This is an enabling section, giving the Minister authority to introduce fees by regulation or some other means but it is too punitive. I ask him, as did the proposer and seconder, Senators O'Meara and McDowell, to look benignly at this section. It will cause hardship and limit the amount of information which may be obtained in various...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I would not bet on it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Has the Senator got the manifesto?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: It was.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: As Leader of the House, I would like to state this Bill has been debated for 27 hours in this House over all Stages. Any Bill that evokes so much debate is an important one and there is no point in saying it was rushed, rammed through or guillotined, as it was not.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I want to make that quite clear.