Results 661-680 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is fine. There appears to be no obvious justification for this legislation, which, as Senator O'Rourke said, leads one to question the real agenda behind it. I find myself in agreement with the Minister's comments at the beginning of his speech this afternoon. He stated: "The policy that underlies this legislation is in keeping with the wider package of Government policies designed to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: We are here to deal with just one item of legislation and it has become increasingly clear over the weekend that we are, in effect, wasting our time. It has now emerged that there are drafting and technical errors in the Bill so it is clear that even if we pass this legislation over the next two days the Dáil will have to reconsider it in the autumn. The question once again arises: why are...

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I raise a Dáil amendment which has not come back here and which relates to the leave provisions for bereaved fathers in the event of the death of the mother during a post-confinement period of maternity leave or the additional maternity leave period. This was brought to my attention by Deputy Moynihan-Cronin, who asked me to raise it today. She raised it——

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is what I am trying to establish.

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Minister of State can perhaps clarify the position.

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: On behalf of the Labour Party, I commend the Minister of State and his officials for their work on this legislation. I have not been present for all debates on the Bill as it went through the House. My colleague Senator Tuffy was dealing with the matter but I have been urging her to rest because she is expecting a baby in August. The point that Senator Cox has raised is extremely interesting...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: On a point of information, can the Minister of State make available his notes to Senators because this is technical material?

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: Clearly the Minister adopted the same approach in the Dáil as in the Seanad which was to take on board as much as possible the concerns of Opposition Members. While a number of the amendments are technical, they are significant. On the issue of the rules of court we had extensive discussion on Committee and Report Stages on how they would operate. The Minister takes a particular view of that...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I had a feeling that might be the case.

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I welcome the amendments. They appear to put in place a useful, user-friendly and important framework. Sections 33 to 38, inclusive, have been enhanced through debate in the Dáil.

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister of State for setting out the amendments. Clearly, the Minister listened during the extensive Seanad debate regarding the relaxation of the in camera rule. It is a difficult area. In general, I welcome the amendments and note the Minister intends to bring forward regulations by order which it will be very important to consider. While the Minister is meeting the concerns of...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: We do not know if they are consistent.

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for the exceptional work done on this legislation. In my seven years in the Seanad it has been one of the most satisfactory debates because of the attitude adopted by the Minister of State. He has been open and has listened to what all Members had to say. In particular, he was prepared to accept amendments to the Bill. In that regard, one must...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: It was a concern of the public.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I welcome the review of the Freedom of Information Act by the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service and I note that it will report in due course to both Houses. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on the report when it is completed? Will she use her good offices and considerable authority to ensure the Government listens to the recommendations of the committee? When I heard on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: They are not.

Seanad: Hazardous Waste. (7 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: In the seven years I have been in this House, I have raised this matter more often than any other. That is an indication of the long running nature of the problem, how difficult it has been to make progress and how frustrating attempts to sort out the remediation of the tailings pond and other abandoned mine sites in the Silvermines area have become. The tailings pond is 147 acres of tailings...

Seanad: Hazardous Waste. (7 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his reply which is comprehensive but not satisfactory. I wish to put the Department on notice. I ask the Minister to communicate this on my behalf and on behalf of the local community. There is a serious short-term problem. The Department will probably have to spend more money pursuing Mogul than it would cost to rehabilitate the site. The length of time it will take...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Motion. (7 Jul 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I commend the Minister of State on his clear and extensive overview of the achievements of the Irish Presidency and I appreciate that he concentrated on the matter of the EU constitution. As the countries of the EU prepare to put the constitution before the people in the coming years, it will be a matter of significant concern to all politicians and not only Government politicians. I must...