Results 6,821-6,840 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: It is wonderful to have such a good debate. I appreciate the fact that the Government has put such thought into this section, for which I thank the Minister of State. I will do my best to respond to some of the remarks made and issues identified, despite the fact that there is no one behind me to help me out, but I will do the best I can. One of the issues identified by the Minister of...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: Senator Mooney inferred from my opening remarks that I was indicating that he should curtail his remarks or that we should not have a proper debate. My point was that we have very little time left to debate anything related to Seanad reform. We requested a number of times that Government give us time to debate this Bill and we were not given that time. It is within that context that I...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to make a comment on Part 1. This evening is an opportunity for the Seanad to ensure its legacy of commitment to its own reform, thereby leaving a legacy of genuine commitment to political reform. This evening we can do something immensely significant: we can focus on the good. Having spoken with most Senators, I know that everyone wants to achieve the good of Seanad reform. I know...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: Will the Cathaoirleach let me make them during the debate?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: Will you let me?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: These are just some preliminary remarks. I would be happy to do it at the beginning of the debate this evening.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I am asking questions of the Leader and my colleagues here.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: So the Cathaoirleach will allow me to make these comments this evening. I would be happy to begin the debate with those comments then.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: This evening is an opportunity for the Seanad to leave a legacy of commitment to its own reform, thereby leaving a legacy of genuine commitment to political reform, in our debate on the Bill tabled by Senator Feargal Quinn and me. Fintan O'Toole opined yesterday that the political reform project has run into the sand. It does not have to be this way. This evening we can do something...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (11 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am sure the information he provided will be helpful to South Dublin County Council and other local authorities. As I indicated, I appreciate the overall investment in social housing and the information provided by the Minister of State on how it will be broken down. I am aware that the Revised Estimates will be announced in December....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (11 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: Go raibh maith agat.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (11 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister of State. I have raised the question to ask for an outline of when South Dublin County Council and other local authorities can expect to receive details and guidance on the timeline and funding in relation to the budget announcements and, of course, the proposed housing strategy itself. During the first eight months of 2014, 97 families were assessed and placed into...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Register of Electors (4 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am somewhat heartened by it. I agree with him that it is good to identify these issues now. The draft registers are on display in local authority offices and people are encouraged to inspect them. The different measures identified by the Minister of State are helpful to know. I was with members of the Union of Students in Ireland last...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Register of Electors (4 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister of State. I ask him to outline what the Government is doing to raise awareness and to encourage citizens to register to vote ahead of 25 November, which is the voter registration deadline for the marriage equality referendum in 2015. It is essential to encourage citizens to register to vote and to vote, especially in light of the alarmingly low voter turnout figures...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: A new site has been set up on Facebook demanding a general election. As of 7 a.m. today, there were 7,000 followers.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Katherine Zappone: Undoubtedly, this has a lot to do with the public anger about the "lot of mistakes made in relation to the set up of Irish Water", as acknowledged by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, yesterday. I marched with the people in Tallaght on Saturday last. There were a mixture of reasons, they said, as to why they came out in their thousands there and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospitals Inspections (22 Oct 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Minister for his response. The Minister outlined how Tallaght hospital is responding to these reports and identified it as a good thing that these reports are being produced. It is helpful for the Minister to put on the public record the way in which the hospital is responding. This will offer support to the local community when they think about the hospital. The inspections do...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospitals Inspections (22 Oct 2014)

Katherine Zappone: That is noted and well spoken. I thank the Minister for his leadership.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospitals Inspections (22 Oct 2014)

Katherine Zappone: I am asking the Minister to outline the response of his Department to the report on the unannounced inspection of Tallaght hospital, which was published by the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, last Thursday. The report summarised the results of two unannounced inspections of Tallaght hospital in July and August of this year. The findings were disturbing and raised serious...