Results 7,021-7,040 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I have a comment to make and a question for the Leader but I do not know if it might be somewhat pre-emptive. I am sitting here waiting for an official announcement from the Cabinet that we will have a referendum on marriage equality. I acknowledge the comments by Senator Bacik earlier and I am delighted to hear her optimism which I share. Should that come, and I believe the announcement...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I have a question for the Leader but I want to acknowledge the leadership of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, also and the thousands of people who have marched for marriage equality in the past five years. Obviously, we are not there yet. I am looking forward to a very respectful and robust debate. I believe and hope the Irish people will...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Katherine Zappone: Welcome back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: Not being a member of the joint committee, I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to raise some questions. I also thank the witnesses for their brilliant presentations and for placing such expertise at members' disposal. I will refrain from giving a speech on a topic that is very close to my heart, but I have specific questions to raise. I do not know whether there have been many...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for being with us this evening. I welcome the motion, and especially the work of Senators van Turnhout and Conway and others, and I also welcome the eloquent remarks Senator Fiach Mac Conghail. Having listened to the contributions so far, I believe we can all conclude that none of us, not least our colleagues in the Gallery, wants the...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Taoiseach for taking time out of his schedule to be with us today. His presence demonstrates a willingness to accept the strong voice of the people as expressed at the ballot box in favour of reform. There can be no doubt the Irish people voted for a new and reformed Seanad on October 4. If the previous general election gave the Taoiseach a mandate to hold the Seanad...

Seanad: The One Percent Difference National Giving Campaign: Statements (22 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan. It is a pleasure to follow Senators Martin Conway and Labhrás Ó Murchú, both of whom spoke with great passion on this important issue. The launch of The One Percent Difference campaign is an important step towards the development of a culture of strategic giving in Ireland. As I understand it, it effectively represents the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I express deep gratitude to the people who exercised their civic duty to vote in the recent referendums, regardless of how they voted. To vote is a patriotic act at the core of an expression of Irish freedom. It is also an act whereby one enters the territory of collective responsibility for how the country is governed. It demonstrates a very welcome resistance to the culture of...

Seanad: An Appreciation of the Life and Work of Seamus Heaney: Statements (3 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: Minister, distinguished guests and fellow Senators, as my friend Senator Fiach Mac Conghail whispered to me earlier it is a healing time for us here this afternoon, especially as we are able to feast on the words of Seamus Heaney and our reflections on them. What an extraordinary experience it is to do this in the presence of Marie, as a way of us offering our deepest sympathy to her. I...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wholeheartedly welcome this Bill which has been introduced by Senator Quinn and is supported by Senators Barrett and Norris. Having listened to Senator Hayden, it is a loss and a pity that the Government did not draw on her expertise to write a Bill that we could be discussing here now. However, that did not happen so we have before us this...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I will only take another 30 seconds. Let us be frank about this, a vote to oppose this legislation today is a vote for banks and investors. Banks have been calling the shots in this country for too long. I support small businesses' need to survive and expand. That is why I urge my fellow Senators to support the passing of this legislation today.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 8: In page 20, before section 23, to insert the following new section: “23.--(1) Not less than one year and every twelve months thereafter following the commencement of this Act, all public bodies shall prepare and submit a report to the Standards in Public Office Commission detailing the documents and activities undertaken pursuant to this Act, including, but not...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I was going to suggest to the Minister if he rejected the amendment that it should, perhaps, be provided that the Minister's Department would receive notification of all whistleblowing within the public bodies and that this should then be reported to an Oireachtas committee.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 9: In page 5, line 6, after “THE” where it firstly occurs to insert the following: “PROMOTION OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION THROUGH THE”.I argued on Second Stage that the legislation must encourage people who have information in relation to wrongdoing to come forward. I know that the Minister agrees with...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate what the Minister said. The amendment was an effort on our part to provide more clarity in terms of the aim of the legislation. Am I correct in terms of the Minister's response, that it would result in a narrowing of the prevention of corruption? If, instead, we had suggested only the promotion of transparency and accountability would that have been acceptable or is it that...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: Okay. I will try to come up with something better.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: Will the Minister comment on what is meant by "actionable" in section 16? Obviously, we are trying to step up the protection of the whistleblower by increasing the level of penalty. Comparative or international best practice would be to have guiding principles. Our legislation must provide for no disclosure without consent and should provide for anonymous disclosure. The group of...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment 7: In page 19, between lines 44 and 45, to insert the following subsections: "(3) Every public body shall adopt guidelines pursuant to the operation of this Act and ensure that they are provided to all workers employed by the public body and shall ensure that all workers are aware of this Act. (4) The Minister shall prepare and publish, within twelve months of the...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: No. I will take it that the Minister will reflect further. As the Minister is aware, in the UK legislation, it is a 25% reduction and not a 50% one where bad faith is proven. The UK took out the good faith standard and put in a bad faith standard, which we do not have in our legislation. It is something to consider.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 4: In page 15, lines 15 to 19, to delete subsection (1) and substitute the following: "(1) A person to whom a protected disclosure is made, and any person to whom a protected disclosure is referred in the performance of that person's duties, shall take reasonable and available measures to ensure that they do not disclose any information that might identify the person by...