Results 701-720 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: There have been successive Governments since 1971.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: Is Senator John Paul Phelan running as well?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: Absolutely.

Seanad: Telecommunications Structures: Motion (8 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I wish to share my time with Senator Mansergh.

Seanad: Telecommunications Structures: Motion (8 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I will be brief because many of the same points have been reiterated. I am glad this motion was put down, even though it was by the Opposition. This debate should take place. Every public representative in Ireland has faced the problem of these masts suddenly appearing. One must agree with aspects of the motion put down by Fine Gael. Concerns are raised when a mast goes up in close...

Seanad: Address by the European Union Ambassador to the United States (8 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the ambassador and thank him for an informed address. He considered the matters of EU membership, enlargement, and the relationship between the EU and the US. I was interested in his vision for 2020. I intend to read his script again as it provided much to consider in respect of the statistics provided on world population. In 2020, only eight of every 100 people in the world...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (1 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I thank Senator Brady for sharing time with me and I thank the Progressive Democrats for tabling this motion. I welcome the Minister and look forward to re-reading his script as I agree with many of the points he raised. There is not a family in the country that does not know about this subject. I think every family in Ireland has, at some stage, submitted a planning application.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (1 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I seek only to represent the plain people of Ireland to best improve the quality of life for all. I represent an area that has experienced urban sprawl with between 300 and 400 housing schemes, no community life, few residents' associations and no soul. I welcome the Minister's rural guidelines because I want to see a movement away from large urban areas. I seek a village concept that will...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse Senator O'Toole's comments on the workings of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. Anyone who, like me, listened carefully to media reports at lunchtime yesterday will have concluded that the PIAB is in chaos and has a major backlog of work and that most of its claims will ultimately come before the courts. Given the negative media attention the PIAB is receiving, it is good to...

Seanad: Mental Health Commission Report 2005: Statements (19 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and wish him well. He has shown great sensitivity in dealing with the problem of mental health and the quality of mental health services. I was distracted by Senator Norris's beautiful quotation, from memory, of a letter written by James Joyce. I share the author's sentiments as we try to move on from the past. This debate focuses on a vision for change for...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse Senator Kitt's call for a debate on marketing techniques used by banks in various towns. I have always understood the role of education was to discuss the concept of saving, rather than a specific business coming to promote its wares. While I love the idea of guest lecturers going into schools and having a debate, I condemn the idea that a particular firm could go into a school to...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: The draft register of electors is a mess because local authorities are applying different standards when compiling the register. We should address this serious issue quickly.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator should wait until the budget.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: A fair point.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: Fine Gael has not done anything there since it got into power.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish to read into the record of the House the Government's achievements to date before I express my own views. One third of Ireland's houses have been built in the past decade. House completions are at the highest level in Europe, with 20 units per 1,000 of population. This is well over five times the rate of our nearest neighbour, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I would like to see an overhaul of the processing of, and the assessment for, third level grants. If such an overhaul took place, it might overcome the problem with the interest on special savings investment accounts. Perhaps that is an area we might examine. I support Senator Brian Hayes's call for a debate on the register of electors. I would like the Minister for the Environment,...

Seanad: Energy Resources: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this debate and congratulate him and his Department on this impressive, wide-ranging Green Paper on energy. This is an issue that has many different facets and has serious implications for the future of the country and the economy. Energy policy strikes at the heart of practically every activity undertaken in the State. It has implications...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (11 Oct 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I wish the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, every success in the talks towards securing a permanent settlement in the North of Ireland. There is no doubt that it will be a great day for Ireland and our Government if that can be achieved. It would be a golden opportunity if, on the Taoiseach's return, and presuming he can find time in his work schedule, he...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (27 Sep 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State. Broadband is important and, as Senators all agree, must be available to every business, household and school. I support the amendment because the Government has acknowledged it must accelerate growth in broadband availability. The perception is that broadband availability is focused in cities and towns with rural and remote communities required to wait...