Results 721-740 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

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

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to the House. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this legislation. I read many of the speeches which were made in the Lower House. I have also read the Bill and the submissions which were made available by the Irish Haemophilia Society. I have listened to the families of those who were infected by the contaminated blood...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Ann Ormonde: The Tánaiste and the Government should be congratulated for introducing this badly needed legislation. The Tánaiste has said that everyone who receives a compensation award at the tribunal under the existing legislation will receive a special health card and will automatically qualify for insurance cover. Two other components of support, the compensation scheme and the special health card,...

Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I also welcome the Minister to the House and acknowledge her interest and feel for this subject. The Institutes of Technology Bill 2006 is one of the most important pieces of education legislation to be brought before the House in recent times. It is a timely, forward-looking and progressive Bill. It reflects and recognises the environment in which higher education organisations are required...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Ann Ormonde: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I support the call by Senator Brian Hayes for a debate on the banking industry's issuing of credit cards. It is a well known fact that the information provided is not transparent. There is a great deal of room for more clarity concerning how credit cards are issued. I call on the banks to provide more education and knowledge about one's possible credit limit in any given situation. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: On the relationship between alcohol and drugs, I take the point of Senator Fitzgerald that a holistic approach is needed. I am strongly of the view that there is a significant role for parents which is being neglected at present. There are various relevant groups such as community groups, local authority fora in which the local police are involved, residents' associations and public...

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State whom I have heard speak eloquently on this subject many times. She has a great understanding of the problems that exist in this area and how we must tackle them. I support her observation that education is a lifelong process and one from which we should all benefit on a daily basis. I look forward to working with her on this and any other issues she may decide...

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I could talk for Ireland on this subject.

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: If career guidance teachers are available in every VEC area, they can tap into the locality where problems exist. VEC colleges provide a ready made network, as do FÁS offices. Duplication in the provision of some courses must be examined because money is being wasted. VEC committees should not run two courses in the same area on, for example, engineering. This is not solely an issue for the...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and I also endorse this Bill's subject matter, the provision for the accession of the republics of Romania and Bulgaria. This will give effect to an enlargement that must be completed by December 2006. Last week, I visited Lithuania and Latvia as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and witnessed their transformation from a commitment...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Government decision in respect of significant funding for research and development. It will be a great boost for education and training and the business world. For too long we have been in a vacuum in establishing links. This is a golden opportunity to open up all the institutes and to enable third level students to move on to postgraduate research and development. It is a great...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Second Stage. (8 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, and compliment the Government and the Minister, Deputy Cullen, on bringing forward these new measures. As one who constantly drives up and down the country I welcome the fact that speed cameras will be put in place. I also welcome the prohibition on the use of mobile phones, particularly by truck drivers. While on the mobile phone they do so...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I wish to make the same point as Senator Norris. While I may not agree with the amendments — I compliment the Minister and the Minister of State on bringing forward this legislation in such detail following round the clock analytical observation of the process — I want to listen to the discussion on them. Although I probably would not agree with the last amendment tabled by Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I read the committee's report on literacy but have difficulty accepting it. I would like the Minister to explain the situation. I know she has her heart in the right place with regard to adult literacy. There has been a significant increase in funding and the VECs have put forward many programmes to counter the escalation of difficulties in the area. There is another question we must ask. The...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (24 May 2006)

Ann Ormonde: Having read section 22(1), I was disappointed to see that once a member of the board becomes a local representative, a Member of the Oireachtas or an MEP he or she will cease to be a member of the board. I could not understand the thinking behind that but, having informed the Minister of State of our displeasure, he will hopefully rethink the matter.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (24 May 2006)

Ann Ormonde: I know but I just wanted to put on record that I was displeased with that section and I want the Minister of State to be aware of that. It is a shame that members of local authorities in particular, who have experience in transport matters in their own areas, would be excluded from membership of the board. In that regard, I am displeased about section 22(1)(d).

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

Ann Ormonde: It is timely that we have this debate now to focus minds on this issue again, particularly in light of the tragedies that occurred over the last year in Meath and Offaly. I am sure the Minister was anxious to come to the House to outline her views and the progress to date with the school transport system. I will use some headlines from her speech to show what progress has been made. As the...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

Ann Ormonde: If the Senator interrupts me, he must allow me to interrupt him when he speaks. There are improvements in the service. The number of pupils required to establish and maintain a primary school service has been reduced from ten eligible pupils to seven. That is positive. The threshold for the post-primary service has been reduced to four eligible pupils, provided a minimum of six fare paying...