Results 7,921-7,940 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Alex White: I do not mind arguing the toss with the Minister in respect of this matter. Apparently, however, procedures do not appear to allow for that.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Alex White: I do not mind engaging in an argument. It might be possible to make more progress if we proceeded in that way.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Alex White: The Minister of State indicated the HSE has been given approval to recruit an additional 265 child welfare and protection staff, including 200 social workers, in 2010. He also stated that the recruitment process is currently under way and will continue until the additional posts are filled. How many of these posts have been advertised?

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Alex White: Approximately one year ago, I heard that an additional 270 social workers were to be recruited. How many advertisements have been placed in the newspapers in respect of this matter? Will all of the posts be net new posts? There was a suggestion at one stage that people within the system would be redeployed. I expect the Minister of State will be able to provide information in this regard....

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Alex White: With regard to legislation, I suspect we will motor along at our current pace, but from about the third or fourth week of June-----

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Alex White: -----to the middle of July, when the Houses will go into recess, there will be a torrent of legislation. Last year in July there were five or six Bills from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in a period of ten days. I do not blame the Leader, but it is an extraordinary way for the Government to run the business of both Houses. I am resisting the collapse into cynicism...

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Alex White: I thank Senator Doherty for sharing his time with me. Owing to an oversight on my part, I thought this debate was to continue into the afternoon. Therefore, I am grateful to have time to contribute. I listened carefully to what Senator Brady said. I have rarely heard a more balanced and fair-minded treatment of the current situation in regard to industrial relations and the Croke Park deal...

Seanad: Code of Conduct for Civil Servants: Motion (12 May 2010)

Alex White: It is important to have this discussion and I welcome the fact that the Green Party has facilitated it. However, we are just skimming on the surface of a much more profound set of problems. While I agree with the proposal, none of us should fool ourselves into thinking that if we introduce such a measure it would confront or deal with many of the fundamental problems and concerns we have...

Seanad: Code of Conduct for Civil Servants: Motion (12 May 2010)

Alex White: I am reasonably certain. I may be less certain about a by-election than some other things. I am looking forward to many things. Of course we would prefer to be considering an actual proposal of legislation rather than stating we look forward to it. I agree with Senator Twomey on that point that it is harmless enough. From the point of view of it facilitating a discussion, I am prepared...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

Alex White: I agree with the previous speakers. While I am an optimist by nature, for the past two or two and a half years many Senators have called for this type of a quality debate but no steps have been taken in that direction. I am afraid I am rapidly becoming a pessimist in relation to the attitude taken towards this Chamber by the Government. This is unfortunate because I would much prefer to...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

Alex White: We will see if anything happens because nothing has happened.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

Alex White: If there is to be a debate across the Chamber, will we be allowed to interrupt the Leader when he concludes the Order of Business? I never interrupt him. It is interesting to note the new approach he is taking but if that is what he wants, he can have it in spades. He is not interested in having a real debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

Alex White: In respect of something the House can do, I listened yesterday to many colleagues commenting on the statement made by the Archbishop of Dublin. While people have every right to comment on the issue, as to what the archbishop meant and so forth, I did not choose to engage on the matter because it is one for the archbishop and the church. I am interested, however, in what we, as...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Alex White: Good luck with it.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Alex White: On a point of order, I seek the protection of the Chair. To make a political charge is not to smear a member of the Government. To make a political criticism is not a smear.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Alex White: It is not a smear. The Senator knows what smears are.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Alex White: At the time the bank guarantee was provided in September 2008 the Minister for Finance said in this House that a compelling argument in favour of the Government's actions was that it would protect our economic sovereignty. In truth, our economic sovereignty and room for manoeuvre have been steadily eroded since. In a radio interview yesterday the Taoiseach was asked about the Government's...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Alex White: When he describes economic and budgetary policy, he talks about what is expected of us by the European Commission instead of taking a strong, robust and independent line, as Senator Fitzgerald has said, on job creation and the development of the economy, thereby coming across in a positive way, as the Opposition has, with actual proposals as to how we, as a sovereign Irish Government, could...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (6 May 2010)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 37: In page 45, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "(2) Regard shall be had to the views of the child, having regard to the child's age and understanding. Prior to taking steps under this section, the court shall give such directions as are appropriate where the Health Service Executive proposes to take steps to which the child does not consent.". We had a...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (6 May 2010)

Alex White: It is necessary to remind the Minister of State of precisely what he said on Committee Stage: I am inclined to accept the first part of that amendment, which states that "Regard shall be had to the views of the child, having regard to the child's age and understanding, prior to taking steps under this section". I think it is worth inserting that in the Bill. I will therefore accept that...