Results 801-820 of 1,158 for speaker:Fiona O'Malley

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: When I became a Member of the previous Dáil, one of my colleagues referred to the tyranny of consistency, which is a problem when one is in Government and continues to be in Government. One must remain consistent and this is the one thing the Opposition fails to do.

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: Time and again the Opposition gives out about rising house prices but when these begin to moderate, Senator Hannigan refers to a crisis. The Opposition cannot have it both ways. As previous speakers have indicated, moderation in house prices is probably a healthy thing because prices were——

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: At least now there is some kind of moderation and houses become much more affordable.

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: I am ignoring the Senator's remarks so there is no point trying to take me off course. He might remain quiet while I make my brief contribution.

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: In preparation for this debate I took a look at Best of Times? The Social Impact of the Celtic Tiger in Ireland , which has a chapter devoted to housing and the housing boom. It states, "Despite its runaway appearance, the housing market in Ireland may be less precarious than in some other countries". It cites three reasons for this. The first is demographics. We have a growing...

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: Home ownership has become a reality for far more people than ever before. The Senator may not like statistics. I recommend everybody read this document.

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: I was quite surprised at the level of positivity it contained.

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: I will address some of the shortcomings as it might help Senators to settle.

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: The issue of homelessness has been dealt with in the strategy. The strategy, which is a ten-year one, is well under way. While a member of my local authority I chaired our strategic housing group. That was one area where we had a problem because in my local authority area we have a problem with homelessness, much of which has to do with the cost of housing and so on. Homelessness is not...

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: Again it is the tyranny of consistency in that sense. No Government gets everything right but one needs to recognise what is right and what strategies work and not to talk down the market, as is being done, by calling it a crisis when there is a moderation in house price increases. I am sure the Minister would acknowledge we have work to do in the homeless sector. I echo Senator de...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: I thank the Minister of State for clarifying a few issues. I am not certain about one thing. The Minister of State indicated that this proposal will bring the rules relating to ministerial pensions into line with the current practices for senior civil and public servants. We heard earlier today about the case of a former senior Garda inspector. I am worried about the distinction that has...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: He was denied a backdated pension.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: What about ordinary citizens? What happens to them when they miss deadlines?

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: I have not quite finished. The Minister of State suggested in his reply that it is not necessary to deal with this matter today, which is something that was also inferred by Senator Boyle. We need to make progress with the Bill, but that could be done even if this section were to be withdrawn. I do not want to put ideas into Senator Boyle's head, but I am interested in the notion that this...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: He could allow the rest of the Bill to go forward and deal with this matter at some future time.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: There is not much Senator Twomey has said with which I could disagree. It does not do any good in a republic to have people treated differently. What is the purpose, under a Bill entitled Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions, of this section? One can only assume the miscellanous provisions element allows anything to be introduced in the Bill but surely in...

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: I commend the Fianna Fáil group on tabling this motion. The most important thing one can have in life is a good education. As previous speakers have said, education never stops. While formal education might stop, it does not mean one's ability or hunger to learn should stop. However, what will influence that is one's economic circumstances and intellectual capacities. The Minister of...

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: I am delighted to hear that. It is a practical example of how we can enthuse schoolchildren. The bus, which contains science laboratories and the expertise to use them, travels to schools that do not have such laboratories. When the bus was running, there was a two-year waiting list of schools that wanted a visit by it. It ignites children's interest in science. I can recall from my...

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: The Science Bus offers a good investment opportunity. We might not see the benefit of it immediately, although children get great enjoyment from it, but we will certainly reap the benefits in the future. I welcome the focus on immigrant groups, in recognition that part of the problem in bringing people through the education system arises from a lack of fluency in English. I wish the...

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Fiona O'Malley: ——that will give people the confidence and independence education can offer.