Results 821-840 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: School Staffing (15 Dec 2011)

Averil Power: I refer to the impact on disadvantaged areas of the education cuts included in the budget announced last week. I ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the rationale behind the cuts. It is extraordinary that the Government decided to target some of the most severely disadvantaged areas in the country for such savage cuts. It belies the claim made by it that it would protect...

Seanad: School Staffing (15 Dec 2011)

Averil Power: I acknowledge the Minister has stated he intends to put in place some alleviation measures. However, I do not understand how he can stand over these changes in general. There is a need to simply reverse them altogether. Again, I ask whether the long-term cost of this measure was considered, not simply in the departmental budget but across Government expenditure as a whole. Time still...

Seanad: Health Awareness and Physical Fitness: Motion (23 Nov 2011)

Averil Power: I thank Senator Coghlan and the Independent group for tabling this motion. It is great for the House to have the benefit of his sporting expertise and that he is doing something worthwhile with it. The report was excellent. It was not just a stark reminder; it contained a lot of statistics which were quite frightening on the current position and where we are heading in terms of the obesity...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

Averil Power: It is.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

Averil Power: I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business to bring the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government before the House to discuss the ongoing situation in respect of Priory Hall. Members are aware that the residents of Priory Hall have been living in unprecedented and cruel conditions in recent months. Many of us have raised this matter in the House during the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Averil Power: In the bin.

Seanad: Reform of Junior Certificate: Statements (8 Nov 2011)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank him for his opening remarks. Fianna Fáil welcomes the proposals published by the NCAA. We appreciate that it has been the culmination of much work, both by NCAA staff under the direction of Anne Looney and by the consultative board led by Tom Collins. I also appreciate that these proposals represent just one part of work being carried out on...

Seanad: Garda Stations (27 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: I take the opportunity to raise a serious issue, namely, cuts to the Garda budget this year and beyond and the impact this might have on services to the people of Dublin North-East. Earlier this year we were privileged to have the visits to Ireland of President Obama and the Queen. I understand the policing aspects of these visits cost €35 million but the benefits for tourism and other...

Seanad: Garda Stations (27 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: I note the Minister of State did not rule out the closure of Howth or Malahide Garda stations. Has the Government a list of Garda stations in north-east Dublin that it is considering for closure or downgrading? While I accept the Minister of State claims no final decision has been made, when it is, it will be too late for people in the area to make their dissatisfaction clear to the...

Seanad: Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011: Second Stage (25 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State and join my Fianna Fáil colleagues in supporting the Bill. Greyhound racing is a fine sport which, as Senator Ó Domhnaill mentioned, makes a significant contribution to the economy. It is also a great night out at a reasonable cost, which is an important point to remember in the current economic environment. As has been pointed out in the debate so far, the...

Seanad: Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011: Second Stage (25 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: In fairness this legislation was first introduced in July 2010.

Seanad: Priory Hall Development (20 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister for remaining on for this debate. The matter I wish to raise is very important. Last night, I attended a meeting of about 130 residents of the Priory Hall development in the Regency Hotel, where they are currently staying. People are very upset. There are families with babies and small children and elderly persons residing in hotel accommodation. There are three or...

Seanad: Priory Hall Development (20 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister for his commitment to intervene in respect of mortgages and to talk to the Department of Social Protection. It will be a comfort to residents to know that the Government will talk to the banks and ask the Department of Social Protection to look after them. I know the Minister is looking at changing the building inspection procedures in the future. We would all agree on...

Seanad: Adult Education (13 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I am glad to have the opportunity to highlight the need for the Department of Education and Skills to maintain 2012 funding for Laneview Learning Centre Dublin 17 at the current level. As the Minister of State will be aware, Laneview is an educational centre in Belcamp, Dublin 17. It takes referrals from the local HSE methadone clinic located...

Seanad: Human Trafficking and Prostitution: Motion (12 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State and thank Senators Zappone and Mac Conghail for their opening remarks on this motion and the Independent group for tabling it. I also acknowledge the work Ruhama, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Turn off the Red Light campaign have done on this issue over a long time, but in particular in recent months, and in building a coalition across all sectors...

Seanad: Investment in Science, Technology and Innovation: Statements (11 Oct 2011)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive address. There is no doubt that investing in science, technology and innovation will be an essential part of restoring growth and job creation in the coming years. However, when it comes to continuing to attract multi-million euro investments to Ireland and, as the Minister of State, making us world class in this respect, the quality of...

Seanad: Youth Services (29 Sep 2011)

Averil Power: I urge the Government to provide the same level of funding for the City of Dublin Youth Service Board as it has done heretofore in order that it can continue to support the Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service. The project is based in Darndale and covers the entire area of Dublin 17, including Priorswood and Coolock, which as the Minister of State will be aware, is one of the most socially...

Seanad: Youth Services (29 Sep 2011)

Averil Power: I appreciate that the Minister of State is here to represent the Minister and acknowledge that it is difficult for her to answer some of the more specific questions posed, but I urge her to talk to the Minister about them. While that was a good general response written by the Department in acknowledging the value of youth work, there was not a great deal in it about the Sphere 17 Regional...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2011)

Averil Power: Senator Barrett raised the issue of the qualifications of mathematics teachers. I agree fully that all teachers should be highly qualified in their subjects. However, merely looking at academic qualifications does not give one the full picture. The Minister is taking an extremely simplistic and ill-thought out approach to this important issue in education. We need to look at the results...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2011)

Averil Power: It is the only one that has been spoken about.