Results 861-880 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With respect, I wish to finish this point. First, they did not ballot their members and the new deal proposed by the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Second, if I wanted advice on education, I would not go to a teachers' union.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Something is fundamentally wrong in this regard.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: A debate on this issue is needed in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Of course it is. I am not comfortable with the leadership.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I congratulate Noirín O'Sullivan on becoming the new Commissioner. She will be very good. I find her very genuine and open, and she is a good communicator. The force needs that open face. I wish her the best of luck in that role and think we should all strongly support her. I talk to the Leader and particularly Fine Gael about the changes proposed to the Finance Bill which must be...

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Gabhaim buíoch leis an Seanadóir as ucht an méid ama atá á thabhairt aige dom. Colleagues on this side of the House and I did not vote for the water charges bill last year for one reason. We could not get answers to basic questions about the costs that would be imposed on people. I have one question for the Minister of State. He was a colleague of mine on this...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The House should have an early debate on the teaching profession and the value society places on teachers. There is no doubt a successful society needs a successful system. We rely on teachers, in collaboration with parents and students, to deliver such a system. This morning, I listened to Professor Pasi Sahlberg speak on "The John Murray Show". Professor Sahlberg will visit Galway next...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We must allow teachers to speak for themselves, as trade unions do not always serve them well.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With all due respect, the unions are trying to encourage mediocrity among teachers. Since when were all doctors or teachers the same? Junior certificate reform is creating serious problems and teachers are to strike next Tuesday, fundamentally because they do not feel valued. Another serious issue coming down the line is the introduction by the Department of Education and Skills of a new...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like to finish my point. They were deeply worried about resources being stripped from their children with special educational needs. Professor Pasi Sahlberg stated this morning that 30% of children in Finland are provided with special educational needs supports as soon as they start school. It should be no surprise that Finnish schoolchildren perform so well. I implore the Leader,...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It was not just him.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I was struck by the words of Senator Colm Burke who said the Government has created 70,000 jobs. Let us clarify that: it is the entrepreneurial men and women of Ireland who have created the 70,000 jobs, against all the odds. Ireland is in a poor position in terms of tax competitiveness. We are 93rd in the world, by comparison with United Kingdom, our nearest neighbour, which is 33rd in the...

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Second Stage (19 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister and it is great to have in the Chamber the senior Minister who will be taking responsibility for this Bill. I will start by stating I am absolutely honoured to be a party to this Bill and to have worked with Senators Power and van Turnhout on the Bill. In particular, I compliment Senator Power on her courage today in sharing so much personal information.

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Second Stage (19 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That was not easy but it is what strengthens this Bill and has made it a Bill that Members hope and expect the Government will take. As Senator Colm Burke noted, we have carefully constructed this Bill with the support of Dr. Fergus Ryan, who is present. We hope we have all the i's dotted and all the t's crossed. There are three parties in every adoption story, namely, the adopted child,...

Seanad: Access to Finance for SMEs: Statements (19 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Nash, and wish him well with his new brief. Senator Quinn has led into what I wanted to say. As I said on the Order of Business yesterday, I am very concerned. I do not know whether the Minister of State is aware that the UK trade department is coming to many roadshows in Ireland to entice Irish small and medium-sized enterprises to set up over...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I seek a debate in the House with the Minister in charge of the equality brief. The Leader might be aware of the landmark judgment earlier this week by the Equality Tribunal which ruled in favour of a woman being promoted in a university in a case dating from 2009. Since the judgment I have been contacted by upwards of 15 women who also failed to be promoted. Apparently, the judgment says...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I was very annoyed at how elements in the extreme left treated the water issue at the weekend, particularly the terrifying threats to personal safety. Water has united everyone in the country, which is unique. It is an issue for the Government to resolve, and my appeal to those elements is to let the Government do so and do not distract from this job. I ask the Leader to arrange two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Ulster Bank (13 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What would Mr. Bell consider a reasonable percentage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Ulster Bank (13 Nov 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I take it that Mr. Brown thinks a 20% rate is too high.