Results 861-873 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (28 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon. School transport is a vital service to communities, especially in rural areas. There is a need for modernisation and I acknowledge the difficulty in making changes to the service. When the last Government introduced a very positive change some years ago to remove three-for-two seating, it was incredibly difficult to implement and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House. Fianna Fáil is supporting the Bill in a general sense. I strongly support the restoration of the minimum wage. I was opposed to its reduction and made that opposition known within our party at the time but was unfortunately unable to stop it happening. Unfortunately we have tended not to pay enough attention to the working poor and we tend to talk a...

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important issue, particularly for many families throughout the country. I thank Senator Keane for acknowledging the work done by the previous Government on this issue. The Minister of State appeared to accept that the introduction of a moratorium on repossessions has meant only a small number of repossessions have been carried out. This has...

Seanad: Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness: Statements (Resumed) (22 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I am pleased the Minister of State with responsibility for small business is present and welcome him to the Chamber. Small businesses have a significant value to the economy. Most companies employ fewer than 50 people and smaller businesses are better embedded in the local economy. While we have had major success in attracting large manufacturing companies to locate in this country and...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (16 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I wish to raise the issue of the trials of medical personnel in Bahrain which started last Monday. The Minister of State will be aware that over recent months there has been particularly harsh and violent repression by the Government of Bahrain of the fundamental freedoms of association, expression, religion and speech of its citizens. In March, a large protest took place which was...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I wish to share two minutes with Senator White.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I thank the Independent group for taking the initiative to raise this issue. I welcome the motion and agree with its proposals. I thank the Leader for his commitment to progress them and hope that it can be done via the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, CPP, as quickly as possible. I echo the comments regarding the 2004 report of the committee chaired by former Senator Mary O'Rourke....

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: As Fianna Fáil spokesperson on education and skills, I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his opening remarks. Personally, I am glad the supports for children with special educational needs are the first education issue to be considered by the new Seanad. For a long time the needs of children with special needs were not addressed in any meaningful way by the education system....

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I do not hear the Senator saying they were not needed.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: We did not hear complaints at the time from Members opposite.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: Is the Leader aware of the Government's timescale for legislating for the tax elements of the civil partnership legislation? I understand it is now intended to provide for these changes in a finance (No. 3) Bill, but I am concerned about the delay in bringing the Bill forward. The State has been recognising foreign civil partnerships since January and domestic partnerships since April. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: I recognise and celebrate the role of Members of this House, particularly Senators David Norris, Katherine Zappone and Ivana Bacik, in advancing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people over a long period. I urge the Leader to make the necessary arrangements for the finance (No. 3) Bill to be introduced in the House at the earliest possible opportunity.

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Averil Power: In that case I will definitely be keeping my maiden speech brief. I thank the Minister for being here for this debate. Tourism is Ireland's most important domestic industry, accounting for one in ten jobs in every part of the country and at every level. Tourism enterprises range from one or two people employed in a bed and breakfast establishment to huge groups in some bigger parts of the...