Results 9,161-9,180 of 9,471 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: Recommendation No. 1 is in the name of Senators Reilly, Ó Clochartaigh and Cullinane.

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister to the House. In general, an updating of ports policy is welcome and on this basis, I welcome this legislation. However, the Minister will be aware that politicians in the west have had particular difficulty with the legislation, specifically the decision which still remains active, to place Galway on the lowest rung of ports in this country. I, therefore, very much...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Family Law Cases (24 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to deal with this important matter. In September the Department of Justice and Equality announced that it was of the opinion that there was no need for a referendum in order to establish a system of specialist family law courts and rather it could be done by legislation. What is the timeframe for dealing with that legislation?Despite...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Family Law Cases (24 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. We all know that anyone who enters the family law system does so as an option of last resort. I welcome, in particular, the commitment given that judges will be appointed full time to the District Court and Circuit Family Court which is a positive step forward. I also welcome the commitment to facilitate, as far as possible, the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Industrial Development (18 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank him for taking the time to deal with this important issue. In light of yesterday's encouraging unemployment figures, the lowest since 2008, it is more important than ever that we should not take our eyes off the ball. The Minister agrees that we must do everything we can to continue to drive the recovery and the best way to do that is to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Industrial Development (18 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister for his detailed reply and I welcome his engagement with the relevant agencies. I appreciate that work is going in the background but, given the number of agencies involved, there are many different moving parts involved. Leadership is needed whereby one person can pull all those moving parts together to make sure there are targets, delivery times and a timeframe. That...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome Senator Máiría Cahill to the Upper House. I congratulate her and her family on her election to the Seanad. I wish her every success and look forward to working with her. I would also like to add my voice to those who have expressed sympathy to the people of France and particularly to the families and friends of those who were injured and who passed away during the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to raise the issue of prostitution, particularly in light of new research by the Immigrant Council of Ireland. Its research indicates that Galway is still an attractive destination for prostitution and the associated criminal human trafficking, and has the third highest level of online prostitution after Dublin and Cork. Brian Killoran, chief executive of the Immigrant Council of...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Bill before us, once enacted, will pave the way for the long-overdue ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. One of the commitments in the programme for Government involved the ratification of the convention; therefore, I very much welcome the legislation. The Bill will repeal some antiquated legislation, namely, the Lunacy Regulation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Credit Review Office Report: Discussion (10 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank Mr. Trethowan for his presentation and commend him on the work he has done. On the number of cases his office handles, is he confident that its message is getting out there and there is sufficient awareness about the services it provides? We have all heard the radio adverts and so forth. Is there any analysis of where people would have heard of the service? He made reference...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Credit Review Office Report: Discussion (10 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the delegation.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I raise the issue of injecting rooms, which drug users in Galway will be able to use from next year onwards, according to the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. It appears that two sites are under consideration for housing these injecting centres. While I am not objecting to the plans per se, full consultation is...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I, too, welcome the Minister. This is welcome and progressive legislation and the Minister and his officials are to be commended. When enacted, the legislation will ensure aftercare plans will be put in place for all eligible children and young people leaving State care. This is the first time, as far as I am aware, that children and young people will have the right to an aftercare plan,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to refer to the reports relating to the commission of burglaries in the Knocknacarra area of Galway by drug-fuelled individuals, a matter which has received attention in the press today. It has been alleged that the perpetrators of the many burglaries being committed in the area to which I refer are out on bail. While I stress that these are only allegations, I wish to highlight the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Air Services Provision (14 Oct 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important matter. Recent events relating to the provision of air transport to the Aran Islands have again highlighted the vulnerability and disadvantage of those striving to keep our island communities alive. In that light, I very much welcome the signing of an interim air service contract for the islands. This will...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Air Services Provision (14 Oct 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. It must be borne in mind that while some would say these communities are economically insignificant, they are living, breathing parts of our culture and must be supported. The Minister of State has said that quite clearly this morning. I am concerned about the issue of consultation. The Minister of State has outlined details of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to refer to yesterday's budget announcement, in particular as regards the focus on child care and the investment of €85 million, an excellent first step in supporting children and families with quality and affordable child care. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on child care with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs? Many positive measures were announced yesterday,...

Seanad: Budget 2016: Statements (13 Oct 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome today's progressive budget and I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Time does not permit me to go into all the areas that were raised today in the budget but, in general, I welcome the 2,260 extra teachers, the reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio for both primary and second schools, the respite care grant restoration which is a key area and the reduction of the USC right...

Seanad: Budget 2016: Statements (13 Oct 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am finishing up shortly.

Seanad: Budget 2016: Statements (13 Oct 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: Finally, I wish to refer to a very important issue. I know the Minister of State has a special interest in the area of special needs provision. I welcome the €15 million in budget 2016 to improve support for special needs children.