Results 9,341-9,360 of 9,471 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yesterday's budget was a modest and prudent one. The objective was not only to sustain our economic recovery but also to reduce the deficit. We are acutely aware of the sacrifices the people have made over recent years. This budget is the first step in ensuring the benefits trickle down throughout the country. I am particularly delighted with the tax reliefs for the farming sector, which...

Seanad: Budget 2015: Statements (14 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Let us be clear: to implement such a promise would leave a €1 billion hole in our finances over the next two years. What we have done is provide additional supports to those in need, including our pensioners. Will the Minister of State consider an issue relating to motor tax? If one pays one's motor tax quarterly, it works out far more expensive than if one pays it annually. A...

Seanad: Budget 2015: Statements (14 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Today’s budget means we have managed to turn the economy around. The economy is growing again, and it means we have righted the sinking economic ship left to us three years ago. The Government took some very difficult and unpopular decisions in order to do so. We have had three years of deflationary budgets. Every year for the past three years, the Government took money out of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I, too, welcome Senator Craughwell and congratulate him on his election to the Seanad. I wish him every success during his tenure and I look forward to working with him. It is a great honour for him and his family and I wish him every success.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: At 1.15 p.m. next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Proposed Special Educational Needs Model: Discussion (8 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the witnesses. I also welcome the proposed new model for the allocation of resources. I understand the new model would be cost neutral as it would be based on current numbers and would not result in the creation of new posts. Is that the case? On the rationale for not relying solely on the medical model, is it the case that some students who may not have a medical need will...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to raise the positive news that joblessness has fallen by nearly 10% in Galway City and county over the past 12 months. The national trend is similar, with another decrease indicated in the recent CSO figures, bringing the unemployment rate to 11.1% from a high of over 15% when the Government came into office. By my reckoning, the national decrease in August was the largest monthly...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome yesterday’s announcement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the new requirements for the management of grant funding provided out of public moneys. These new rules will ensure transparency, accountability and value for money. It should be noted the new requirements apply to all funding received out of the Exchequer, no matter how that money is distributed....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (2 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to raise the Irish Hotels Federation quarterly barometer survey which was published on the 26 September. It revealed a very strong year for the tourism industry in Galway and beyond. The IHF report highlights the fact that 87% of hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation proprietors have increased their business this year. The overall tourism figures are up 10%. It is also good to...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Council for Forest Research and Development, COFORD, all-Ireland roundwood production forecast 2011-2028 illustrates the increasing production potential from Irish forests, which will almost double to 7 million cu. m from the current 3.79 million cu. m. The harvest from private forests is forecast to increase tenfold within this timeframe....

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2014: Discussion (30 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Vice Chairman. I apologise but I will be obliged to leave in a few moments. I welcome the witnesses. Head 2 is the usual provision enabling the Minister to grant further functions under the Act. While this is quite in order, I would prefer the granting of further functions to be done with the addition of a requirement for consultation with the relevant Oireachtas committees....

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Senator Darragh O'Brien's time is up and I did give him a little extra time.

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: The next speaker is Senator Katherine Zappone.

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Minister of State wanted to speak earlier. Senator O'Brien does not have to second the amendment now.

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to apologise to Senator Darragh O'Brien, who should have been allowed to second the amendment. An error was made in regard to the order of speakers.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister of State and his officials and also the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, for the amount of work put into this legislation. I commend the Minister of State on being open and receptive to the different viewpoints on very complex and sensitive issues. I congratulate him on his appointment. The legislation will be dealt with thoroughly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister. Under what subhead does the pay for school chaplains come? I think that is in programme A. The Minister may not have the figure to hand at the moment. I had difficulty getting the exact figure for last year. I know it was in excess of €9 million a number of years ago; the Minister may need to revert on that figure. I ask because, although I have no fixed...

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Given the recent surge in the property market, I propose to raise the issue of gazumping - where a vendor accepts a higher offer for a property after a sale has been agreed. This practice may not be illegal, but it is immoral. As we emerge from the recession, many people in Galway and elsewhere are trying to get their foot on the property ladder, while others are seeking to trade down....