Results 981-1,000 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: My office was informed by the Government Chief Whip that emergency legislation would be introduced and that it could not be announced what it was about, only that it related to health. I came to the House at 6.40 p.m. and announced that the Order of Business would be amended and the sitting suspended until 10.55 p.m. A Bill put forward by an Independent Senator was being debated in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I was not told what the Bill was about.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I want to be clear on this. I made the announcement in the House. I did not say what the legislation was because I was not empowered to do so. At that time, two Independent Senators were in the House, one of whom had brought forward a Bill which was widely accepted and one of whom spoke on that Bill, as did I. The Official Report makes clear the times when Senator Norris and I spoke. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I do not care what was said afterwards. I can only tell Members what I was told. One of the gentlemen sitting there said it was on the advice of the Attorney General that the Bill would have to go through the House in this fashion, as it did in the other House.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I cannot tell whether his advice was wrong. I can only repeat what I was told. What was said afterwards is a matter for Senator Browne to bring to a tribunal if he so wishes.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: We are lucky to have a gutsy Minister for Health and Children who took it upon herself to be in the Chamber for three hours in the afternoon——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: ——go back out and have a meeting, prepare the legislation, bring it through the Dáil and present it to this House. She came here prepared to be upfront with anyone in the Chamber.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: It is difficult if people keep shouting. I do not shout back.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Had this emergency legislation not been put through, there would be uproar in the House. If the loophole had not been filled, we might have found ourselves in a precarious financial situation. One can imagine the shouts and roars there would have been in that eventuality. Senator O'Toole spoke about the report on teacher education. Senator Ulick Burke raised the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: They do so in years one and two so they get plenty of practice. I agree, however, that the report was loaded.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Its terminology was loaded and we should debate it fully in this House. I have met parents who have already raised questions about primary teachers and it is a serious matter for the future of primary teaching. We will ask the Minister if she is available, not next week because her schedule is full but the following week. Senator O'Toole also mentioned the difference in the signage in...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Ryan said the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 was not passed before midnight and so was invalid. That remains to be seen.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I am very glad to answer. I did not speak with the Attorney General but the Minister told me of his advice. I cannot be any clearer than that.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: The legislation had to be cleared——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I cannot say whether the legislation is valid.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I reported what the Minister for Health and Children told me. I can do no more than say that.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: To repeat, the record of the debate shows that I was acting on advice that came to me from the Minister for Health and Children, who reported it from where she got it.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I am telling the truth.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Let me be clear, I did not act unilaterally. Obviously, I acted on the advice given to me and if there are 45 tribunals, that is what the answer will be.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Whatever. There are enough tribunals. Senator Ryan also raised the issue of Palestine, as did Senator Mooney, and called for a debate. We simply do not have the time on the calendar. The matter will be considered for the future. Senator Mooney also mentioned the report on immigration and integration and I agree with him. It is proceeding in too haphazard a fashion and without any...