Results 1,041-1,060 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Ann Ormonde: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I support the calls for a debate on Northern Ireland. As regards a debate on education, many of the points made today would require several such debates. I would like our debate to focus on the transition from second to third level and on reform of the leaving certificate to facilitate the types of courses available. I compliment the institutes which have come a long way in facilitating the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I support Senator Quinn's call for a debate on the charity organisations. There is such an overlap at this time of the year that a debate is necessary.

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament. (27 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Cox. I was impressed with the detail given in his speech, and I am proud as an Irish person to witness his knowledge and his capacity to present the facts on the re-shaping of Europe, a prospect for whose realisation he feels deeply. Mr. Cox has said so much that I hope we can get a copy of what he has said at another time, because some...

Seanad: Address by Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon, MEP. (27 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: All kinds of everything.

Seanad: Address by Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon, MEP. (27 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome Ms Scallon, MEP, and thank her for giving of her time to provide the House with an insight on how she operates within her work agenda. She said she works in the policy area of transport and tourism and referred to what she described as a democratic deficit and a lack of communication.

Seanad: Address by Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon, MEP. (27 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: We have been attempting to address the democratic deficit in Ireland through the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs and the National Forum on Europe. What has Ms Scallon been doing to address it?

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: As regards the recent gas explosion in south Dublin, a report has now identified the problem and suggests that remedial action is necessary. When will remedial action be taken? This is becoming a national issue. I ask the Leader to convey our concerns to the appropriate Minister. Perhaps we could have a debate on the issue. The public wants to know when remedial action will be taken.

Seanad: Address by Mr. Joe McCartin, MEP. (26 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I am thinking about what Mr. McCartin said. It was fresh air to come in and listen to him. Given that he is retiring it is great we had the opportunity to listen to him here before that day comes because of his knowledge, experience and depth of understanding of how we can reach out to Ireland. I am delighted we have given him the right of audience to come before the House and tell not only...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (26 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and endorse the Government motion on the review of the overseas development aid programme. I love good politics but, listening to the Opposition, I have never come across such negative thinking.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (26 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I did not interrupt the Senator so he should have the grace to listen to me for once.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (26 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator is out of order. I do not know why he feels so threatened when I stand up.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (26 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: In 1997, a sum of £99 million was allocated to overseas development. This year €450 million was allocated and the figure for next year is €480 million. What are we talking about? It is ridiculous to say we are not doing anything and we have three more years to reach our target.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (26 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: We will not do this overnight and I am glad to see the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, here because there is no better person for the job. He has been monitoring the programme, overseeing how the money is spent and ensuring that it has been used to help orphanages, medical centres and schools in the poorest regions in the world and to improve people's lives. To suggest that we are not...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (26 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: Perhaps there is room for improvement but we might look at how the non-governmental organisations are doing their work and ask if the money has been spent properly. There can be a huge overlap in spending the money, an issue the Minister of State has addressed on many occasions.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: We did not have to be told, as the Senator well knows.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse Senator Bradford's point. We need information on the electronic voting system. I suggest that public representatives should have in-service training so we can help the electorate to understand electronic voting. It is an important issue.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, is revising planning legislation. It is important that we have a debate on the role of An Bord Pleanála because there are serious examples from all parts of the country of how it operates. What is the composition of An Bord Pleanála? We have received serious complaints about it and we should debate the matter in...

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I am more confused than ever about this issue. My views were clear this morning when I decided to do some reading on it. This is such a complex issue that the more one analyses it, the more one cannot reach a decision. That is the problem. The debate is extremely detailed. On one hand, we are being told about the benefits of stem cell research, while, on the other, arguments are being put...

Seanad: Address by Ms Mary Banotti, MEP. (13 Nov 2003)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome Ms Banotti to the House this afternoon. I intended to speak about all sorts of matters, but I think I will have to change my thinking. Having examined the details of Ms Banotti's workload since 1984, I have to compliment her for the manner in which she has conducted her role. She has always given the impression of doing her job in a dignified and unpolitical way, which is handsome...