Results 1,141-1,160 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I have never in the relatively short time I have been a Member of this House encountered a situation where information of such critical importance to the discussion of a Bill before the House was not available. I had to run downstairs to get the report in the middle of a debate on an amendment. It is outrageous that I had to draft amendments without the information which has now come before...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: On a point of order, the fact that the position has changed so fundamentally would appear to have also fundamentally changed the position with regard to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is correct.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Government had it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: On a point of order, under Standing Order 63 of the House I propose a motion that we report progress on this Bill in order to allow substantial amendments based on the report of the Information Commissioner to be laid before the House later this evening.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is critical that we be allowed to formulate amendments on Committee Stage—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: —which we have been unable to do.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I am moving a motion under Standing Order 63—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: —according to the procedure of the House.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: The spirit of the Standing Orders of this House of the Oireachtas is that on Committee Stage we should be allowed debate substantial amendments. I am moving a motion under Standing Order 63 to that effect.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: This may appear an innocuous deletion on the surface but it goes to the heart of the principles of the 1997 Act. The then Minister of State, Eithne Fitzgerald, was trying to make Departments more open and transparent and one of her approaches was to make it as easy as possible for the public to access information. Those of us who deal with Departments on a daily basis forget how intimidating...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: The listing in Iris Oifigiúil is an important function. It underlines the principle of Departments being open, accessible and accountable in that Iris Oifigiúil is in the public domain and can be accessed, even on the Internet, by anybody who so wishes. While this may appear to be an innocuous deletion, it is anything but. It is one of the amendments which will make it more difficult for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I agree with the remarks Senators on this side have made in relation to the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill through the House. As the Information Commissioner and members of the high level group will appear before the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, it is imperative that the House delays its consideration of Committee Stage. It would be poor practice to fail to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: —are not accessing the grant.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: There is an extreme injustice. I ask that the Minister for the Environment and Local Government come to the House as a matter of urgency to explain how he is dealing with this serious matter.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I raised it on the Adjournment a few weeks ago.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I largely commend Senator White on her remarks. I was a Member of the previous Seanad and one of the most disappointing features on this side of the House was the utter decimation of the female representation in the recent election. Most female Members of the previous Seanad came from the largest Opposition party, Fine Gael, and many of them, who are fine individuals, lost out and did not...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: My point is relevant to amendment No. 1 which deals with membership of the Oireachtas and local authority at the same time. Women do not see themselves in leadership roles or speaking roles and they must be encouraged to do so. Women should be encouraged to speak out on community issues and to get involved in the town council and county council. That is where their voices should be heard...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I deal with mother and toddler groups, community groups and others who have a strong representation of women on issues relating to hospitals, health and caring. These matters are very close to the agenda of most women involved in even the most minor activities in their community. They are the ones we want to come on to local authorities. If the dual mandate is abolished and a number of us are...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: On a point of information, the Minister is deliberately misinterpreting what my colleagues have said.