Results 1,161-1,180 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Browne is quite correct. I am not being funny now. With the break-up of marriages, I find there are local authority housing issues. The mother in the main gets the children, and then the father wants them at weekends but has nowhere to take them. Considerable numbers of fathers are looking for local authority housing where they can bring their children at weekends. It is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Indeed. Senator Kitt spoke of Seamount College and stated he would support the idea of getting a new site. Senator Cummins spoke of an article in The Sun. Although I did not see it, it was an awful thing to say. The disrespect for human life conveyed in that is unacceptable, and I thank him for raising it.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006 — Report Stage, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 3.45 p.m.; No. 2, Statements on the Appropriation Act 2006, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. and to conclude not later than 6.30 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes each, those of other Senators...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: They are so overcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I am sure they would.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Statements on the Appropriation Bill will be taken today.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: What about indexation?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Terry should be the candidate anyway.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I raised that matter on the Adjournment of the House last week.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: On a point of information, the matter was raised on the Adjournment last week.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: The wipe-out has begun in Longford.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: It was on television.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Finucane spoke about the HSE, which he said was originally heralded as a new dawn, and outlined areas of turbulence within the health services. However, turbulence is the stuff of life because the idea that one can wake up every morning and know that everything is correct is nonsense. Life consists of ups and downs and the health services employ and treat a huge number of people....

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Is it not wonderful that we have free speech? We can raise whatever matters we want to.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: It got a great hearing. I speak from personal experience. When I was Minister for Public Enterprise there were times when the first five items on the agenda related to that Department. My attitude was that was life and we had to tackle those items. It is not the case that everything is rosy and that everybody is basking in contentment about the health service and its staff. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I accept the Senator did not say any such thing. He did not even mention the person's name and neither do I because we are not allowed.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I am coming to that point. I wish to state that while the plaudits went to Mr. Walsh, the person who guided it, thought it through and implemented it was this person. I made inquiries before coming to the House and established that he is now tax compliant. The Senator rightly pointed out that our report recommended having people scrutinised by a committee. However, that recommendation has...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I did not know that. I understand it is a huge success. I heard a representative of An Post state it did not want any bank business and I do not know where the matter lies. Perhaps that is not the official position of An Post. Senator Ryan spoke about the HSE support staff — as opposed to its technical staff — who have a job to do and who may have gripes. The general support staff...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator spoke about transport for an elderly patient. Perhaps the Senator would like to raise the case as a matter on the Adjournment, which is a very good mechanism for addressing such a specific case.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Coonan spoke about rural services, transport, communications, An Post and broadband. Next week the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, will come to the House to deal with the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill, which will strengthen the powers of the regulator in dealing with the tardy response of Eircom. I hope the Senator will be...