Results 1,801-1,820 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Every polytechnic became a university. That is the most stupid thing of which I ever heard.

Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business which I hope will be agreeable to the Minister, Deputy Hanafin. It has the agreement of the Labour Party which has tabled the Private Member's motion at 5 p.m. Given that we are stuck for time and other Members wish to speak, it has been agreed that we can continue this debate for a further 15 minutes. This will mean Private Members'...

Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I believe the Minister will reply to Second Stage at 5.05 p.m., ten minutes before the conclusion of the debate. The Acting Chairman should not start the clock for my contribution yet as I am giving an explanation. Senator Mansergh wishes to share my time——

Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: ——but perhaps he does not have to do so as he can have five minutes at the end. I apologise for having to go into the matter in a convoluted way. I thank the Acting Chairman for his patience and the House for allowing the change. We will of course not finish the Private Members' motion until 7.15 p.m. which will push everything on, as the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill...

Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: All of them now enjoy startling success in fourth level education. I often wonder whether Ireland would have achieved the dominance it has in many areas of commerce if not for the institutes of technology. It was I who formulated the earlier legislation in 1991. It had just been printed when I left the Department and it was for my successor to manage its progress. This legislation was...

Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Phelan turned out well.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Every day.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: On the e-voting machines, I thank Senator Brian Hayes for his generous offer to the effect that this issue should not proceed on a cross-party basis.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: While that is a good idea, I do not know how my party would view it on a national basis. The Senator is right in saying that confidence cannot be undermined. I will send a note to the Taoiseach's office informing it of the Senator's suggestion, which I hope he has the right to make it on behalf of his party, as it would open many doors. While the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, is not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: In the case to which I have referred, people from Dublin are making the appeals.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Finucane discussed his case. If it had occurred under e-voting, there would have been a hue and cry all over the land. The Senator may well have been in another House if e-voting had been in place. That is the other side of the matter.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Indeed. The Senator is an avid attender and speaker in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: If we examine the matter on an all-party basis, we should put our hands up if we got it wrong. Having the leaving certificate exam available in the mother tongues of 22 nationalities is a remarkable achievement, a matter that Senator Fitzgerald did well to raise. He also made an affirmative reprise on the Christian Brothers, outlining what they have done for education during the past 150...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: He said that the New Yorkers would buy the machines, but I doubt that would be the case.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I agree with the Senator's comment that he regretted the disproportionate language of An Taisce. Senator Leyden referred to the RTE programmes that have been axed, namely, "Rattlebag" and John Kelly's "Mystery Train", and asked for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to discuss the matter in the House. The Senator asked whether RTE would have more reshuffles during...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: We will see. Senator Mansergh referred to the e-voting debate and An Taisce. He said this side of the House had reservations about the issue because we had been the victims of journalistic tongue-waggings by the gentleman in question, whose case for an extension I now espouse. He also said we had provided the co-chair of the UN reform committee, which is a good sign of our participation in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Bannon called for Abbeyshrule to become another airport. It is an airport already but he wanted it to be a second major airport. I would support that call but I doubt the Senator's colleague in Fine Gael meant to say Abbeyshrule. We could provide cross-party support for it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: He seems doubtful about it now.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I did not agree with Senator Bannon's earlier comments about the Government and will not join him in that regard. Senator MacSharry said An Taisce had done good work but that it had proved to be divisive and destructive. As somebody who comes from rural Ireland he made his point very passionately. He referred to the joint policing committees which the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law...