Results 18,521-18,540 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: What does the Minister of State envisage the budget to be? I have referred to the cutbacks to the smoking cessation programmes. How much threat is there to the budget and what has been the level of cutbacks to the programme?

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: What is the Minister of State's response to the cuts to the smoking cessation programmes?

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important we would get the final report on the activities of the office as soon as possible, prior to the transfer. I look forward to reading about the challenges in this area, what point the work has reached and the challenges for the future. I have outlined that they are fairly substantial both nationally and internationally. Perhaps the Minister of State would indicate when the...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: A year is excessive. The report should be made within a maximum of three months given that we are transferring the agency into the Health Service Executive and its operation is changing from being a separate office to having a subsumed role within the Department. It would be important to read an account of the office's activities and future priorities.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I hope the Minister of State will push to get it fairly soon.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (9 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State. Fine Gael will support his legislation, in line with our support for the rationalisation of State organisations. It is important, however, that the message goes out from this House today that our battle to address tobacco addiction is far from finished and remains a huge challenge to our health, education and wider social system. I will speak later of what...

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not agreed.

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister is paired.

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: No, we do not agree.

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister said he is paired.

Seanad: Confidence in Government: Motion (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: He would say black was white.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, it does.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Leader should stand up for reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is ridiculous. The Leader should stand up for reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Excellent.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yesterday a tough and stark budget was announced. I said then that we would judge it on a number of criteria, including whether it was fair, reforming, contained a stimulus plan and protected the vulnerable. It showed no evidence of any of these. It will hit the vulnerable, is very tough on families and provides little by way of a stimulus or job creation package. It marked the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is about time Fianna Fáil realised that.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Over the last few days, we have heard a new version from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the bank guarantee scheme, and this raises many questions. Today, hard working people in Ireland will find out the further cost of years of mismanagement by this Government. They will see tax increases, cuts in social welfare and threats to front line services to name...

Seanad: Tributes to Member of Staff (2 Dec 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I pay tribute to the work Shay Byrne has done in the Houses over such a long period. On behalf of all Fine Gael Party Senators, I thank him for his commitment and dedication and the support he has given to Members and the work of the Oireachtas during his time here. His work has been much appreciated by all of us. The quiet efficiency with which he and his colleagues work on our behalf...