Results 18,841-18,860 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Stability in government is the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Boyle tweeted on it — it must be important.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Walsh is talking about his own Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Walsh is talking about his own politicians.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to raise two issues with the Leader, one of which concerns the debate we have had recently on education. It is critical to the future of this country that its reputation for education be maintained and strengthened at this difficult economic time. I am very concerned about the impact recent reports will have on our international reputation for education. It is critical that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is this private correspondence?

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was making a point about the status of children.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister to the House and I second the motion moved by Senator Healy Eames on behalf of the Fine Gael Party. It is very wrong of the Minister to come to the House and accuse Senator Healy Eames of raising this issue for publicity reasons. That is far from the truth. She is raising this issue because these questions on special needs education are on everybody's lips, as the...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not know why Senators on the Government side are reacting so much. They are overreacting to very reasonable questions that every parent of a child with special needs is asking.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: These people have had to fight really hard over a long period. I already pointed out that there are cutbacks, and most of these parents are not looking for more resources at the moment. They are trying to maintain what they have. We have seen repeated examples of a row-back on special needs supports in schools. The fact that 120 classes were cut last year adds to the worry of these...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will there be an appeals system? Can there be one? Is the Minister open to listening to parents and teachers about the impacts of these cuts? I am delighted Senator Healy Eames has tabled this motion. We want to reflect the questions being asked and we want to highlight the pressures on individuals and families and the potential deterioration in the progress of children who have special...

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the opportunity to debate this issue. I also welcome the Minster of State, as he played a key role in the committee's work in the past few months. It has been an extraordinary experience to be a member of the committee. I pay tribute to the Chairman, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, because, as Senator Alex White said, it was complex gathering together all of the work that had been done...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is a Fine Gael proposal.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is the Leader announcing a new policy?

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Leader has just announced a new Government policy.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Where is it now?

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: Trust and confidence in politics are at a low ebb. Trust in the Government and between the partners in government is also low. It is important, therefore, that we in this House do what we can to restore trust in order that the people will have confidence in the work we do. Tonight we will debate a motion on special needs assistants. We have heard many comments from Ministers that there...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am referring to his coming before the House to make a statement on the new funding he insists will be invested in the context of implementation of A Vision for Change.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State has indicated he will be making an announcement on 1 March. I request that the said announcement be made in this House in order that we might engage in a proper debate on the matter.