Results 19,561-19,580 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We asked questions about resources. No inferences were made about personnel in the Department.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The uncertainty experienced by prospective adoptive parents is disgraceful.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I used the word "disgraceful" because parents in this situation have told me that by 17 February it was apparent the agreement had still not been sent to Vietnam. The Minister might confirm the date on which the agreement was sent to Vietnam.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It still has not been sent.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is going this week.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am sorry; I missed that.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Bill, which deals with the Hague Convention, is in the Seanad, but at the same time the Minister is trying to finalise an agreement with Vietnam which has not yet been sent to the Vietnamese Government. It is a reasonable point to make that it would have been preferable if this had been dealt with before the legislation came in.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am glad to hear the Minister of State does not have any difficulty with resources. I hope that means he will be able to make progress on the Russian and Ethiopian agreements.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the decision to take only Committee Stage of the Adoption Bill today and to have the Report Stage debate on another day. This is much more satisfactory than what was originally planned. Unfortunately, the optimism expressed by the Deputy Leader in the House yesterday, when he indicated that tax receipts would be adequate to prevent the need for further budgetary measures, was...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (3 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Not before time.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Does the Deputy Leader agree that a new budget is needed that is fair and balanced and that addresses expenditure and taxation measures? Will he clarify when the new central banking commission will be established? Will it replace the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator? I assume those bodies will no longer exist under the new banking commission. Is that correct? Has the Government...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is the Senator criticising the Chair?

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We remember them well for the mess they made.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will there be an Order of Business tomorrow?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome Senator Boyle's statement that there are anomalies in the legislation. If the Government parties accept this, why were they not rectified? Why were the amendments tabled by Fine Gael not accepted in the Dáil? It is disgraceful for a Member on the Government side to admit there are anomalies, say they will be corrected some time over the coming year and expect those who are...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: A strong national engagement between the political system and the public is necessary. The public would not be found wanting were the Government to reach out.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: When the Government responds to our suggestions, we will know it is serious.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have good initiatives.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is in our motion.