Results 261-280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is hardly the point.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is not what he said.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: What did he mean?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I congratulate the Leader on inviting the President of the European Parliament to attend the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am delighted he will be here when we return. Having said that, I believe the Government is leaving it dangerously late to set a date for the referendum treaty. It has also been left dangerously late to inform the public of the benefits of the Lisbon treaty because many people are still very unsure what it is all about. There is a risk that it will be defeated if people do not know what...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Boyle should read the Health Service Executive report. There is a good example.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Senator is right.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by the President of the European Parliament: Motion (20 Mar 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to make a brief point on this motion. It has emerged, and I have had representations made to me in this regard, that if other Members could ask questions on that day, time permitting, depth and relevance could be added to the visit. This would mean we would have a chance to ask questions that we are asked by members of the public. We should try to facilitate questions from other...

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament (8 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: It gives me great pleasure personally and on behalf of the Fine Gael Party to welcome President Pöttering to Seanad Éireann. I welcome the tone and content of his remarks today; people will be very reassured by them. I thank him for the warm tribute he paid to the Irish men and women who have contributed to the development of the European ideal and for his tribute to Irish peacemakers and...

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament (8 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: ——promoting equality, tackling discrimination and promoting openness and tolerance. As a female parliamentarian I must acknowledge that it is the European Parliament that has championed many of the important gender and social issues which confront European policymakers and legislators today. When educated Irish women were emigrating and experiencing systematic discrimination in our...

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament (8 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I see his presence in the Seanad today as reinforcing that and as testament to the European Parliament's efforts to enhance co-operation and relationships between the Parliament and the member state. The European Union is first, last and always about people and their welfare. That must be at the core of Europe and its institutions. I thank President Pöttering for coming to speak to us...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is often said that a week is a long time in politics. Last week certainly gave meaning to that phrase. It began with Deputy Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil and by Wednesday he had announced his resignation, effective from 6 May. By the end of the week Deputy Brian Cowen had become Leader-elect of his party. It is extraordinary how, in politics, events can gather...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Kenny was doing his job.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: He will be very impressed.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the day Fianna Fáil met to elect its new leader, I offer my congratulations to Deputy Brian Cowen. Many challenging tasks lie ahead and the country is in need of serious, consistent and focused leadership to deal with the serious problems with which we are confronted. It is, however, very disquieting that on the day of his election, the HSE is meeting to consider cutbacks to the health...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State and welcome him to the House to go through what are effectively the Final Stages of this Bill. The amendments being discussed today have been subject to a good debate in the Dáil and clarify a number of issues which we have already discussed in this House. The Bill essentially obliges us to comply with EU law. It is looking at the issues of solvency...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome that because, as the Minister of State said, it is important given the very high level of insurance that Irish people take out. It is important that there is confidence in the market and the various providers and that the VHI continues to provide the sort of services which it has provided very effectively for a long time. However, it may be that those who are paying for private...