Results 41-60 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (31 Oct 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is an honour to pay tribute on behalf of the Fine Gael group to Joe Sherlock, a former Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to know him during my time as a Member of the Dáil and I was always impressed by his deep commitment to the people he represented in the Cork East constituency and to the causes dear to him. Throughout his 40 years in...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Motion for Earlier Signature (31 Oct 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: On a point of order, am I correct that the Green Party Members, Senators Boyle and De Búrca, did not vote on the earlier division on section 16 of this legislation?

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Motion for Earlier Signature (31 Oct 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is there disagreement in Government on this?

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Motion for Earlier Signature (31 Oct 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: Where is the collective responsibility?

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to return to the crisis in child care and read to Members some comments sent to me by e-mail. My correspondent wrote: Dear Senator Fitzgerald, today the Government made the decision for me that I shall only have one child. Up to now I had been trying to hold my ground against the grinding increases in all of life's necessities but finally my husband and I must admit defeat. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is the reality.

Seanad: Cosmetic Surgery (1 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: Writing in his column in The Irish Times this week, Dr. Muiris Houston raised valid questions regarding the lack of regulation of cosmetic surgery clinics. He asked why, for some inexplicable reason, the Minister for Health and Children established the Health Information and Quality Authority without giving it responsibility for private clinics. He also asked why a situation is allowed to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to have a debate on breast cancer services before the House takes No. 1. Senators will share my concerns about what has emerged since the House last met. Women's faith in the health service appears to have been permanently damaged. In light of information which has emerged in recent days, every woman who has had a test for cancer will wonder...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (7 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is difficult to know where to begin. Many community groups are in panic about this measure. This has been introduced in a clumsy way and without adequate consultation with the sector. Had there been adequate consultation, meetings would not be taking place throughout the country, every partnership in the country would not be calling meetings of their providers to try to tell the...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (7 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: Why does the Department not have the data? Why does the Minister of State not know how much the scheme would cost if he were to make the changes and still include many of its beneficiaries, who come under the label of disadvantaged and who need the child care service? It seems decisions were made far from the reality of the desperate need of parents to access child care. There seems to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is agreed. Will the Deputy Leader indicate if the Minister for Health and Children has agreed to come into the House to discuss cancer care services, particularly breast cancer care services, as we asked for yesterday? We have just come from a meeting with Professor Drumm. I did not get an opportunity to ask any questions, nor did many of my colleagues, but I make the point that...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of the issues I want the Minister to address when she comes to the House is that question of governance and responsibility for health policy and administration, which are two different aspects. Part of the confusion about the health service arises because nobody is answering the question, namely, who is responsible?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: What is the role of Professor Drumm and the Health Service Executive in respect of policy or is it service provision? We need an answer on that from the Minister for Health and Children. I would be grateful if the Deputy Leader could indicate whether the Minister is coming into the House to address those concerns. On a separate matter, I hear there is interest in promoting some of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: Was that a cynical laugh?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: If we are to have Dáil reform and we have a full report on Seanad reform but no action on the issue, it will lead this House into disrepute. I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Government about the action that will be taken on Seanad reform in this term.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am glad of the opportunity to discuss the need for the Minister for Education and Science to recognise the urgent need for a secondary school in south Lucan in light of the growing population in the area, and the figures available to her Department of primary school children in the area who will require a second level place. The Minister and her departmental officials should meet the south...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last week Senators across the House were very keen for the Minister for Health and Children to address the Seanad and discuss the crisis in breast cancer care services and the fact that women had been misdiagnosed. I am disappointed the Minister was not in the Seanad last week and apparently will not be in the House this week either. Will the Leader comment on that and let the House know...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are two more very disturbing reports today, which make it even more urgent that she attend the House. It is shocking that somebody had enough energy to make some calls to RTE, which led to Professor Crown——

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: Somebody had the energy to make calls, which mysteriously led to Professor Crown not being on the panel.