Results 1-20 of 204 for speaker:Lisa McDonald

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I call for a debate on the important issue of a university for the south-east region. Waterford Institute of Technology is ready to become a university. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Education and Science to the Seanad to debate this matter? Approximately 40% of the workforce of my home county of Wexford is dependent on the construction industry. It is unhealthy for any area to...

Seanad: Coroners Bill 2007: Second Stage (4 Oct 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I welcome the Bill. Unfortunately, unexplained deaths, murders and accidental deaths have become commonplace in our society. There were days in the not too distant past when people would have been shocked and the whole country would have reeled at the circumstances of such deaths. Nowadays we have become more and more attuned to modern day living and accidental deaths. It is obvious that...

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Lisa McDonald: There is a tendency on the part of Opposition parties to conjure up a crime crisis following a spate of individual murders, despite the fact that there is no statistical basis for so doing. The Fine Gael Party recently called for the Army to be drafted in to deal with crime. In reality, however, this year's homicide rate is lower than that which obtained last year, with some deaths...

Seanad: Suicide Prevention Strategy: Statements. (24 Oct 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I greatly welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. We should continue to highlight the issue, rather than considering that our commitment has been achieved by concluding the debate today. In the past, society tended to sweep the suicide issue under the carpet, which led to it being stigmatised. Recently, a mother whose son is suffering from depression told me that if he was...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I call for a debate on the excellent report of Dr. Carol Coulter on the family law reporting pilot project and reform of the family law courts. The backlog of cases in the District Court and Circuit Court is a result of the family law setup in Ireland. It is crying out for reform. Offenders are re-offending by the time their initial cases are heard and we must take family law out of the...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I welcome the opportunity to make a statement on this important matter. Child care has become one of the most symbolic issues in modern Irish society. It is worth noting that this Government and its two predecessors built a formal child care structure from scratch. We now have a fantastic and evolving professional structure. The workers in this sector deserve to be consulted at all times...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I agree with him. If we are to obtain greater support for the implementation of a more progressive programme, not only should we encourage the electorate to elect more women, but we should also promote the fact that men share the economic cost of child care. Paternity leave is essential and we must also consider other radical measures including tax breaks for middle and high earning income...

Seanad: Marine Accidents (15 Nov 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I call on the Government to establish a rapid response unit to provide an immediate reaction to fishing trawlers and other seafaring craft which sink at sea. The purpose of this unit would be to attempt to establish cause and reduce the lengthy trauma on families in seafaring communities who are affected by these tragedies. On 29 November 2005, when Pat Colfer, the captain of the Rising Sun,...

Seanad: Marine Accidents (15 Nov 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I am disappointed with the reply. I believe that we do not take sea safety sufficiently seriously. Let us just wait and see what happens in coming months. When tragedies befall communities, as has happened in my community, we need to ensure a co-ordinated response is available. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister for Transport to rethink this policy. Perhaps at a later stage...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2007)

Lisa McDonald: Some definitions are required in this section. For example, as Senator Regan said, a definition of defamation is needed, but also the term "body corporate" is not defined in the Bill. One would wonder where organisations such as the GAA and Irish Farmers Association, IFA, would stand in this regard. Some jurisdictions allow class actions beyond bodies corporate. Obviously, companies do not...

Seanad: Integration Policy: Statements (Resumed) (13 Dec 2007)

Lisa McDonald: We have not faced the challenge of integration of new people to our shores in modern times. We need to supplement the necessary debate about immigration control and the arrival and reception of immigrants with one about the long-term picture, namely, integration. I have read that multiculturalism is defined as "validating diversity and harmony between different groups". Instead of building...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Lisa McDonald: Will the Leader provide an update on the debate on gender equality, which I requested at the beginning of this session? Today's report from the Equality Authority, which demonstrates we have not advanced in the gender equality field, makes worrying reading. Senator Buttimer said the women of Ireland had spoken out on the issue of child care. That comment proves the need for debate on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Lisa McDonald: He should listen to our debate. Perhaps I should warn him to stay away from the Brussels sprouts pot over the Christmas season in case they jump up and bite him on behalf of the Irish men who help women cook them.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Máire Hoctor, to the House. I commend the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Martin Cullen, for securing a social welfare budget of almost €17 billion for 2008 and for receiving almost half of the extra €1.7 billion that has been made available since the publication of the pre-budget Estimates. Overall, 31% of the country's gross...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I thank the Senator. I also welcome the progress in adequately recognising and rewarding the work of the thousands of carers throughout the State. Their sacrifice and dedication ensures that their loved ones can remain in their own homes. Their work is done out of love and we must ensure they are supported in every way. I welcome the commitment to improve their lot further by way of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Lisa McDonald: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (19 Dec 2007)

Lisa McDonald: I strongly welcome this debate and I sincerely hope it represents the contribution of the Seanad to a process aimed at tackling and reducing the scourge of drug abuse. We cannot allow this opportunity to pass, particularly in light of recent events, but we must not engage in a knee-jerk reaction to the issue of drug abuse. I am one of the younger Senators in the House and from discussing the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Lisa McDonald: I join Senator Bacik in calling for a debate on the representation of women in the Oireachtas. The recent experience of Hillary Clinton has shown some of the issues which pertain to the representation of women. I ask that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government come to the House to explain why he is enforcing the birds directive which is making a special area of...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Lisa McDonald: The tribunal itself is affecting democracy, undermining natural justice and judicial principles.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Lisa McDonald: It is a slippery slope to the bottom. I have come into the House and listened to matters about the solicitors' profession and how its standards are being lowered, but the same applies to barristers. Who is leaking information? Whoever is doing so is preventing justice from being served. The Taoiseach is entitled to defend himself. I am sure if Senator Alex White was in another profession...