Results 201-220 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I do not seek the abolition. These issues should be debated in here and that is the way for the Chamber to move forward.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I too would like a debate on the economy, particularly with regard to the points raised by Senator O'Toole about the new programme for Government and the education sector. It is all about second-chance education. One need only watch the television to see the queues every day and evening for new courses. It is important to have co-ordination between the Departments of Education and Science...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (7 Oct 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I wish to share time with Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (7 Oct 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Power. Having read both motions, I am struck at how all parties are singing from the same hymnsheet. Some time ago in a paper I gave on vibrant rural community development, I pointed out how cogent reasons show the maintenance of rural populations and ensuring the growth of our cities is not at the expense of rural communities not only makes...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, who is listening to the very fine contributions of everybody. That is how it should be at this stage of the debate. This is a very important Bill and I am glad it is being introduced at this time because it will have a huge impact on how we will develop. It is timely in light of the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse the points made on expenses by many of my colleagues. The issue should be settled once and for all. I am ashamed by the bad press we receive. It is as if we have all been selected or elected to be corrupt and abuse the system. The way the media are treating us is wrong. I do not care how, but it should no longer be said everything we do is shady. All I want to be is a public...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I agree with some of the points raised by Opposition Senators regarding the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill. Perhaps we do need more time to debate Committee Stage of the Bill. The fault lies with the Lower House. The process of legislation is not paced properly. Too much comes to this Chamber too quickly at the end of the session. Reform of the Seanad should take that matter into...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: A huge amount of legislation came to the Seanad in the last week. I would like to tease it out more thoroughly. I agree with the merits of the legislation and I am prepared to go along with it on that basis. However, there are points which should be raised with regard to it. A recent study looked at nine year old children, who are the offspring of the boom years. The study examined their...

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: Senator Hanafin without interruption.

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: To yourself?

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: The Minister is most welcome. I wish him well in spearheading this campaign for the referendum, which will be held on 2 October. Today's debate on the Lisbon treaty is the result of months of work by the Government and some of the most senior officials in the country to ensure the concerns of Irish people about Europe are addressed. We have had ample opportunities to understand the reasons...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome this opportunity to say a few words on the revitalisation of rural communities. I am interested in this area and have spoken on it at many seminars. The factors that contributed to population decline were economic trends, changes in farming patterns and infrastructural provision. I was worried that if those trends were not reversed, we would be in serious trouble. We must look...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I agree with Senator Mullen on the subject of end-of-life care. People who have given a contribution to the country all their lives find there is no plan for them at this time. We must ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss the incorporation of such plans into the HSE service plan for those who are at the end of their lives. Today we saw a discussion in The Irish Times about the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I support Senator Mullen. He made a point about the importance of the role of the Seanad. Once again, the importance of it became clear yesterday afternoon when we had a very fine discussion on Committee Stage on the Local Government (Charges) Bill. Many fine suggestions were made and it demonstrated to me once again the importance of the Seanad and how important it is that we try to...

Seanad: Unemployment: Motion (1 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Kelleher. I thank the Green Party for tabling this motion. I am interested in how to deal with the unemployed, address the problem and reverse the trend and prevent job losses. I will concentrate on the areas in which we can help to re-train, upskill and perhaps send people back to education in...

Seanad: Unemployment: Motion (1 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: It is great to see that there is co-ordination between the three Departments. For a long time there was none, especially between FÁS and the Department of Education and Science where many programmes were duplicated and a great deal of money was wasted. I am glad that day is over and that FÁS is working with the Irish Vocational Education Association, IVEA, and there will not be...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I agree with the concept of the levy. However, I have listened to the debate and many problems appear to be arising. I received a telephone call last night during which the caller asked about the situation of a landlord who has a second house in which there are three or four flats. Does the landlord pay just one levy on the second house or is there a levy for every flat? I could not...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Ann Ormonde: On the last point, it is very important we keep the Lisbon treaty on the agenda and decide very quickly when the referendum should be held. It is more than necessary that we keep the debate alive. I endorse the points raised by many speakers, including Senators Harris and Hanafin, on an bord snip nua and the question of where the cuts should come from. We should all make an honest...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I agree with many speakers that we should have a cross-party discussion on the financial situation. I do not want any more talking the talk. We have spoken every day for the past three weeks about the financial situation, and while it is a huge debate, we should be constructive about it and not bash one another as has been the case in the Chamber. I would welcome a cross-party constructive...

Seanad: Night-time Rural Transport: Statements (23 Jun 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister. I have taken a great interest in the concept of how we can revive rural community living. I welcomed the Minister when he introduced this pilot night-time transport scheme and thought it was an excellent idea. It has worked well. I knew it was being introduced on a test basis and it has been a success story. It helped to provide a link for people with their local...