Results 141-160 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The Fine Gael Members should allow the Minister to give consideration to all the points that have been raised today and should allow him time to revert on Report Stage and then debate the amendment that will be tabled. Members should let matters rest there to allow him to revert and to raise the points.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The Minister confirmed that he would take on the points raised by them.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I also welcome the former Cathaoirleach. I am delighted this motion has been tabled as it affords a great opportunity to try to put to bed some of the misinformation that has been circulating in communities throughout the length and breadth of the country. I also have an educational background. In common with everyone else in this Chamber, I do not have a monopoly on what constitutes right...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I will let the case rest on that statement. I would welcome a review as any new concept that has been taken on board should be reviewed. The EPSEN Act was introduced in 2004 and I identify with the point made by Senator O'Toole about the desirability of having a step-by-step procedure. The way forward is to ensure that no special education needs organiser, SENO, will decide that a child...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The criteria will be based on the professional assessment and Senator Healy Eames should be aware that the professional assessment will make the decision on what are the criteria in any given case.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator knows this as well as do I. The Government has made efforts whereby 23,000 teachers were brought on an in-service course to be trained as resource teachers to help out in this area. That initiative was only last year and is a huge move.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I refer to 23,000 teachers.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator should acknowledge that something is taking place. I acknowledge there was a lack of consultation. I note the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, who is present, represents the health aspects of this issue and there must be greater consultation that must start very early on. Early intervention often comes from the health rather than the education sector because public health...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: That was out of order.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Absolutely.

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute. All speakers are singing the same tune, which is that this is very much a worthwhile Bill that amends the 1998 Act. The original legislation recognised the significant contribution made by former US Senator, George Mitchell, to the Northern Ireland peace process. Many North-South initiatives have been...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: He had expertise but he did not have the commitment or the people skills. I am worried that students will be selected solely on the basis of their academic performance because many of them do not have organic connectivity with the world around them. It would worry me greatly that the scholarships would be given to academic high achievers because that is not enough. When the original...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I also welcome Senator Dearey and look forward to working with him. It is great that his family are present to share in this lovely occasion. I endorse the points made by previous speakers on the need for the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to come before the House at some stage. However, it is not possible for us to snap our fingers and state he must...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: Perhaps the Minister will come to the House and give simple answers to the question. Another issue which is very interesting is the ESRI study of family formation over a 20-year period from 1986 to 2006. It examined the correlation between low educational attainment and high rates of pregnancy. It also examined the non-standard families that exist today. This study provides us with...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I agree with what Senator Quinn stated about Northern Ireland. It was a very worthwhile debate last night. This Chamber should be utilised for more of that kind of debate. We would welcome an up-to-date report on how we are making progress on the many issues which affect north and south of the Border such as health, education, transport and current infrastructure, if we start thinking with...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: ——and that needs to be explored. There are two serious issues and we could easily hold a debate on how we move forward. However, I would be a bit wary about saying young unemployed graduate engineers should be brought back into the system. They might be very well qualified but we all know from having gone to courses that some do not impart the knowledge.

Seanad: Power Sharing Agreement in Northern Ireland: Motion (17 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I wish to share three minutes of my time with Senator Norris. I thank the Minister for updating the Seanad on this important matter. I congratulate the Minister and the Taoiseach on the effort, energy and commitment to bring this agreement to fruition. I warmly welcome the recent agreement reached at Hillsborough and look forward to its full implementation. Since we have reached an...

Seanad: Cancer Awareness: Statements (17 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I commend the Irish Cancer Society, especially my ex-colleague who is one of the key persons in spearheading how to deal with cancer by way of an awareness campaign in terms of leaflets and reaching out to schools, hospitals and doctors. Everyone in society has a role to play, but the Irish Cancer Society has created that role for all of us to make that happen. More than ever, the big C, as...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: I support the call for a debate on an Oireachtas committee on how we protect children in the future. Noting many of the points raised, it is a very big issue because it concerns the role of the family. It also needs to take into account today's society and how we should go about this. There are also questions in relation to adoption and fostering as well as many other areas. By all...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Ann Ormonde: In the light of this being Engineers' Week and in view of yesterday's discussions on education and what Senator White said about the state of higher level mathematics and science at leaving certificate, I draw attention to an interesting proposal made by the engineers that perhaps some consideration should be given to those engineers who are unemployed. It was suggested that they could be...