Results 1-20 of 504 for speaker:Mary White

Seanad: Local Authority Charges (18 Jan 2011)

Mary White: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Rates income makes an important contribution to funding the cost of services provided by local authorities such as roads, housing, public lighting, development control, parks and open spaces. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation...

Quinn Insurance Group (18 Jan 2011)

Mary White: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who would like to thank the Deputies for raising this issue. At the outset, Deputies will understand that the Minister for Finance is constrained about what he can disclose to the House in respect of a competitive sales process in regard to the sale currently under way in respect of Quinn Insurance Limited,...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (18 Jan 2011)

Mary White: The Director of the Equality Tribunal has received legal advice to the effect that the Tribunal cannot consider claims where a company has been dissolved. The advice of the Attorney General on the matter has been sought.

Water Utilities: Motion (13 Jan 2011)

Mary White: I thank Deputy Gogarty for sharing his time. Water is everybody's issue. It knows no boundaries. The amount we have invested in water services during our time in office - more than €500 million - has been outstanding. Even the Deputies across the floor must allow that this has been a massive investment. The €19.4 million we have obtained for the main drainage schemes and water services...

Water Utilities: Motion (13 Jan 2011)

Mary White: I know the Fine Gael Members are earnest in tabling the motion, on which I compliment them. However, they fluffed it in 1997 when they could have carried out major restructuring of the water services. In addition, there is confusion in their party. When Senator John Paul Phelan was on a radio show with me recently, he insisted the Green Party wanted flat-rate water charges. He was wrong....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Mary White: There are.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Mary White: I am fully aware that the expenditure changes in the budget will affect the living standards of many citizens in the short term. No one likes making these cuts but no one could have envisioned we would have to produce a budget like this because of the problems in the economy in recent years. If we put off these changes, there will be a greater burden in future on those who can least bear...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2010)

Mary White: The Deputy will be aware that the Traveller Policy Division became part of my Department in June 2010. Prior to this, the Division formed part of the then Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Funding for the Traveller Policy Division forms part of the Equality Monitoring/Consultative Committees subhead. The portion of this subhead allocated to the Traveller Policy Division for the...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (14 Dec 2010)

Mary White: Funding of the order of €16.249m will be made available to support measures relating to equality and diversity during 2011. Among the key priorities for my Department will be the continuation of the vital work done by equality and human rights agencies, and the support of important integration and diversity management initiatives throughout the country. While some reductions are necessary,...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (14 Dec 2010)

Mary White: As I indicated in my reply to Question No 91 on 3 Samhain 2010, the establishment of the Ministerial Council on Integration is one of the initiatives outlined in the policy statement - Migration Nation: Statement on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management - and is part of progressing work on immigrant integration policy in Ireland. The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Children...

School Patronage (14 Dec 2010)

Mary White: The discussion paper on education and religion was published by the Irish Human Rights Commission, an independent statutory body, on 27 November last. It has sought views and comments on the issues from individuals or organisations by the end of next January. When it has had an opportunity to consider any such comments or views, it will submit a report to the Government. In advance of...

School Patronage (14 Dec 2010)

Mary White: No. It is appropriate the Irish Human Rights Commission feels free as an independent statutory body to conduct its work as it sees fit. It would be inappropriate for me to comment until such time as the consultation phase is over.

School Patronage (14 Dec 2010)

Mary White: The Deputy will appreciate that question is more appropriate to the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, as it is more relevant to her Department's remit.

Seanad: Counterfeit Tobacco Products (9 Dec 2010)

Mary White: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who welcomes the opportunity to clarify the penalty system for those involved in the illegal importation of contraband and counterfeit cigarettes. Cigarette smuggling has serious adverse implications for Government revenues and the measures adopted in recent years to protect public...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Mary White: This amendment arises from last week's discussions on the need to include a reference to trade unions in section 15, which requires ComReg to set out its public consultation procedures. While it was never the intention, nor was it the effect of the section as drafted, that anyone, including staff representative bodies, would be excluded from any public consultation, we explored this issue...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Mary White: I understand that the language used in the amendment was based on advice from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, which had been advised of the Senators' concerns, and we believe it fully represents the views expressed. I hope that is clear. We are talking about semantics here, but I believe it fully addresses Senators' concerns.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Mary White: It is not proposed to accept this amendment. Its effect would be to remove the need for An Post or any designated universal postal service provider to notify ComReg of its tariffs or changes thereto. Tariffs are an integral part of universal postal service providers' terms and conditions. In the context of safeguarding the interests of users, the general terms and conditions, including the...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Mary White: It is not proposed to accept this amendment. Section 28 places an emphasis on access being granted following commercial negotiations between a universal postal service provider and another postal service provider. Where an agreement cannot be reached, ComReg may resolve the issue and may impose certain terms and conditions in relation to access. Section 28 sets out ComReg's role in this...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Mary White: I thank Senator O'Reilly for his heartfelt input on the amendment. The Senator will be aware that the postal service is undergoing significant change and must evolve to ensure it meets the needs of its users. An Post may make commercial decisions in the future as to how it should configure its network to meet its obligations and best serve the needs of its users. The challenge for An Post...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (9 Dec 2010)

Mary White: In response to Senator O'Toole's suggested amendment to this section, the Minister has agreed to make this amendment for clarification purposes. Subsection(9) provides that ComReg, in making a decision on the price of access to the postal network of a universal postal service provider, should take into account any network costs involved in granting such access. The amendment makes it clear...