Results 241-260 of 504 for speaker:Mary White

International Human Trafficking: Motion (Resumed) (18 Nov 2009)

Mary White: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for sharing her time. I am delighted to be able to speak on this issue, which is so important. I thank Deputy Naughten for bringing it before the House. It is apt that we are approaching the 12 days, commencing next week, which will highlight the problem of violence against women. In dealing with our constituents we all hear these sad stories about the plight of...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Mary White: While I agree in principle that more transparency and regulation is what we need, I believe, coming from a business background, that having a forensic audit every 30 days would not be practical. It would put a huge onus on a vast volume of financial transactions taking place within any 30-day working period. I agree that there must be an end to light touch regulation. We now have a new...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Mary White: And physically.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Mary White: I welcome the amendment. We had sought this earlier in the process of this legislation. I also welcome amendments Nos. 18 and 59, particularly in the light of what other speakers have said about the need for scrutiny and overseeing. One of the amendments provides that the quarterly report shall include information on the number of loans outstanding, the number of legal proceedings listed,...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (4 Nov 2009)

Mary White: Question 216: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of funding he has provided in respect of closed circuit television for Carlow town; and when it was provided. [39687/09]

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (4 Nov 2009)

Mary White: Question 217: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if funding will be provided for an extension to Carlow Town Garda Station in view of the pressures on gardaí in the town and the challenges regarding crime in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39688/09]

Mortgage Arrears: Motion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2009)

Mary White: We all know that one of people's most terrifying fears is the fear of losing their homes. We know this is true from our meetings with people in our constituencies. We have a duty to protect these people and we will do that. I welcome this timely debate and thank Deputy Ciarán Lynch for raising the issue. The debate is occurring in a context when many people are extremely depressed and...

Mortgage Arrears: Motion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2009)

Mary White: Let me give an example. I know a man who was in negotiation with his bank and the bank subsequently sent him on to a bigger bank in Dublin, the head office. While he was negotiating and trying to restructure his loans, the bank cut off his credit cards and said if he put his card into the ATM he would not get any money. It stopped his credit. It is a nonsense that this can happen in the...

Mortgage Arrears: Motion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2009)

Mary White: A strong regulatory regime is needed as part of the Minister's current work on financial reform. We must remember when we draw up codes, regulations and procedures that we are dealing with people, not commodities, broken dreams and not just statistics. Many people in trouble now are in despair because of the reckless attitudes of our banks. We have a chance now to change that. The banks...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (20 Oct 2009)

Mary White: Ar son an Chomhaontais Ghlais, ba mhaith liom cur leis na focail mholta a dúradh i dtaobh Nuala Fennell. I did not know Nuala Fennell very well but I had the privilege of meeting her on many occasions, and I have for a very long time known and revered her work in public life and in politics. I admired Nuala Fennell's trail-blazing spirit back in the 1970s when she was among a cast of...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (15 Oct 2009)

Mary White: Question 16: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the role of and the functions to be carried out by an Forás Orgánach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36077/09]

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (15 Oct 2009)

Mary White: Question 72: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the outcome of the recent review of the organic farming scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36076/09]

Bee Mortality Rate. (14 Oct 2009)

Mary White: I wish to raise the serious increase in bee mortality rates in this country and across the European Union, given the role bees play in the pollination of commercial crops, and the findings the Minister for Agriculture and Food and his Department have presented to the European Food Safety Authority on the current survey of member states on this issue. We know there are many complex challenges...

Public Appointments Transparency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2009)

Mary White: I, too, am delighted to take part in this debate. I thank Deputy Varadkar for his work on this issue. While I and my party do not believe his measures go far enough to reform the system of appointments to State boards it does represent a positive contribution, and is another opportunity for the political system to debate this issue, which is important. This country has, regrettably, a...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme : Decentralisation Programme (22 Sep 2009)

Mary White: Question 114: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the decentralisation of offices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to Carlow; when construction of the new building is expected to commence and to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32350/09]

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Sep 2009)

Mary White: This is one of the most extraordinary debates in which we have had a chance to partake-----

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Sep 2009)

Mary White: -----particularly in my short time in the House. It is not just a debate about new legislation but about how we can reform our economy and our banking system. It is also about the events of the past and the pivotal area of banking, development, housing and regulation, as well as the kind of society we want to create out of the embers of the catastrophic actions which have landed Ireland -...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Sep 2009)

Mary White: We have all talked to people in our clinics - pensioners who have lost everything, young couples who cannot pay their mortgages, business people weeping in our offices because they cannot pay the faceless companies for rent hikes in shopping centres all over the land - all because the banks have now put the squeeze on or, in some cases, lent too freely and in a profligate fashion. We want to...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Sep 2009)

Mary White: Deputy Rabbitte's party colleague said last week that the windfall tax to deter speculation was too late to be of relevance. If that is the case, Deputy Burton should remind Deputy Quinn of the Oireachtas committee he established in 1983, as Minister of State in the Department of the Environment, to examine "possible legislative measures to deal, in the interests of the common good, with the...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Sep 2009)

Mary White: In our new Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 we will make sure planning is the most dynamic part of the new legislation. We must also prevent such a situation from arising again in the property market. The Labour Party's red NAMA and Fine Gael's magic-wand blue NAMA do not compare favourably with the current approach, which balances asset management, tight controls and taxpayer...