Results 61-80 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: In recent days there has been much criticism of the media. I take a moment to congratulate the BBC for its programme "All Roads Lead Home", broadcast last night, which celebrated natural navigation but in fact was a wonderful showpiece for County Mayo. It was absolutely delightful and was an hour long advertisement for that beautiful county. I praise the BBC for that. It shows the media...

Seanad: Public Policy and Planning: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I join colleagues in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. I echo Senator Barrett's sentiments about the model of excellence that is the CSO. For years it has worked tirelessly and without enormous recognition for what it does. In many ways statistics are like the glue and we do not think of that; if we did not have statistics we would rapidly fall apart. I will concentrate on...

Seanad: Public Policy and Planning: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I apologise. I did not realise that. The visual impact of a map helps us to understand that when we have such information it is our duty to convert it into policy. There were good statistical outcomes from surgery for cancer patients in Sligo General Hospital, yet as we all know, and I will not revisit the argument, the policy ended up with there not being cancer services available in that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I support the call by my colleague, Senator Healy Eames, for a debate on the Keane report. I understand we are due to have a debate next week. In light of Senator Quinn's comments about the future of the Seanad and how we conduct our business, would it be possible to structure that debate in such a way that there is a commitment that the contributions will be very precise and will actually...

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: What is the source of Senator Wilson's information?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I had the pleasure this morning of having breakfast with Science Foundation Ireland. Those of us who were lucky enough to attend heard about a treasure trove of activity that is almost like a parallel universe. People are working to try to improve weather forecasting, rebuild bone, identify the fastest racehorses in the world and to cure seizures in tiny babies. It is cause for great...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I request the Leader to ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, to consider extending again the period during which slurry may be spread. It was originally extended from September to the end of October owing to the high rainfall that month. I need not point out that the rainfall has been even higher in October. Farmers are struggling to get...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: On this election day, I would like to believe that in the lifetime of the Government we will find a way of including friends, colleagues and family members who have gone abroad so that they can vote in Irish elections. The Leader should ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to attend the House for a debate on how, not if, we are going to do this. We should...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements, Questions and Answers (27 Oct 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: Could our questions be given priority by the Minister's office?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I join others in congratulating the President-elect, Mr. Michael D. Higgins. I note his generosity over many years as a public servant. We will now all be able to benefit from that generosity for another next seven years in another guise in addition to his roles as Senator, Deputy and Minister. We have much to look forward to. I join Senator Mooney in congratulating Sligo Rovers'...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (10 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister and the members of the Humanist Association of Ireland who have joined us today. I am delighted to welcome this Bill to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004, the Act that regulates the registration of civil marriages. As my colleague, Senator Bacik, indicated, the figures reveal very clearly that an increasing number of people are seeking a non-religious or civil...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (10 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: While the numbers may be small, Humanist marriage ceremonies enhance the quality of the lives of those involved directly and others indirectly. In the grand scheme of collapsing governments, soaring interest rates and bond crises, we have found time in this House to reach out beyond that vista to remember that people are sustained by their core beliefs, whatever they are. Society's...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State, who has displayed a warm and very genuine commitment in respect of this issue. I was grateful to hear her give a commitment in respect of getting to the bottom of the problem of alcohol misuse. There have been some dark moments in our history and perhaps this is another such moment which we will be obliged to tackle. As more people come on board and discuss...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am sure if I went to my local hardware store I would probably find wallpaper with a design called "Fianna Fáil promises". I would like to wish the Cabinet well in its discussions on the budget. In the midst of all the rumour, innuendoes and suggestions, protocol always is that the budget will be announced when it is announced. I would like to see some sort of decency maintained in that...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: On a different matter, I would like to commend a model which is coming to the Button Factory in Dublin on Thursday. It is the "Leitrim Equation 2" model of musical delight, which is about more than music. It is about bringing older and younger people together in a spirit of co-operation to discover the sort of traditions and the cultural richness of Leitrim. I would like to commend that as...

Seanad: Address by Dr. Mary Robinson (24 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is good to have Dr. Robinson in the House. I stand here, proud to be hatless and a woman in the Seanad. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for standing up for mná na hÉireann. I wanted to touch on the issue of participation, which she raised. I would like to pay tribute to a group of women who were well ahead of their time, namely, the women who educated Dr. Robinson...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I support the call for this House to become more involved on a substantial basis in discussing European Union matters. This issue has been raised a number of times in the House. Will the Leader either provide a forum for debate on how we could do this or invite the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, to the House to discuss ways by...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: Senator Norris already referred to the temporary agency worker directive. It is not true that there was no attempt to seek a derogation - there was an attempt but it failed. We are now left with confusion on the part of workers and employers. This is an unusual situation in that it is often one side or the other, but not both. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise...

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister. I am slightly confused but rather delighted by the lack of opposition, both physically and mentally. This is a technical Bill which allows the Minister's Department to make available money to the Irish Film Board should it need to do so. It raises the amount from €200 million to €300 million. I am sure the Minister would like to have the money his pocket to...

Seanad: Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (1 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: In that sense, he had great vision. We are at a moment when we need great vision again. We are in the 21st century when technological changes in the film industry will drive it ever further. The area of CGI effects, for example, is one in which we should invest and ask whether Ireland can become good at CGI and a place to come to for post-production. The film industry is not simply about...