Results 101-120 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: It has indeed been a challenging and interesting year. My car keys were locked in my office. I have been locked out of Leinster House. I lost my way around the car park of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Several ushers repaired a puncture for me in the car park, while ushers also bought me milk late at night when I could not find a cup of tea. I echo the thanks that...

Seanad: Recent Developments in Eurozone and European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2011)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As a europhile, I welcome the political agreement but maintain a natural caution. During the referendum on the Lisbon treaty, I likened the difficulty in that regard to the difficulty of getting 17 members of one's family to sit down together and agree arrangements for a meal. It is an extraordinary achievement that we have got this far. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I wish fellow Senators a productive and busy year. I would like to persevere with an issue I raised previously. I asked for the terms of reference of the HSE's independent review of the Mayo abuse case to be made public. I appreciate it is not that long since I made the request but there has been silence since then. Perhaps the Leader might assist in ensuring they are made public. I take...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the announcement by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, that €100 million will be spent on road improvements. While it is acknowledged that it is difficult to proceed with large road projects at this time, improving roads throughout the country will bring much needed safety and better surfaces. However - there is always a "however" - I am...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: -----that the N4 has been deemed one of the most dangerous roads in the country. Some 29 people have died on one particular stretch of that road over a short number of years. It is one of the only roads in Ireland on which white crosses mark each of those deaths. While they serve as some indication that people should slow down, I am pretty certain no one in the House will agree that they...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Our thoughts are with the community mentioned at this time. We join with Senator Denis O'Donovan in wishing luck to everyone involved in today's difficult endeavours. I thank Members in engaging in yesterday's vigorous Private Members' debate on rural transport. That it was followed by the resumption of statements on suicide brought to light the need for the issue of isolation to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: At risk of incurring wrath, I believe it is worth echoing our congratulations for those films that have been nominated for Oscars, namely, "The Shore" and "Pentecost". It is a wonderful achievement. However, to cut to the chase in regard to Seanad reform, one action we have tried to pursue is the format of questions and answers with Ministers when they attend. When we see a consultant...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I support Senator Paul Bradford's call for a question and answer session with the Minister in regard to the various forthcoming celebrations and commemorations. Senator Bradford neglected to mention that the Labour Party is 100 years old this year. It is an anniversary my colleagues and I will remember and salute. It is interesting that we find ourselves in a situation where the very notion...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: ----- it merely serves to obfuscate the entire debate about what is happening in Europe. We can no longer hear what anybody is saying in regard to the fiscal compact and so on in the midst of the clatter and clamour of screaming for a referendum, even though the Attorney General has not yet given her advice on whether it is required.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: How can the public want something that has not even been-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I had understood that there was an honourable tradition in this country in regard to referenda, but that is not what I see in this climate. Instead there is nothing but shouting and clamour. That will not help anybody.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Yes. I will finish my point by urging that this House, in the debate on this matter should seek to inform and enlighten Members and the public as to what is happening, without a great deal of shouting about what certain Members would like to happen. Will the Leader urge the Minister for Health to indicate the minor capital funds allocation for this year? Those funds are necessary if certain...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for attending the House for this debate. I commend my colleagues on this important topic for debate. As Senator Crown has rightly pointed out, this debate will continue in this House and in the other House for quite a long time because energy is at the core of everything. One of the exciting aspects of renewable energy is that we might have finally found a way of doing...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is probably a red letter day or a red dress day for women in Ireland who are delighted about the publication of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill, which will be introduced in this House later today. It is fitting that the Minister, Deputy Hogan, has chosen to introduce it through the Seanad given the work that has been done here in the past in raising the issue of...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Cuirim fáilte libh go léir, agus le mná na hÉireann go speisialta. I welcome the Minister, who spoke about this being groundbreaking legislation. It is groundbreaking, and it is great to be able to agree with that expression, as it is used insincerely sometimes. I welcome the former Senator, Mary Henry, and the former Minister, Ms Niamh Bhreathnach, to the House, and many in the...

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Tánaiste for coming to the House. I commend him on his continued support for Palestine. I ask and hope that he would reiterate his condemnation in December of the human rights oppression in Syria. I commend him also on his rebuilding of Ireland's support and image in the world and for managing to avoid the use of the words "green" and "jersey". The Minister for Agriculture,...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am sure our thoughts are all with the family of Melanie McCarthy-McNamara after her untimely and appalling death. I commend the Garda on its prompt recovery of the weapon and vehicle involved. Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House in order that we can raise the issues of gangs, gang warfare and the difficulties that arise? This is still a...

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister of State. I commend the cancellation of the decentralisation programme, which has resulted in some savings. Will that ultimately lead to a better regional approach to deployment? Given all the criticism vented in the House today about how the media has handled this debate, would the Minister of State's office run a proper briefing, perhaps over a full day, where some...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Senators were briefed yesterday on the subject of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, by representatives of Tamboran Resources and others. However, a great deal of uncertainty remains as to how the process works, how Tamboran Resources and other companies propose to do business, how they are licensed and at what point certain things must be done. There remains enormous uncertainty, concern...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister. On balance, we should ban politics altogether, and then we would not have any of these difficulties. I would love to be able to say "Let us ban corporate donations". It is the easiest and simplest solution. However, I do not think it would work in practice. That is the problem we face. With our urge for transparency pushing us towards an approach of zero corporate...