Results 121-140 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: Food Wastage: Motion (15 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I second the amendment and thank the Minister for returning to the House, where it always is good to discuss food issues. I believe there is good architecture in place and that between the national waste prevention programme, the Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009, the landfill levy, the food labelling directive and the Stop Food Waste programme, the Government has put in place...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome also the amendment to the Bill. As I am sure others have said, it is good to be in agreement and to have a Bill that gives definition to "practise a veterinary medicine". When one speaks about the Bill outside, people ask what it is about. When we think about it seriously, the professionalisation of veterinary practice is important. People...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Perhaps that is what we are getting at.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (21 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: Therefore, there was no need for a vet, thank goodness. Following the dioxin scare in 2008, even though that had nothing to do with vets, we became aware of the danger of contamination. Given that Irish pork was supplied to 23 countries throughout Europe and the world, one realises how intricate and complex the food chain has become and each step in the chain requires a higher professional...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for being present again. Nothing succeeds like success. Therefore, if we can achieve the 30% that germ of success will create further success and encourage other women to come forward. The idea of pushing the quota to 40% may make it more like a chore, a task or struggle or something to argue about and therefore take some of the goodness from it. I echo Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome that the House proposes to start the day, as has always been the tradition, with the power of a prayer and also to accompany that with the chance for reflection, which is how some people would like to start their day of work. I welcome the two going hand in hand and it shows the progressive nature of the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am not. I am supporting the proposal but not saying I want the debate to happen. If there is to be a debate, that is up to the Leader to decide. One of the great dilemmas facing the Minister for Education and Skills is that along with the 850,000 pupils in primary and post primary schools, an additional 70,000 children are due to join the system. Senator Ó Clochartaigh and others are...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: In light of the deaths in Syria today and over the past year-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I was going to ask the Leader if we could again ask the Government to call for support for the Syrians.

Seanad: Media Standards: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. My pirouetting elephant is ill at the moment so I will not be trying to perform for anybody. The Minister is obviously aware that the submission process on the code of fairness, impartiality and objectivity is in train. That code arises from the Broadcasting Act 2009. Is the Minister satisfied that the code will address what is needed? Will...

Seanad: Wind Turbines Bill 2012: Second Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me time at short notice and just prior to the Minister of State, who I thank for attending. I will lend my support to Senator Kelly's Bill on wind turbines. I will also echo Senator Bacik's comments on the use of the Seanad in introducing ideas and concepts that the Dáil cannot take on board, given the number of other issues that it must address....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: A Chathaoirligh, that is not good enough.

Seanad: Standing Order 18: Motion (23 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am proud of the fact every day that I am a citizen, and not a subject, of a Republic, which increasingly is becoming a more inclusive, understanding and tolerant place to live. There are many things that need to be improved and there are many things we will try to improve in Parliament and outside it. What is important to me is that I am a citizen and proud of it and we share the Republic...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the announcement by the Government of a referendum. We had several heated moments in this House on whether a referendum would occur. The Attorney General has moved in a swift fashion to give the people this decision, and we will look forward to a robust debate in the weeks ahead. No date has been set, from what we can understand from the announcement, but it gives people the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: The former Minister Ms Gemma Hussey is in the Visitors Gallery and I welcome her to the House. I concur with Senator Ivana Bacik that we need to consider reducing the seven year period, as that would be of benefit. We would like to see more women involved in politics. In practical terms, as Senator Cáit Keane said, if we start with a figure of at least 30% of candidates being women, it...

Seanad: Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Mar 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is not often that we debate a Bill that is short and efficient. Given that the products concerned are now being classified as medicines, will the legislation allow St. James's to procure new blood clotting factor products or does it solely cover named products? Clotting products were originally completely blood based but that is no longer the case.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: "Throughout that period, corruption in Irish political life was both endemic and systemic." If we were to put our finger on one piece from the Mahon report, that is the one line I would pick out from it. Of course, I would hope the Leader can find a way to facilitate a lengthy and thorough debate on the Mahon tribunal. It is difficult to be grateful in any way, shape or form for the Mahon...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: In the absence of the chair of the public consultation committee, Senator O'Donovan, I take the opportunity to welcome a first for the Seanad, namely, the launch of the first report from the public consultation committee. One may remember this related to the rights of older people, and we had written submissions and hearings before concluding the report and making recommendations. The...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I have two questions for the Minister of State. On unfinished estates, I wonder what has happened to those who left them unfinished. Obviously, some of those involved are bankrupt, but I suspect that is not the case across the board. Certainly, in my area there is much local knowledge of what happened, for example, that money was put aside and then re-channelled into another account. I...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Susan O'Keeffe: I have a supplementary question on regeneration. I had misunderstood the position as I had thought the independent regeneration office to which I referred was a national office, but it obviously pertains to regeneration in Limerick. Is there an understanding of what the model will be for the Cranmore regeneration project? Will it be an independent regeneration office, in an alliance with...