Results 101-120 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: He did not say why it was not done.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: Okay. Perhaps the Senator believes there are good reasons for not increasing the universal social charge for those earning more than €115,000 but I do not. The wealthiest people in this country should pay the most during our current difficulties and those who are most vulnerable should be protected.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: Senator O'Neill's good friend, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, was able to find €20 million yesterday for the septic tank registration.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: The children from our most disadvantaged areas deserve the same ingenuity the Minister, Deputy Hogan, was able to bring to the septic tank issue.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: We should look for a sensible way to look after children from the most disadvantaged areas who will be affected for the rest of their lives by these cuts. We should look at this with the same ingenuity I respectfully acknowledged the Minister brought to the septic tank issue.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: The Minister was in the House-----

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: -----for more than 20 hours of debate on septic tanks and during all of that time insisted that the €50 had to be paid. Somehow, between when it was last debated in this House and-----

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: -----yesterday, he managed to find €20 million. I congratulate the Minister on being able to find a sensible outcome to that issue.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I am not only responding to the last point of order but I am responding to requests made by several-----

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I was responding to requests by Members to explain where we would find the money and why we believe there is a fairer way. That was my answer.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I genuinely accept that voting against our motion will be difficult for Members opposite and I understand that is why they are shouting at me to divert from the motion and the debate we have had. I appreciate it is difficult for them to go back to their areas to sell this and stand over these cuts. I ask those Members to reflect on the impact the cuts will have, in particular on the most...

Seanad: Human Trafficking (9 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, and regret that the Minister for Justice and Equality was unable to stay. I hope the Minister of State will highlight the issue I raise with the Minister. I propose to share time with Senator Catherine Zappone. I also welcome Ms Geraldine Rowley from Ruhama to the Visitors Gallery. The Minister of State may have seen the "Prime Time"...

Seanad: Human Trafficking (9 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I would like to thank the Minister of State for filling in for the Minister for Justice and Equality. I agree that a public consultation is very important. It is important to have people informed about this issue before a major change is made. I am not reassured by the statement in the script given to the Minister of State that the Department of Justice and Equality is of the view that our...

Seanad: University Rankings (9 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: Is the Minister of State taking the remaining two Adjournment matters as well?

Seanad: University Rankings (9 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: Then he will be here for a while.

Seanad: Ábhair Oidí (9 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister of State for dealing with all four Adjournment matters.

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

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House. Fianna Fáil accepts that the Bill is a major step forward and is an improvement on the current position. It provides for lower donation limits and increased transparency but it does not go far enough. We would like corporate donations banned completely but we accept there may be constitutional issues which must be examined. That is why in the Bill we...

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

Averil Power: The party introduced a Bill prior to leaving government.

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

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister's assurance that he will bring forward a Bill to address the expenditure side. That is a huge part of the issue and is part of the problem Senator Mullen is alluding to, namely, they spend as much as they wish. I disagree with Senator Mullen in respect of having an upper limit for personal donations because that means that people with wealthy friends they can collect...

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

Averil Power: To respond to Senator Cullinane, other parties did not have access to a vault full of sterling from the Northern Bank. With respect, we should all be fair.