Results 121-140 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

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

Averil Power: I accept the view of the Garda Síochána.

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

Averil Power: While breaches of ethics have been associated with most parties, and the Moriarty report does not concern ours, I accept that our party has been associated with some of the worst of them. As a young member of the party, it is something of which I am deeply ashamed, and I have been vocal about that on many occasions outside the House. That is the reason I would prefer an absolute ban. From...

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

Averil Power: There is no doubt that 30%, or three out of ten, is a small amount. The problem is that we are starting at 15% and trying to double that. While that is a marginal level of progress, it will be a significant challenge. I welcome the legislation, but my concern is that we should not only ensure that 30% of candidates are women, but that we should ensure that percentage is elected. The real...

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

Averil Power: I said I would rather see us exceed 30% than fall below 40%.

Seanad: Local Authority Housing (23 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: As the Minister is aware, more than four months have passed since the Priory Hall residents were forced to evacuate their homes as a result of a dangerous fire risk. Four months have passed since I raised their plight with the Minister in the House but there is still no sign of a long-term solution to their housing problems. In the short term the residents face the prospect of having to pay...

Seanad: Local Authority Housing (23 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: In regard to the Minister's suggestion that some kind of legal impediment may prevent him from meeting the residents, the residents themselves are not party to the court case. They are unfortunate bystanders to this debacle. Nobody is asking him to intervene in the court proceedings. I have sought legal advice on the issue from experts in constitutional law and have been informed there is...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 33: In page 26, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: "(e ) Once the number of women elected to Dáil Éireann reaches at least 40 per cent of the total number of TDs elected in one general election and remains at that level following the next two general elections, the gender-related criteria for State funding to political parties set out in this Act shall no...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: The inside panels are those where we are nominated by other Members from within the House. There is a different system for the-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: Senator Rónán Mullen is no longer with us. I concur with the response Senator Ivana Bacik gave at the time. Senator Rónán Mullen stated voters elected whomever they wanted to elect. Frankly, they do not. I think it shows an extraordinary misunderstanding of the political process. Voters select candidates from the list of persons they are given. As Senator Ivana Bacik pointed out, in...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: Depending on to whom the Minister was speaking.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: As Senator Paul Bradford pointed out, at least one third of Members are elected through the vocational panels and nominated directly by political parties because of the mechanism in place. Within each of the five panels one third of those elected must be nominated by the nominating bodies and one third must be nominated through the Oireachtas. There is a large number of persons elected to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I will not press the amendments we have tabled, as we will retable them on Report Stage.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Averil Power: I will not press any of the remaining amendments as I would like to revisit them before Report Stage. However, it would be helpful to hear the Minister's views on them in order that we can have a more informed debate next week. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, subsection (1), between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following: " "recognised within the Framework" includes being recognised within, aligned to, included in, or referenced to, the Framework, following adjudication or validation in that regard by the Authority;". The term, "recognised within the Framework" is used quite a lot within the Bill and obviously...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Averil Power: I accept the Minister of State's response on amendment No. 4. I will speak about the rationale for amendments Nos. 77 and 124. Amendment No. 77 is concerned with the recognition of awards granted outside the State. While I accept that section 73 is capable of giving some recognition within the State to international rewards, such recognition does not appear to be as robust as that given...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Averil Power: I second the amendment. This House could play a very useful role in approving appointments to governing bodies and State agencies in general. It is one of the key ways in which the role of the House could be reformed. I accept that this could occur on the recommendation of the Minister. For example, the Minister could put a candidate's name before the House and allow Members to discuss it...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Averil Power: I support this amendment. Section 18(3) provides that the chief executive shall not be required to give account before a committee for any matter which is, has been or may be the subject of proceedings before a court or a tribunal in the State. Whatever about a matter that is sub judice, it is extraordinary to rule out discussions afterwards on issues that have been subject to court...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Averil Power: Or woman.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Averil Power: That is true for this one.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Averil Power: I appreciate where Senator Barrett is coming from in terms of a Trinity College perspective and the fact that the college has good places. I served on the board of the academic council and I know the structures have been improved since then. However, I consider external review of the procedures in place across all the universities to ensure the procedures in place are right and there is...