Results 321-340 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: -----or buying the Israeli line that recognition of Palestine is something in Israel's gift in future negotiations, nor should we. I thank the 31 Senators who signed our motion supporting the recognition of Palestine. I also welcome the Palestinian ambassador and his colleagues to the Visitors Gallery. We have an opportunity to do something deeply significant and symbolic. I hope...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Harbours and Piers (16 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: It would have lost money. It was actually a really negative thing. There was no proper consultation in that case. The whole framework for how the harbour is managed needs to change. I hope the Minister of State will take this up with the Minister, Deputy Coveney.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Harbours and Piers (16 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: delete

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Harbours and Piers (16 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: If the Acting Chairman is finished embarrassing people in the Visitors Gallery. I thank the Minister of State for his response. He referred to the tourist kiosk, which typifies everything that is wrong and the point I am trying to make. The tourist kiosk is an 8 ft. by 8 ft. prefabricated container. Fingal County Council wanted to install this temporary building at the front of the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Harbours and Piers (16 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, to the House. I tabled this matter to highlight the need for a proactive strategy for Howth Harbour. The harbour is massively under-utilised from the point of view of fishing, marine leisure activity and the broader tourism industry. In 2009 the Minister of State's Department commissioned a report specifically on the fishery aspect of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: How would any Member feel if his or her pension was cut by 60% just as he or she approached pension age? It is an absolute disgrace. These are people who worked for a long time in tough jobs and who paid their pension contributions into a private scheme and now they are being cut by 60%. It is a disgrace. It is not too late to stop it. We will push this issue again with the Minister for...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: -----and our support for two states, the states of Palestine and Israel, living together, but everybody needs to be on the same page. It is ridiculous to hear Israeli speakers say it would be wrong to have unilateral recognition of Palestine when in the aftermath of a ceasefire in Gaza, after it had left ruination, murder and carnage behind, it started to build more settlements and did...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: I second the proposal by Senator O'Brien on the Irish aviation superannuation scheme, which is nothing short of a disgrace. I and Senators O'Brien, Byrne and others have raised this issue many times in the House, trying to get people on the opposite side to see the injustice behind it. It is the first legislation brought through to destroy the rights of private workers' pensions. We are...

Seanad: Joint Policing Committees: Motion (15 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: I second the amendment to the motion tabled by my colleague, Senator O'Donovan, and will explain the rationale behind Fianna Fáil's decision to table an amendment that refers to resources. In common with Senator Norris, I am a member of my local joint policing committee, at which we take reports on activity in the area and the work the Garda is doing. In addition, at every meeting we...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House. She is right on the necessity for this legislation because crime is so international. Nowadays it is easy to launder money internationally due to complex payment systems and because we have become more borderless as a Continent. The latter is a good thing for people who want to move around Europe and internationally without experiencing visa...

Seanad: Budget 2015: Statements (14 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: I thank Senator Mooney for sharing his time with me which gives me, as my party's education spokesperson, an opportunity to comment briefly on the budget from an education point of view. There is no doubt this budget is very disappointing from an education perspective. The much-heralded extra teachers and SNAs are simply going to keep the services at exactly the same level at which they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Proposed Special Educational Needs Model: Discussion (8 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: I apologise for being late. I was delayed. I will get the written transcript from the clerk and read it. I have no wish to repeat any of the issues touched on earlier. It is good to see the consensus that there is room for improvement and that it would be much better to have an equitable model that is fair to everyone. The meat will be in the detail and in knowing how it is applied. I...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

Averil Power: I share Senator Thomas Byrne’s concerns and believe it is premature to be pushing the amendment at this point when there are discussions ongoing. It is important to have an appeals process that is fair. Will the Minister of State withdraw the amendment until Report Stage?

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after 'Seanad Éireann–' and substitute the following: notes that - inadequate funding and a lack of appropriate supports are negatively impacting on people with disabilities of all ages; - many children with special needs have no access to appropriate preschool services; - many children with special needs are being denied access to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Averil Power: Does the Minister have any information on the number of schools that have become one-teacher schools?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Averil Power: It depends on the year really. In some years, they have been given grants and in others they have been given nothing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Averil Power: I wish to make a brief observation on the school building programme. The European Central Bank interest rate is now down to virtually zero - it is 0.15%. With the cost of borrowing so low, this is a key time for us to be investing in infrastructure like housing and schools. I would hope that the Minister would stress that point as part of the budget negotiations. Such infrastructure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Averil Power: I am keen to raise the issue of priorities as we head into the budget discussions for next year. The figures in the presentation we have relate to cuts announced previously that will come into place in 2015. One of these is the €350 increase in the student contribution, something that has put considerable pressure on families that do not qualify for the grant. These people are just...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Averil Power: I have another question for the Minister on entry to medical education. As the Minister is aware, the health professions admission test was introduced some time back. It was supposed to reform the entry process and ensure it would not be altogether based on people cramming for tests and getting the ultimate 600 points in the leaving certificate or 625 points with bonus points for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Averil Power: It is about choices.