Results 381-400 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Adoption Services Provision (18 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: As I am sure the Minister of State can imagine, given all the focus on the mother and baby homes and the issue of adoption over the past few weeks, voluntary organisations are being inundated with requests for support from adoptees and their birth relatives and the wider group of people affected by the mother and baby homes. Groups like the Adoption Rights Alliance are trying to help as many...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I accept that the Minister was not present at this morning's meeting and does not know what was said. I am simply relaying to him the message I was given by someone who attended it. I am seeking an assurance from him that he will contact the expert panel to ensure that the issues affecting pensioners and deferred pensioners are considered in the report. If all they get is a meeting in...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: What if there is a difficulty?

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I second it.

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 9: In page 26, to delete lines 16 to 40 and to delete pages 27 to 31.This relates to the superannuation schemes and to Irish aviation pensions. When Members debated this issue on Tuesday, I welcomed the assurance the Minister gave to the House that the expert panel would meet the deferred pensioners before drawing up its report. I then received correspondence from the...

Seanad: Order Of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I, too, object in the strongest terms to what is being pushed through the House today. It is an absolute farce. The people of Ireland deserve a proper banking inquiry that can get to the bottom-----

Seanad: Order Of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: -----of the practices that led to the financial crisis. People deserve the truth but what they are getting instead is the Taoiseach's own little puppet court, for which he appoints the chairman-----

Seanad: Order Of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: -----and dictates the terms of reference. The conclusions have been drafted and are sitting in the Taoiseach's office, and he is just waiting for the committee to do its business so the members can sign their names to it. It is a farce. Shame on everyone on that side of the House who supports this motion. It is a disgrace.

Seanad: Order Of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: People can see what is going on. Instead of getting a proper banking inquiry, we are seeing politics being played on an incredibly important issue in order to serve the narrow and petty political interests of Fine Gael and the Labour Party ahead of the next general election.

Seanad: Order Of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: It is an absolute disgrace. The bankers are laughing at us and at the people of Ireland because they will walk away scot free. The Government has no interest in getting to the bottom of this or in finding out the truth. It simply wants to play politics. Shame on all of you who support this motion. It is an absolute farce.

Seanad: Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (11 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome the announcement of the establishment of a commission of investigation to examine what happened in the mother and baby homes. It is important for us finally to uncover the whole truth about what went on in those institutions, the circumstances in which women were sent to them, the conditions in which they and their children had to live, the high...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I can assure the Minister that Senators on both sides of the House want to see a fair and equitable resolution to the pension difficulties facing the scheme. It has been going on for a number of years and a fair solution needs to be found. The Minister said he cannot interfere in those arrangements but that is precisely what he is doing in bringing forward this legislation. As my colleague,...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister's response regarding deferred members. It is unfair that they have not been part of the process to date and I welcome that a meeting will take place. I look forward to hearing further details on that subject. The group has done a considerable amount of work on the issue and its concerns deserve to be heard. I am disappointed, although not entirely surprised given the...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 17: In page 31, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: "34. The Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998 is amended by inserting a new section 32A as follows:"32A. The IAS scheme shall not be allowed to close its pension scheme except where the scheme has reached a minimum 90 per cent funding standard.".".The Minister referred to this amendment when...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (10 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate her on her recent promotion. I also commend Senator Zappone on introducing the Bill. I welcome the individuals and organisations present with us today in the Gallery. It has been a long fight to put the legislation on the agenda. Those concerned have a powerful advocate in Senator Zappone to take the issue forward. I acknowledge the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the announcement that a commission of investigation is to be established to report on the mother and baby homes. I note the assurance that the commission will have full statutory powers. I understand that a cross-departmental group will report to the Government by 30 June to advise on the terms of reference. I join other Senators in calling for an early debate this week ahead of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Commemorative Events (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister for his response and welcome the fact that a number of events are taking place this year and in coming years to commemorate the work of women and organisations such as Cumann na mBan. It is important that there be more balance in public works of art. It is wrong that people walking around Dublin will see 30 statues of men and only four of women. I could give the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Commemorative Events (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister. As President Higgins pointed out earlier this year, the contribution of women to Irish history has not been adequately recognised by the State. One area in which this is very evident is the lack of commemorative public works of art to acknowledge the role women played in securing our independence and building the modern Irish State. In fact, of 34 statues of people...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I will touch on some of the Minister's closing remarks. He has said the reason this section is being brought forward is that if agreement is reached, the tools will be available to implement it. I share the same concerns of my colleague. What the section does is provide that if agreement cannot be reached, the trustees will have the power to unilaterally bring down people's benefits and...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I, too, object in the strongest possible terms to section 33. As Senator Darragh O'Brien said, this section represents a huge interference with the pension rights of members of the Irish airline superannuation scheme. Essentially, it will give the trustees the power to wind up the scheme without fulfilling the minimum funding standard - as Senator Darragh O'Brien noted, the company remains...