Results 501-520 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: The Minister made the point previously.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan to the House. It is very unusual for three senior Ministers to take Adjournment matters in the House. I hope that it is an indication of things to come. It is very positive.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I do not think so. It has not happened on any day that I have been here that a Minister has come in to take his or her own matter.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I welcome the announcement yesterday of an initial €10 million fund to kick-start the pyrite remediation scheme. It will come as a huge relief to people who have not been able to repair their homes and have waited a long time for a solution to be agreed at a national level. I am disappointed that the Government has not been able to secure a levy on the industry yet. I hope the issue...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: The Minister is right that some of the homes that were fixed by the developers were covered by insurance but as he knows well many were not. Some families that have been in touch with me told me how the insurance covered the building works but would not cover the testing which costs €3,000 and they were left to pay that bill. Nobody suggests that the State should reimburse people for...

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: That is a first. I shared two minutes with him during our Private Members' business involving a section 37 Bill, which was also a first. I join with Senator Darragh O'Brien in welcoming elements of the budget, including the retention of the 9% VAT rate. The rate has been a lifeline for tourism businesses and will more than pay its way in supporting job growth. The home improvement scheme...

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: Senators from all parties.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: Indeed. However, it must be noted that one sector that has been badly hit by the budget is that of further education. Last year, the Minister stated that there would be a one-off funding reduction of €25 million. Today, he announced that last year's guarantee did not count, as the sector is getting hit for €25 million again. From the Estimates it is clear that the overall...

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: Only if people go on that scheme, but why would a 24 or 25 year old who has already been through the education system and might even have a masters go onto a back to education scheme? He or she probably would not qualify due to being above the educational threshold. This provision has not been thought through. The number of places being offered under the youth guarantee is only a fraction...

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister of State for the opportunity to make my points about education.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I too would like to welcome the fact that the Taoiseach indicated over the weekend that he will bring forward legislation to extend the franchise in the Seanad university elections to all universities and third level institutions. That is a very welcome first step but much more has to be done. None of us can be under any illusion that the people voted in the referendum on the abolition of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I thank the groups for their presentations. As we have only three minutes, I will be brief. Each group has touched on the fact that SNAs are asked to do other educational or whole-school duties. I appreciate the research regarding the role of teaching assistants and anybody who is not properly educationally qualified in working with any child, particularly a child with special needs. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: SOLAS: Discussion with Chairman Designate (9 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I congratulate Mr. Delaney on his appointment to the role. I appreciate he has only just taken it up and, therefore, I do not want to ask too many detailed questions about his priorities. What is his overall vision for the role? What are his priorities? We have had several debates at this committee and in both Houses about the future landscape for further education and training, community...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Operations (26 Sep 2013)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister. I appreciate he is responding for the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter. I am surprised, as the Minister has said, that the Department of Justice and Equality is not able to get figures from the Garda Síochána about the extra staff working tonight. I have spoken to gardaí working in different stations across Dublin city and they have...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Operations (26 Sep 2013)

Averil Power: Today is Arthur's day, the annual event where Diageo encourages people to go to the pub and raise a toast to Arthur. The company has spent a significant amount on advertising, promotions and live music with the objective of getting as many people as possible to drink Guinness tonight. The vast majority of people will have a fun and safe night out. They will have a few pints, listen to live...

Seanad: Tackling Bullying in Schools: Statements (Resumed) (26 Sep 2013)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House. He has been here on several occasions in the past year and a half to discuss the issue of bullying and mental health among young people, which reflects both the priority he has brought to this issue since he became Minister for Education and Skills and the interest that Senators have taken in it. During statements, in Private Members' time and when...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Averil Power: Will the Acting Leader of the House raise with the Government the issue of whether Ireland highlighted at this week's Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg Russia's anti-gay laws, which were introduced by its Government earlier in the year? Senator Bacik has expressed concerns about this issue publicly. I have written to the Tánaiste about it on a number of occasions. It is...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Averil Power: I thank all those who contributed to the debate. As I said at the start, this is an issue that should cross party lines. I appreciate that members of all parties feel strongly about the need to protect services for people with disabilities. I had hoped, when we tabled this Private Members' motion last week, that there would not be a Government counter-motion and that we would all be able...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Averil Power: Members on all sides of the House in the course of that debate expressed sympathy for the people involved and said that they wished the cuts had not happened and that they would lobby Ministers after the event to have them overturned, but the cut stands. All we are asking is that, ahead of the budget, Members put pressure on Ministers to avoid a similar situation happening again. Other cuts...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Averil Power: It not a fair message to the parents. We must all accept economic realities. However, there are alternatives, and last year we proposed an alternative budget that reached the same overall target as the one implemented by the Government but that protected services, including mental health services and those for people with disabilities. We will do the same again this year. All we ask is...