Results 101-120 of 519 for speaker:Mary Ann O'Brien

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: We are here to serve our country and our citizens. This should not be day for the imposition of a party Whip. There should be an informed discussion about a simple debate on whether the reform or abolition of the Seanad should form part of the constitutional convention. I implore the Taoiseach to open up his mind to discuss this with the convention, with the Seanad and all of these...

Seanad: National Internship Scheme (27 Jun 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, for attending this evening. I will be brief because I am last, but not least. I am acutely aware of how busy the Minister is. I commend the Government on the JobBridge scheme and how well it is working. The six-month placement, which I have used in my company, works very well. Some employers in the private sector may have taken advantage of the...

Seanad: National Internship Scheme (27 Jun 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I am extremely happy and congratulate the Minister on her professionalism and aggressive, business-like approach in having the evaluation done immediately. I agree with everything she said about the private sector. The JobBridge scheme is wide open to abuse. As an employer, I am ashamed to admit I was not aware of the PRSI holiday available to employers who permanently employ someone who...

Seanad: National Internship Scheme (27 Jun 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I will start shouting about it tomorrow. We are all aware of the problems in the public service arising from the moratorium on recruitment. I have encountered cases of public service organisations taking on JobBridge interns for six months, only to find that they had sufficient work to continue the internship for a further three months. This is a wonderful experience for the intern. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I second the comments made by Senator van Turnhout regarding children's allowance and the advertisement in Centra today. However, I would go one step further. Should we have a debate on banning the advertisement of alcohol altogether? In the past two weeks, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee discussed cancer and heard that alcohol was the problem. The death of children in care...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Senators may be aware the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government reconvened the forum on philanthropy in June 2011 and set it the task of increasing the level of philanthropic and charitable giving, along with developing fund raising capacity and best practice across the sector. The forum's findings and recommendations are contained in a report which was launched...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I, too, commend Senator Mullen, who was the catalyst for this morning's One Day More event. The elephant in the room is the word "abortion". The lives of the babies we heard about this morning would have been terminated. I did not speak myself this morning because it was a time for the parents but I too had a baby that died at two years of age, who I could have terminated when he was in my...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I second Senator Mullins's call for a debate on the subject of sick pay, and I apologise to Senators for raising it again today. However, there are only 95 working days between now and the budget. Great damage could be done to the small and medium-sized business community. Over the weekend the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, said that workers in the...

Seanad: Life-Limiting Health Conditions in Children: Motion (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I move: That Seanad Éireann: - recognises that there are 1,400 children in Ireland with life-limiting conditions, who have complex needs throughout life and additional needs as they near death, with 350 such child deaths each year; - commends the tremendous work being done by organisations such as the Jack and Jill Children?s Foundation and the Irish Hospice Foundation on behalf of many of...

Seanad: Life-Limiting Health Conditions in Children: Motion (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I beg the Senator's pardon.

Seanad: Life-Limiting Health Conditions in Children: Motion (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: We do not have that long.

Seanad: Life-Limiting Health Conditions in Children: Motion (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. Earlier somebody alluded to the fact that I am not a politician. I am definitely not a politician because I am so confused and so comforted by all of the Senators words this evening. I know we all feel the same. There are 1,400 families, of which we know, who are depending on what we do this evening but I am also hearing about this...

Seanad: Life-Limiting Health Conditions in Children: Motion (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I know he was here all day but he was not here to deal with this business. Why would he not answer me back and give me five minutes? I did not want a long meeting; I just wanted a huddle-type meeting. The last time the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation met the Minister he said he admired the quality and the excellence of its service and the way it served the whole country but that he was...

Seanad: Life-Limiting Health Conditions in Children: Motion (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I am withdrawing the motion for this evening but if I do not get somewhere next week with the organisations, I will be back because I know I will be given time and will push this to a vote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Will we have the chance to ask questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: They are going for a flight but they will take the tunnel. I thank Mr. Gunning for coming in and I congratulate him on the presentation and superb level of innovation both in products and strategy. In particular I congratulate Mr. Gunning on the successful negotiation with IMPACT, SIPTU and the employees. Coillte has a culture to be envied. Some of my questions will help all of us...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Is it the Government target for the sale?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: What is the target for Coillte? Is there no target?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: With respect, the profit realised in 2011 was €32 million. If one multiplies this by ten, the amount realised is €320 million. If it is multiplied by 20, the amount is €640 million. Given that we are discussing a period of between 50 and 80 years, it is profoundly depressing that we are only seeking to realise €600 million or €700 million. I would much...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I am sorry to interrupt. That line of questioning arose from looking at Coillte's brilliant 2010 results and I wondered what happened to its margin in 2010.