Results 161-180 of 519 for speaker:Mary Ann O'Brien

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: In closing, I would like to go back to Senator Bradford's very good speech and his advice to Senator Crown not to call a vote this evening. We are on a journey here and it will be a long journey. Senator Bradford set a good example for all other Government Senators that maybe it is an evening to begin discussion and debate, and bring our opinions while not being swayed by politics. We are...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I highlight this morning a sector we are going to discuss in the coming weeks when the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation attends to discuss An Action Plan for Jobs. If I asked Senators this morning whether they would like to meet a group that represents 90,000 jobs across every parish in the country, they would all say they would love to. Those people were with us on Tuesday last...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: The death of our town centres is a continuing nightmare and it is happening before our eyes. Last week I spoke about retailers who represent 90,000 jobs in 4,000 family-run businesses. There are inconsistencies around the country in local authority business rates, parking rates, parking fines and the threat of clamping in town centres. This poses a real problem for these businesses because...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I would like the Minister for Health to outline the further action he intends to take to address the large variations in drug prices nationwide as revealed in the recent survey published by the National Consumer Agency, NCA. The survey reveals significant differences in the cost of prescription medicines. The cost of a prescription can vary...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I take great comfort from the Minister of Health's reply and, in particular, his statement that "The Department of Health is also raising the issue of price transparency with the regulatory body for pharmacists". I cannot stress how strongly I feel about this. While it is not comparable, I work in the food industry. Would it not be wonderful if we could agree a recommended retail price...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I would like the Minister for Health to outline the further action he intends to take to address the large variations in drug prices nationwide as revealed in the recent survey published by the National Consumer Agency, NCA. The survey reveals significant differences in the cost of prescription medicines. The cost of a prescription can vary...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I take great comfort from the Minister of Health's reply and, in particular, his statement that "The Department of Health is also raising the issue of price transparency with the regulatory body for pharmacists". I cannot stress how strongly I feel about this. While it is not comparable, I work in the food industry. Would it not be wonderful if we could agree a recommended retail price...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Groceries Sector: Discussion with Musgrave Group and Tesco (26 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the representatives from the Musgrave Group for appearing before the committee and Ms Edel Clancy for her presentation. I have two questions following on from Senator Paschal Mooney's contribution. Will one or all witnesses please comment on pricing and the incredible pressure due the times we live in? Invariably the retailers are there for the customer, the consumer, who demands...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Groceries Sector: Discussion with Musgrave Group and Tesco (26 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Have consumers gone too far in their demands and have the retailers gone too far in pleasing them? Somebody in the chain bent to the fact and decided to make a few quid by sticking in horsemeat because they were looking for the cheapest price. Should we pull back and say so to the consumer? The horsemeat issue did not arise for Musgrave - this is a general conversation with Ms Clancy - but...

Seanad: Philantrophy and Fund-raising: Motion (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome all our guests from the sector. We have just heard from Senator Crown. Like many of my fellow Senators, I come to this debate as someone who has founded a charitable organisation which has in the past received and hopes in the future to receive funds from philanthropy, fundraising, sponsorship and private giving. The sources of...

Seanad: Philantrophy and Fund-raising: Motion (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: The Minister of State is very gracious. I will finish up. Regardless of whether we like it, the endless good work that is being done in this vast sector is being hampered. The State has failed to put in place the systems and processes required to have a not-for-profit sector that is functioning at its full potential.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Groceries Sector: Discussion (Resumed) with FDII and IFA (23 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I welcome Mr. Kelly. I will make a quick statement rather than pose a question. I am a supplier to all of the retailers to which Mr. Kelly refers. I cannot really speak openly about my relationship with them. We do very good business and have extremely strong relationships with them. As is the case with all forms of business, times are tough. Most of the practices which obtain in...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I wish to support my long-lost relative, Senator Darragh O'Brien, and his amendment. It links up with what I wish to speak about this morning. I welcome the Government's publication of the Action Plan for Jobs last month and its excellent press release from last Monday, in which it announced 20,000 new jobs in manufacturing by 2016. I call on all Senators to engage with me. Can we please...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As we know from his reputation, the Minister is financially astute. Therefore, I ask him to clarify whether we are licensing, leasing or selling this asset. First, regarding this wonderful up-front payment we are hoping to achieve-----

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: -----if we were to retain the lottery, how long does the Minister believe it would it take us to achieve the €500 million we are aspiring to achieve with the up-front payment from a new acquirer of the licence? Second, do we have to do this under EU procurement law?

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Yes. Sorry, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I suggest respectfully that this is not about a sale. We should rename the legislation the long-term, 20 year lease of the national lottery Bill to ensure the public knows what we are doing.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: When I mentioned the figure of €500 million earlier, the Minister of State said the Government had not yet set a target to be achieved. Surely the Minister has not drawn up this legislation if the Government does not know where it is going with this. Surely he has set a target or goal in terms of what it is hoped will be achieved. Otherwise, we should go back to our offices, pass...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I apologise for pressing the Minister a little further on his explanations, which I welcome and thank the Minister for. Hypothetically, if we thought we would achieve €450 million as an upfront payment, what if we were to go to the markets or world banks for a loan instead of an upfront payment, with the Irish lottery to stay within the State as collateral? We know, and have...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Even if one used it as collateral?