Advanced search
Most relevant results are first | Show most recent results first | Show use by person

Search only Mary Ann O'BrienSearch all speeches

Results 1-20 of 519 for speaker:Mary Ann O'Brien

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I have just one point to make as most issues have been raised. Image is everything. One of the things I am into in my professional life is packaging. We know we have this wonderful advantage in that around the world we have an image of being exquisitely green, natural, pure and beautiful. Members will agree that when tourists arrive, drive around the country and visit some of our...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank Senator McAleese for giving me so much of his time. We Independents brought our motion to the Chamber today. I have listened to many, beautiful, eloquent speeches from other Senators but I wish to speak only on our motion because I see things very simply. I come from the business community and have no political leanings either way. I am a total Independent. I hear fearful talks...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I would like to ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, why the State does not have the national budget for a paediatric home nursing care when it makes sense to care for children with life-limiting conditions at home and save millions of euro for the taxpayer by keeping such children out of hospital? Why are parents forced to ring Joe Duffy, as they did yesterday, and appear on "Prime...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Address by President of the Irish Human Rights Commission (28 Sep 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I welcome Dr. Manning and thank him for an inspirational address. Ireland's current health strategy is more than ten years old and does not contain an explicit right to health, as highlighted by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The current system of health care in Ireland is based on a two-tier public-private model of insurance, thus denying equality of access to...

Seanad: Company Closures: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I will pick up on the Leader's earlier comments. I was educated in Waterford and absolutely love the place. I empathise with the employees of TalkTalk and all the other companies which have gone in recent years. I was interested in The Munster Express observation and the opportunity that lies there. If I may be so bold, there is a brilliant and inspirational entrepreneur called John...

Seanad: Company Closures: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Some companies are using the initiative as cheap labour, which is a terrible shame. We want action that is relevant for potential interns.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: To continue Senator Moloney's theme, I wish to raise the medical card for children. This would not need to be raised if we lived in a moral and just society. Despite the prosperity we have enjoyed in this country, we have forgotten the most vulnerable. These words will hit many Senators hard but that is the reality of the situation, and it is time we stopped fooling ourselves and getting...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I want to have this issue discussed as a matter of urgency and I implore all Government Ministers, Deputies and Senators to look into their hearts before uttering the words, "this is not possible due to budget constraints". If we could secure this reform, it would create great goodwill at no extra cost to the Exchequer. It is hard for us sitting here today to imagine what it is like to sit...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I welcome the Minister. Like others, including my Independent colleagues, I am concerned about the growing availability of images and movies depicting the exploitation and physical and sexual abuse of children on the Internet and other evolving technologies. It is difficult to comprehend why legislation is not yet in place requiring Internet service providers, ISPs, to block immediately and...

Seanad: Statements on Finance (6 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I will take three minutes, with four minutes for Senator O'Donnell and one minute for Senator Mac Conghail. I wish the Minister, Deputy Noonan, a good afternoon. The new Government is doing a lot to assist charities in fund-raising by addressing issues with regard to taxation on charitable donations. I understand the Department of Finance has a working group which is collaborating with the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I wish to raise an issue which on the surface will not seem that urgent to Members. However, the country is facing an obesity epidemic and all Members are fully aware of the poor planning regulations that have blighted the country in recent years. When the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is next available to come into this House, I seek a discussion with him and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I would like to focus on the Department of Education and Skills. We are all aware that given our financial circumstances and given it is one of the top-spending Departments, there have been huge cutbacks in the Department. However, we need to use common sense when it comes to making these cuts, rather than purely look at things as though through the lens of an accountant doing an accounting...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I do. On a point of clarity, a blind child must follow the same set national course as a sighted child, as well as learning all these new skills. I would like the House to examine the one size fits all approach to education, which applies in other cases, in respect of visually impaired children and whether this type of approach follows international best practice. We are not supposed to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I am afraid my point contains more negativity because there is another threat to a great deal of jobs in this country. It is nearly November. On 5 December, EU legislation will be introduced on the agency workers directive, something I am not sure Senators are aware of. It has two main aspects, equality and removal of restrictions. It must be enacted into Irish law by 5 December, a date...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I do.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I implore Senators to listen to me on this issue. A survey in the UK conducted by the CBI showed that there was potential for a 25% reduction in the use of agency workers. If the same percentage reduction were to occur in Ireland, it would lead to the loss of approximately 8,000 jobs. It was announced yesterday that 950 jobs would be lost. I call on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: And foreign employers.

Seanad: Health Services: Statements, Questions and Answers (27 Oct 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: There are widespread concerns about the adequacy of the home care services offered by the HSE to geriatric, adult, mental and pediatric sectors of society. I am sure the Minister will agree that the standard of service on a small island with a small population is unsatisfactory in the 21st century. There is grave concern about the lack of governance over the standards applied to services...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Ann O'Brien: As we all know from the front page of The Irish Times on Tuesday, employers will have to pay the first four weeks of their staff's sick pay under proposals drawn up by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, to shave €150 million off her budget. I am aware other Members have raised the matter on the Order of Business. However, I have heard very little to reassure employers that...

   Advanced search
Most relevant results are first | Show most recent results first | Show use by person

Search only Mary Ann O'BrienSearch all speeches