Results 201-220 of 519 for speaker:Mary Ann O'Brien

Seanad: Fluoridation of Water: Motion (1 Oct 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Given hydroflurosicilic acid is an unlicensed and untested medicinal substance, this motion seeks to give back the human right to the Irish population to choose what drug each citizen does or does not take into their bodies. I urge all Senators to consider this. I am sorry that the Fianna Fáil political party meeting just started at 5 o'clock, because I want everyone to please put...

Seanad: Fluoridation of Water: Motion (1 Oct 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: This is a historic day as most people realise today is the first day in the history of the State that our citizens will be charged for their water. I could not think of a better day to put forward my motion for the fundamental right of citizens to choose whether or not they have their water medicated with fluoride given that from today, 1 October, they are paying for it. It is inarguably a...

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I too welcome this much-anticipated Bill, for which we have all been keeping an eye out since becoming Members of the Seanad in 2011. The legislation is much needed by the betting sector. I appreciate the work done in respect of it by the Minister, his Department and the relevant Oireachtas committee during the long process of redrafting. I understand the Bill had to be referred to Europe...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vote 30 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Sep 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I have a quick statement for the Minister, in case I am missing something. The Department's budget was €2.1 billion in 2008. In 2014, it has a €1.219 billion budget. Food Harvest 2020 came about when I first attended the Global Irish Economic Forum in 2011. It appears from the other questions that it has gone terribly well, particularly in light of the budget the Minister...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vote 30 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Sep 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: From where I am looking in, the Minister is doing more with less.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (16 Sep 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Adding to what Deputy Heydon has said, what are the witnesses' views regarding the sustainability of the voluntary aspect of the future of the Turf Club and the racing regulatory body? It has 167 members, four of which are selected to steward throughout Ireland. This is very admirable but I would be interested in hearing the views of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (16 Sep 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: My question is for all of the delegates and relates to the heads of the Bill. What is their view of the Minister's powers to make three appointments? I ask them to consider a scenario which might be controversial for me to present. Imagine a person came to power in Ireland who did not adore this sport as we do. Many of us love rural Ireland and know how important this sport is to rural...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the delegates for their excellent submission and contributions this morning. I have some comments and questions to add to those of Deputy Heydon. While I realise we are supposed to be focusing on the Bill, I believe having the delegates present is a great opportunity to talk about bookmakers. If we were to increase the tax, should it affect the bookmaker or the customer? Should we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I was struck by the comments in regard to head 6 in the submission by the Irish Bookmakers Association, because I would not have thought about bookmakers participating in the race fixtures committee. We are not supposed to talk about money and funding today, but I would appreciate some commentary from Ms Byrne or Mr. O'Kane on this point. An Irish racing fixture is worth an average of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: That is the idea.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Deputy Heydon has raised some very good questions, most of which he has posed for me. From the point of view of Mr. Bernard Caldwell and Mr. John Weld I too would be interested in being educated on what has happened in the board post-2001. I was lucky enough to be brought up in this industry and have a passion for it. In the Seanad if I mention the racing industry members look at me as if...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Projects (9 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I appreciate the Minister's response. I am aware I am almost asking the Minister to micro-manage his response because he kindly met me and some of the local representatives. As he said, it is sad that the NRA feels the frustration due to budget constraints. The distance between Kill and the Kilcullen service station is 23 km while the entire distance is 163 km, therefore it is on the close...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Projects (9 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister for attending. I tabled a short question on the construction of a service area between exits 2 and 3 on the M9 motorway. The matter is of huge concern to local inhabitants. They are worried about the damage it may cause to their thriving businesses located near the motorway. In previous years the roads budget has been cut. The Minister was under extreme pressure to...

Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency: Motion (9 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I join other Senators in congratulating Senators Whelan and Landy on the introduction of this motion. Senator Whelan spoke very well earlier. Nothing is more important than the environment, and the protection of the environment, for the future of our country and its citizens. Everyone who has spoken - we have heard a rainbow of speeches - seems to have a similar story about the EPA. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I request that the Minister for Health or his replacement comes in here to debate the proposed St. James's children's hospital. I will refresh the memory of Senators. St. James's did not meet the criteria of six hectares set out in the Dolphin report because the site is only 2.4 hectares. I repeat that the children's hospital needed six hectares but the Coombe hospital has 14 acres and the...

Seanad: Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Fund Bill 2014: Second Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I congratulate Senator Marc MacSharry and Fianna Fáil on bringing the Bill before the House. We are all aware of the need for road safety. While some of the television advertisements relating to that matter in recent years have been extremely upsetting, we must consider how an entire culture has been changed. It is for this reason I commend Senator Marc MacSharry. We cannot discuss...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (1 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: My comment is a little left of field. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby was on at the weekend. The number of foreign runners was a little disappointing. We want our derby to be one of the jewels in the crown, almost like the Triple Crown in the United States. I wonder could we make a reference to international fixtures in the Bill. The French racing authorities moved their derby, which now...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (1 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: In light of the point made by Deputy Heydon about the situation in 20 years, I think it is something that needs to be considered now. I do not know if it is appropriate to put it into the legislation. I did not realise the chairman of HRI was on the radio speaking about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (1 Jul 2014)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Yes.