Results 81-100 of 519 for speaker:Mary Ann O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Industry in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I do not mind. Perhaps it is time for coffee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Industry in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I will be brief because these poor people have been here all day. I thank everybody for their educational, informative and up-to-date presentations. I have a few comments and questions. Some of the witnesses might concentrate on racehorses whereas the representatives of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals might know more about urban...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Industry in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Yes, 2,500 donkeys. I am trying to hurry. I know we are speaking about horses today but perhaps Ms Barbara Bent might say a few words. The dairy industry is about to explode and I am aware that her organisation, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is worried about cows. I would like to hear from her as this is the right committee to speak about that issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Industry in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Again, I refer back to the legislation. I have a question for Dr. Kelly. Did he say that there have been no prosecutions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Industry in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I have a question for Ms Bent. I think the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be back before the committee in the autumn, or next year, regarding the dairy sector. When we were outside, Ms Bent spoke to me about the case in Myshall. If a prosecution does not take place in this case, we may as well give up. Could Ms Bent say a few words on that case?

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (8 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I also thank her officials for the briefing provided earlier today. As the Minister of State noted, it took her half an hour to present the Bill to us. Part of the Bill concerns the role of the Environmental Protection Agency. It seems there is a tidying up of loose ends to endeavour to comply with EU directions. I will offer some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Industry in Ireland: Discussion (7 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the board of Horse Sport Ireland for their excellent presentation. Based on what has been achieved by Horse Sport Ireland I too, like Deputy Ó Cuív, would invest in it. Horse Sport Ireland has a website with a vast reach, and has brought its affiliates under one roof. As a potential investor in the company I would love to hear Horse Sport Ireland outline its vision for...

Seanad: Growing Tourism to 2025: Statements (1 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to discuss his policy and allow us to share our ideas and debate our vision for tourism in this country up to 2025. It is important, as this is a huge area, that we all are here today and that we listen and give it our all, because it is our children and grandchildren who will profit along with the nation. It is a huge area, as I have said. I...

Seanad: Growing Tourism to 2025: Statements (1 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: This is a beautiful country to visit. My friends from New Zealand want to get married on the River Nore in Kilkenny. To touch on some of the negatives, one is the overarching government policy. We need co-opetition among departments, a realigning of Ministries and to pull it all together in order that we can be powerful when it comes to this area. I would also mention the EPA, and I note...

Seanad: Growing Tourism to 2025: Statements (1 Jul 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: When I was in America I read an article in The New York Times stating that we were selling the paintings. We must not let our heritage escape this country. I thank the Acting Chairman for her latitude and I apologise as I went on for far too long.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: They are things we have destroyed.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: On a point of order, it is only Senators from Kilkenny who would not last on a bike.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State to the debate. I wish to say to Senator Norris that I am here to support him absolutely and completely. I also welcome the motion which was tabled by Senators Norris, Barrett and Quinn. I like most to embrace contemporary, modern, change, progress and evolution in our country and in our capital city. However, I have a huge and massive dislike of sameness,...

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Why did we not join the dots and have two train lines that join together? Any idiot could have worked that one out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Discussion (23 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister for his presentation. I am one of the excited ones with an ulterior motive because I have been exporting to the United States, including all 50 states, for 12 years. There have been ups and downs and some great success. Some 30% of our revenue is now coming from the United States. There are many learnings; I could write a book and have many scars to show, as one can...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Commissioner Phil Hogan (23 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I welcome the Commissioner and congratulate him. I thank him so much for attending today. We will see him later this afternoon at the meeting of the agriculture committee. I do not have a speech prepared but have a few thoughts and questions I want to share with the Commissioner. The upcoming TTIP trade agreement with the United States is in its early stages, but it looks to...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Commissioner Phil Hogan (23 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: No, for certain, we do not. I am absolutely against GMOs. Standards are very different in the US compared to here, so it is important that we should protect our standards here. I would be interested to hear the Commissioner's opinions and work on this matter. Does the Commissioner have a timeline in mind as to when that agreement will be finalised? Fluoride is one of my favourite...

Seanad: Tackling Obesity in Ireland: Statements (17 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Food is pervasive, ubiquitous and cheap, with junky calories attractively cleverly packaged and delivered to us today in vast portions and quantities which would have been unimaginable 20 or 30 years ago. Today, we live in food swamps. I listened to Senator Thomas Byrne who referred to white bread, processed food, two litre bottles of fizzy drinks, giant super-sized bags of crisps, boxes,...

Seanad: Tackling Obesity in Ireland: Statements (17 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Sunny Delight.

Seanad: Tackling Obesity in Ireland: Statements (17 Jun 2015)

Mary Ann O'Brien: No.