Results 121-140 of 1,760 for speaker:Aideen Hayden

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: On RTE radio yesterday morning, Karl Whelan pointed out that we would face significant increases in costs in the budget if we do not ratify the treaty, on the grounds that the IMF is only one of our funders. With only the IMF to rely on for funding, and if we did not have access to the European Stability Mechanism, we would have to close our deficit gap very quickly and this would require...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I am not talking about this year or next year, and I do not believe the Minister intended to refer to this year or next. He was being honest with the Irish people, and the people need the Government to be honest with them with regard to what they are facing. I rose to speak about the 16 year old girl whom Senator Bacik mentioned. This incident occurred in 2009, not 1959. The school in...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: We do not know what the ethos of that school was, and I do not care.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I ask the Leader to ask the Minister, who I congratulate on his speedy response in acknowledging that legislation is required in this regard, to go further. The provision of education to pregnant girls or young mothers is not simply a matter in respect of enrolment, but also pertains to their entire schooling. The type of treatment to be received by a pregnant girl or indeed by someone who...

Seanad: Report of Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the report and would like to deal with an aspect of it which the Minister also dealt with, namely, the development of protocols to facilitate all schools in developing clear policies, which are accessible to parents, on how they manage diversity and ensure an inclusive and respectful environment for all pupils, including equitable enrolment...

Seanad: Report of Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: Would the Minister consider, in the context of the development of protocols, giving legislative status to such protocols?

Seanad: Report of Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: My question pertains to the constitutional right to opt out of religious education. The historical section of the document before us is very informative in this regard. Contrary to the popular understanding, much of what we are discussing today emanates from the late 1960s and early 1970s, particularly - dare I say - during the leadership of one John Charles McQuaid. Prior to 1966 schools...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: As for the amendments before Members, my understanding is they are not discussing the definition of marriage itself in this debate. Were they to so do, I certainly would assure Senators Norris and Zappone that I would have no difficulty in including gay and lesbian couples within the institution of marriage. However, I will preface my remaining remarks by noting Members are not discussing...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome both Ministers to the House. A significant part of the debate has focused on constitutional issues. I read the Minister, Deputy Shatter's speech with interest and I listened to Senator Zappone. As I am not sufficiently au fait with the Senator's arguments to know whether they are constitutionally robust, I will not respond to them. A wider public issue must be addressed. Recent...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: This week has seen some excellent debates in the House. Sometimes, it is not about quantity, but quality. The debate on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012 was excellent. The quality of debate on Fianna Fáil's Private Members' Bill was also excellent. To be fair to the House, Senators enter the Chamber well briefed and make their best efforts to hold a healthy and worthy debate....

Seanad: Protection of Children's Health from Tobacco Smoke Bill 2012: Second Stage (9 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall to the House. I wish to focus on some of the comments made by the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly. Young people think they are invincible. Telling them about the ill effects of smoking in the years to come does not cut water when one is 12 years, or even 16 or 17 years. I came across research which showed that more American children...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Minister. My contribution will not be as colourful as that of Senator Walsh. We seem to be a nation in which the culture of secrecy pertains, mostly when it comes to matters of a sexual nature. We are all aware of a certain former Taoiseach who was engaged in certain extramarital affairs. This shows the type of society we were, in which everyone knew but no one was prepared...

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Minister of State. I was disappointed in the speech of the Minister of State. When talking about the Government approach, the Minister of State said "First, we should not create incentives that would encourage people who can pay their mortgage to stop doing so", and "the second and equally important consideration [but it was second] for Government is the recognition that some...

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I never said that.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I thank the Minister of State for his response to the debate so far. It has already been acknowledged, particularly by AIB, that its buy-to-let loan book is impaired to a far greater extent than its domestic loan book. I am concerned that insufficient analysis has been done to date on the buy-to-let market. The repercussions of default in the buy-to-let mortgage market will be felt in the...

Seanad: Symphysiotomy: Statements (16 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I congratulate my colleague, Senator Moran, on organising this debate. As someone who practised as a solicitor in Drogheda and Dundalk for a number of years, I am personally aware of a number of cases that arose from activities at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. I refer to this matter and to a number of other matters. It is ironic that we are celebrating and commemorating the 1916 Rising in...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's comments on the situation with regard to mortgage debt. This is going to be one of the great sources of division in our society going forward. I am not completely ad idem with the Senator in respect of the insolvency legislation because I am of the view that the latter will make a significant difference. However, I am concerned that there is currently a...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I am deeply unhappy that we do not know the extent of the buy-to-let mortgage debt in this country. We must find that out as a matter of urgency. Senator Conway referred to statistics on the abuse of older people. It is horrifying that the figures have increased by 9%. I put it to the Leader that we should have a further debate on the situation of older people. I was shocked to hear...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I thank Senators O'Donnell and Mary Ann O'Brien for raising this matter. When I first read the motion, its wider relevance was not immediately clear to me. As the debate has progressed, it is clear there are wider issues. The overall programme of privatisation is an important issue and should be debated regularly. To some extent, I do not agree with Senator Barrett, as privatisation does...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I agree with Senator Conway in his sentiments about the ESRI report. I have concerns about the ESRI report and the entire premise of it. If some of the members of the ESRI had to live on what social welfare recipients get, they might take a different tack. We should be concerning ourselves with how we make life better and how we make it easier for persons to return to work, and that should...