Results 161-180 of 1,760 for speaker:Aideen Hayden

Seanad: Homophobic Bullying: Statements (25 Sep 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I also welcome the Minister of State. I recognise the good work of BeLonGTo, GLEN and the Union of Students in Ireland, which has a robust LGBT campaign. We must bear in mind that bullying is only part of the treatment faced by LGBT people. This discussion will take place in the wider context of other issues faced by LGBT people, particularly young LGBT people. It is not commonly known...

Seanad: Homophobic Bullying: Statements (25 Sep 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I also welcome the Minister of State. I recognise the good work of BeLonGTo, GLEN and the Union of Students in Ireland, which has a robust LGBT campaign. We must bear in mind that bullying is only part of the treatment faced by LGBT people. This discussion will take place in the wider context of other issues faced by LGBT people, particularly young LGBT people. It is not commonly known...

Seanad: Life-Limiting Health Conditions in Children: Motion (26 Sep 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I second the Government amendment. The issue before us concerns the care of children with life-limiting conditions, particularly those in end of life scenarios, and I thank my Seanad colleagues for bringing this matter before us. I thank the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation and the Irish Hospice Foundation, which have played a major role in highlighting the needs of children with...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I join in expressing the sadness all Members feel about the resignation of her post as Minister of State by Deputy Shortall. In addition, I hope her good work on alcohol abuse is continued by whoever takes over that role. On the subject of alcohol abuse, while I do not know whether one is allowed to mention brand names in this House, I wish Heineken and Guinness were the issue with today's...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Minister to the House. Once again, I congratulate her on her part in progressing this referendum. I also acknowledge the contribution of others such as those who have been mentioned - former Deputy Mary O'Rourke, former Minister of State, Mr. Barry Andrews, the late Deputy Brian Lenihan - and the important work of the NGO sector, including Senator Jillian van Turnhout,...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I register my surprise and dismay at the vitriolic attack of Senator Byrne. When I compare the contribution of the Senator to that of Senator O'Donovan, who brought up a very serious issue of national interest, I am shocked.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: Senator Byrne believes this House suffers from national amnesia, or something like that, and that we do not know why we are in this situation. We do. It is not to do with the Labour Party and the Fine Gael Party, for that matter. I agree with my colleague Senator Bacik in that I, too, believe in universal benefits. I am happy to acknowledge there are differences between the Labour Party or...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (3 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I will address myself specifically to the amendment. The word "prejudicially" has a clear meaning, not only in constitutional law but in other branches of law. For example, the question, "Are my rights as a minority shareholder prejudiced by the actions of a company?", effectively means, "Are my interests harmed in any way by the actions?" By adding the words "and significantly" we would be...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I would like to hear the Minister?s response to the amendment. It seems that Article 42A.4.1°(i) and (ii) are limiting in terms of the extent of the obligation that the best interests of the child should be of paramount consideration. Senator van Turnhout has mentioned a couple of instances, as did Senator Ó Clochartaigh, with regard to proceedings that are not so much brought by the...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I am very satisfied with the Minister's response, for which I thank her. When debating issues relating to children and child protection, we must not forget the need to consider the Constitution in its entirety. I had forgotten the State's role as guardian of the common good. Tempting as it is to focus our complete attention on the issue of children's interests, we must remember that this...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: Many years ago a political leader in this country said that the issue of contraception would be dealt with when a united Ireland had been achieved. It is always easy in tough economic times in particular to put issues such as this on the back burner with the reasonable excuse that the country is in crisis and more important things need to be dealt with. It is a mark of the commitment of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I thank my colleagues, Senator Bacik and Senator O?Keeffe, for their kind words on my appointment to the rotating Whip position for the Labour Party. I also thank Senators Wilson and Paul Coghlan and other Senators for their kind words. I pay tribute to Senator O?Keeffe who did an excellent job as Labour Party Whip and is a wonderful contributor to this House in every way. I also thank...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I very much welcome the debate this afternoon on SME week. I noted with concern that the latest SME business trends survey indicated SMEs are expected to reduce their number of staff by 25%. In the same report, an ISME spokesperson calls on the Government to reduce social welfare rates on the basis that it would make it more profitable to work in this country. Let me be honest. I cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I am surprised at Senator Walsh's comments about the Minister for Public Service and Reform. His comments are typical of the obfuscation by the Fianna Fáil Party, in particular, given that an awful lot of the increments to which he referred were introduced under its stewardship. They were simply ways of hiding payments under the counter instead of calling them salaries which is what they...

Seanad: Primary Care Centres: Motion (10 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: There are actually more present that there are Fianna Fáil Senators. It is a Fianna Fáil Private Members' motion. Perhaps the Senator would like to answer that.

Seanad: Primary Care Centres: Motion (10 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: What does it say for the Senator's party?

Seanad: Primary Care Centres: Motion (10 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I will be very brief. Sometimes one looks at the Opposition benches and says "fair enough, a real issue". At other times, one looks at them and thinks that the issue raised is so cynical, it is beyond expression. I am reminded of the best example of cynicism in the political system, which was the decentralisation process engaged in by some of those now on the Opposition benches who, when...

Seanad: Primary Care Centres: Motion (10 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: Hear, hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (10 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I know it is a problem for the committee administrators, but we tend to receive statements, which can be lengthy, the day before a meeting. My copy did not arrive until after 5.30 p.m. yesterday. It does not give us a proper opportunity to peruse the statements with the attention they deserve. I know it is difficult for the secretariat but it would be helpful if we could receive them sooner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (10 Oct 2012)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Chairman to the committee. I followed the proceedings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht from afar, and if the Chairman gives this committee the same attention he gave that one we will all be well served.