Results 121-140 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Seanad: Departmental Agencies (12 Jun 2012)

Katherine Zappone: The Minister of State's response is very helpful. It is important to stress the gaps in expertise, particularly those related to the exercise of the functions set down in the legislation, as distinct from additional projects and other matters. The bodies in question must exercise their functions to be effective and independent and ultimately to comply with the Paris Principles.

Seanad: Seanad Report on the Rights of Older People: Statements (13 Jun 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I acknowledge the Minister of State's personal commitment to this issue and echo the sentiments of my colleagues in thanking her for a very comprehensive response to the report put together by the consultation committee. Today's debate, if anything, hopes to inject a sense of urgency into the various issues for older people. I am somewhat disappointed as I do not get a sense of urgency in...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I draw Senators' attention to the lengthy Private Members' motion on the national cultural institutions to be moved this evening by a group of Independent Senators and to which the Government has drafted a lengthy amendment. While I have no doubt the debate will be robust, Independent Senators are still seeking cross-party support for the motion. This week, the capital will celebrate the...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions: Motion (27 Jun 2012)

Katherine Zappone: It is great to have the Minister in the Chamber and I will welcome him by responding to some of the points he made. I reconfirm the welcome by the Independent group of Senators to the artists, archivists and members of the National Campaign for the Arts. I am pleased to support this motion tabled by Senator Mac Conghail and Senator van Turnhout. While I am not an expert in this field, at...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: Having given the matter careful consideration, I deem it would be remiss not to question the unfolding events in the Seanad last Thursday. That morning we gathered to debate the intent and content of the resolution to establish a constitutional convention for Ireland, a matter of exceptional historic importance. As one of the newer Members of the House, I may not understand all the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I have a question on democratic exchange. As a result, the resolution passed through this House without debate and with no opportunity for any of us to improve or amend its contents. As a litmus test of how members of the public view this use of our time in the Seanad, perhaps we should listen carefully to a voice from the Visitors Gallery who shouted his judgment having witnessed-----

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: -----this entire sequence of events that morning and who said, "Shame on you". May I ask the Leader-----

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: May I ask the Leader-----

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I have a right to raise this question. Will the Leader gather his colleagues on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to review whether Seanad rules, relevant to the procedures utilised last Thursday morning, require some form of amendment?

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: The Senator may disagree with me but I have the right to raise the question.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator O'Brien. Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: This week Social Justice Ireland published figures indicating that budget 2012 imposed the greatest income reduction on people who already had the lowest incomes. The poorest households experienced a reduction of 2% to 2.5%, while the wealthiest lost less than 1%. Regressive indirect taxes such as the increase in VAT, against which I argued in this House, along with cuts in welfare supports...

Seanad: Developments in the European Union and Ireland's Presidency of the European Council: Statements with An Taoiseach (18 Jul 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Taoiseach. Europe 2020 on a smart sustainable and inclusive European economy and society specifically calls for fresh thinking and social innovation as a way of revitalising our European social model. I would like the Taoiseach to consider two options during our Presidency that would mark a very visible contribution to renewing the European social model into the future,...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Katherine Zappone: It is great to be back in session with all of my honourable and eloquent colleagues. As Members of Seanad Éireann, we hold a significant responsibility - some Members have referred to this - to work side-by-side with the Government and Dáil Éireann to provide the laws, policies, ideas and programmes that will generate new hope and confidence for the people to grow the economy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Selection Panel for Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: Discussion (25 Sep 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the members of the selection panel and I am most appreciative that all of them have come before the joint committee. I concur with many of the comments made by Deputy Mac Lochlainn. We are all trying to get this right and the panel is before us because its members are also trying to get it right. I appreciate the commitment they and the Minister have shown and the leadership the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Selection Panel for Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: Discussion (25 Sep 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I have two further questions. The first one relates to Ms O'Reilly's opening statement in which she spoke about the commission being headed by an outstanding chief commissioner. Has she had any thoughts or discussions about designing the criteria for the selection of the chief commissioner, as distinct from other commissioners? That was not really discussed in the heads of the Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Selection Panel for Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: Discussion (25 Sep 2012)

Katherine Zappone: That is helpful and it seems more reflection is required. Is it appropriate to ask some questions on other aspects of the heads of Bill or will we have a chance to do that at another point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Selection Panel for Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: Discussion (25 Sep 2012)

Katherine Zappone: I do not know if we will have another opportunity to engage in relation to any views the group may have on other aspects of the heads of the Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Selection Panel for Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: Discussion (25 Sep 2012)

Katherine Zappone: With regard to the heads of the Bill, some of the bodies that came before us had concerns about head 17 and, in particular, provision 5, which deals with the first director of the commission. Most of those who came before us said that was in conflict with the Paris Principles. I also note that the communiqué from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, which Ms O'Reilly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Selection Panel for Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: Discussion (25 Sep 2012)

Katherine Zappone: May we note then the way in which Ms O'Reilly has modelled to us--