Results 1-20 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Katherine Zappone: Never would I have dreamed as a young girl growing up on the western seaboard of the United States of America that I would be given the special right - that is the definition of privilege - to add my voice to those of my distinguished colleagues on all sides of the House. I am grateful to both the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach for this trust. However, this gift of privilege is also one of...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Katherine Zappone: It gives me great personal pleasure to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to the Chamber. I had a high regard for his contribution both as a Senator and as a Deputy prior to his appointment to such a significant brief. He and I have worked closely together for several years in the light of our common concerns and commitments on behalf of the people of west Tallaght which...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I move: That Seanad Éireann, in light of the commitment in the programme for Government to overhaul the way politics and Government works, recognises the need for change in how it conducts its business and agrees to: — put in place arrangements so that this House can engage directly with well-informed citizens and residents from all walks of life whose experience and expertise can...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Katherine Zappone: Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Katherine Zappone: On 20 June, last Monday, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This was a groundbreaking achievement, upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was also an historic resolution as it was the first UN resolution to bring specific focus to human rights violations...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. As she knows, I was appointed only recently to the Seanad. When the Minister was in the Chamber a couple of weeks ago I was not actually here, but I saw her on the television, so I hurried to the Chamber to hear what she had to say. On that day, although I had not yet found my voice for this room, I left feeling heartened by the ways in which the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Katherine Zappone: What is the likelihood of people falling into poverty due to the increased age to qualify for a State pension? The Library & Research Service quickly produced a short paper that outlines the examples of two people to answer this question. Ms A retires at 60 years of age with 40 years of full PRSI contributions; Mr. B retires at 65 years of age with 40 years of full PRSI contributions. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I am taking a deep breath. I have a couple of questions for the Leader. I want to take a moment or two to bring myself to them. A recent headline in an Irish newspaper sent a shiver down my spine, even on a warmish day in June. The headline in question read "Civil Service chiefs told to produce radical plans to cut costs". I am aware of the state of our nation's finances. I noted the...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: While we could wait for the more comprehensive reform to which Senator Bacik alluded, I support the amendment tabled by my colleagues opposite for the reasons other Senators have described so well, namely, the context in which we find ourselves, the findings of the comparative research done on how other countries deal with bankruptcy and the recommendation by the Law Reform Commission of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I refer to yesterday's debate on the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the apparent need to conclude Committee Stage yesterday. It is reported in today's edition of The Irish Times that the Taoiseach's nominees, Senator van Turnhout and I, voted with the Opposition in a division on the passing of Committee Stage. That is one way of interpreting what we did. However, I discussed...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: Senators van Turnhout, Barrett and I could not discuss our amendments as well as another Fianna Fáil amendment because Committee Stage was cut short. I believe in the critical role of the Seanad, especially its role in scrutinising legislation and the additional scrutiny we can provide and, because of this, I prepared carefully for this amendment, which was the first I had tabled in the...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I request that the Bill be recommitted in respect of amendment No. 5 as I did not get to speak on Committee Stage.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 5: In page 31, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: "31.—The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 is amended by the substitution of the following for the first three lines of subsection (1) of Section 15A (inserted by section 5 of the Act of 2001): "15A. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 15, the Minister may, in his or her absolute discretion,...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senators for their support. I also thank the Minister for his fulsome reply. As I understand it, the Minister wishes to bring my amendment and a couple of others before the Dáil for consideration. On that basis, I am happy to withdraw the amendment. I am extremely happy and delighted to hear that he will be bringing before the Dáil an amendment providing for the statutory...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I second the amendment proposed by Senator Sean Barrett.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I have a question for the Minister of State which was asked last week during the Order of Business by my colleague Senator Mary Ann O'Brien. She is unable to be here today for which she sends her regrets. In response, to Senator O'Brien's question last week, Senator Bacik indicated that these could be raised again with the Minister of State...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I will not give a preview of our question to the President of the European Parliament; I will leave that to my esteemed colleague, Senator van Turnhout. I have two questions for the Leader of the House relating to a significant process which Ireland is engaged in at present, its participation in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, UPR. As Members are aware, the UPR process is an...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (13 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister of State. I hoped he would be feeling better than when we last met on Monday but that does not appear to be the case.

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (13 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that the Bill was received very favourably and with little comment or debate in the Dáil and select committee. As the Minister of State has noted in his opening statement, it is viewed as progressive and a complement to the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 in terms of providing for the taxation implications of that Act. My fellow...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2011)

Katherine Zappone: I move recommendation No. 1: In page 4, to delete lines 4 to 7 and substitute the following: "(2) A civil partner shall be treated for income tax purposes as living with his or her civil partner unless they are in fact separated and in such circumstances that the separation is likely to be permanent.". The general intention of this recommendation is the same as the other recommendations I,...