Results 181-200 of 7,947 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: The person has been suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma for the past two years and has to date undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy, in addition to having had a stem cell transplant. What the lieutenant actually needs is a bone marrow transplant. There has been a search on the global registry but no match is forthcoming. Senators may be aware that there has been significant social media...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: At 6.30 p.m. this evening.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I, too, thank the Minister of State and the officials in the Department. This is welcome legislation. It is the first budget in seven years where we have started to give back what was taken from the citizens due to the mismanagement of the previous Administration. The increase of €5 in child benefit will impact on more than 600,000 families. It is the start of what I believe will...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to raise two issues. First, I congratulate the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and the Cabinet on agreeing the criteria for the selection of the European capital of culture 2020. This is very important for cities throughout the country that wish to submit applications in respect of this prestigious designation. The people of the city of...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister to the House. I have spoken before about the lack of clarity and the incompetence surrounding the establishment of Irish Water. No observer could be anything but disappointed with how it was handled. I will not rehash all of those issues today; they are as obvious as they were avoidable. I am concerned, however, about the damage they have done to our national...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Therefore, no investment was made. The new system, on the other hand, will allow for a new service for the cost of householders' water charges and that service is investment. There is no double taxation. The water and sewerage system is an absolute disaster and we simply do not have the necessary billions of euro to invest it. The alternative to a public utility is for the State to borrow...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome this well-intentioned amendment. There is genuine concern among citizens about the effects of fluoridation of water. While the amendment it is well-intentioned, it is not appropriate that a non-scientific body assess scientific cases. I agree with Senator Leyden's suggestion that an expert group be set up, but I understood - the Minister might be able to clarify this - that an...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the significant number of jobs that were announced in recent days. Zimmer, a medical device company based in Shannon, has chosen to expand its manufacturing facility, and has chosen Oranmore, County Galway, where it will create 250 new jobs. Galway is well known as being a hub for the medical device sector. The fact that a company has chosen a location such as Oranmore shows the...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I also welcome the Minister of State. I am pleased that this proposed legislation is before the House. It is nearly eight years since the High Court first ruled on this issue and I am happy to see the Government moving to rectify a glaring anomaly in the law. As the Minister of State knows, we are the only country in Europe without any legal provision to recognise transgender or intersex...

Seanad: Direct Provision: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I advise Members that group spokespersons and all other Senators have six minutes to make their contributions. As there is no Fianna Fáil Senator present, I ask Senator van Turnhout to make her contribution.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Completion Programme (27 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister for being present. The school completion programme is a targeted support service for pupils in DEIS schools. It is targeted at pupils at risk of not benefiting appropriately from education due to economic or social advantage. This is most apparent in early school leavers and those with poor attendance or a lack of achievement relative to their peers. The programme has...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Completion Programme (27 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister for his response and welcome the review. It is important that we study programmes, how they work and how we can target vulnerable young people living within the community. The major concern for those who do this work in communities is the fear that if they do not have a ring-fenced budget, if they are part of another organisation and there are demands in other areas,...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Motion (27 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister. It is appropriate that this House discuss this matter, given that it was first raised in the Oireachtas here. I commend the Minister on the detailed and careful way in which he and his officials have framed the draft order. While there was some impatience to get it, in order to draft workable parameters for any commission of investigation, precision is paramount....

Seanad: Broadband, Post Office Network and Energy White Paper: Statements (27 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Alex White. Up to 67% of all households had access to broadband connections last year, a figure that has not changed much in four years. The Minister correctly identified in his broadband launch late last year that rural areas needed State intervention for this to be rectified. I welcome that development. The Minister will note that the latest IDA Ireland...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: This morning the Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, announced €17.5 million for sustainable transport measures for Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford cities. This is very much to be welcomed, particularly in Galway, a city grappling with traffic congestion. Up to €2.2 million has been allocated for Galway to help deal with traffic congestion,...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I join with my colleague, Senator Michael Mullins, in welcoming the allocation of almost €300 million for the maintenance and upkeep of our roads infrastructure, in particular the allocation of €1.5 million for the rehabilitation of the bridge in Lough Atalia, which is in the heart of Galway city. This is critical funding for the future development of Galway Harbour and the...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would support such a review if the Minister of State would consider it. I do not think anything is to be lost by it and, in fact, I think it would serve as an excellent tool for the legislators to review the operation of this legislation once it is enacted. Sometimes legislators believe or presume that because something is legislated for, the initial difficulty has been overcome but that...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I also thank the Minister. It is a great example of parties working together and of the Minister and officials working with the elected representatives.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. A ramshackle maze of laws and procedures built up over decades in a totally ad hoc, spin the bottle and pick one's procedure manner is one legal practitioner's description of the practice of employment law in this jurisdiction. In answer to that, the Bill is the most comprehensive and innovative reform since the introduction of equality...