Results 341-360 of 992 for speaker:Gabrielle McFadden

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Funding and Budgeting of Mental Health Services: Health Service Executive (22 Nov 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I am happy where I am. I thank the witnesses for attending. I found the opening statement to be very vague. There is nothing in it to tell us what is happening in mental health services. It is all very vague and I must say that I am very disappointed with it. We constantly hear that we need more resources and funding for mental health services yet when someone is asked, they cannot drill...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Funding and Budgeting of Mental Health Services: Health Service Executive (22 Nov 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: It does involve finance so it should be answered. I want a very specific answer. I do not want a vague one.

Seanad: Defence Forces (Veterans Lapel Badge) Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: As I have said many times before, eight minutes is a ceiling rather than a target. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House again. I acknowledge the positive intent of this Bill and I personally have a huge grá for our veterans. I admire the wonderful way in which they have served their country and the enormous loyalty and bravery with which they have done so. I have a...

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I welcome the Minister for State, Deputy John Paul Phelan, to the House to discuss pay and conditions for local councillors. I welcome the changes which the Minister signed off on at the weekend and acknowledge his work since his appointment to progress this issue and other issues concerning councillors. He said he would and has proved true to his word. It is only a good first step, but we...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I acknowledge Senator Craughwell's passion for what he has spoken about here today. I fully support his passion for the Defences Forces. I feel the same. We all feel the same sense of pride in the Defence Forces. With that in mind, it is important for us to note that the decision to award the medal to these Jadotville heroes was a consequence of the Government wanting to recognise that...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: That is why this ceremony that has been organised for the Jadotville heroes, which I have no problem calling them because that is what they were, is being organised in the same way as any other military medal presentation ceremony. A working group was set up, with civil and military personnel on it, to organise this ceremony. I have no problem with any of the arrangements so far, except in...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I concur with Senator Craughwell on support for the crew of the LÉ Niamh. I ask the Leader to request that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, come to the House to discuss pay and conditions for councillors who are struggling to maintain a livelihood. We have lost many councillors recently owing to the heavy workload they face and the absence of proper pay. The matter is with...

Seanad: An Ghaeilge: Ráitis (25 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I would like to share time with Senator O'Reilly.

Seanad: An Ghaeilge: Ráitis (25 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Aidan Matthews in his short poem, "The Death of Irish", captures graphically the cultural impoverishment we suffer if our language goes into terminal decline. It goes:The tide gone out for good, Thirty-one words for seaweed Whiten on the foreshore. Most of us here would support the Irish language and see it as an integral part of our culture....

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: Hear, hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Update on the Next Stages of the Review of A Vision for Change: Department of Health (19 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I thank the witnesses for their attendance. I appreciate Mr. Kane's enthusiasm and down to earth approach. I also welcome his statement acknowledging improvements in services. While there have been some improvements, the reason the committee was established is that there have not been enough improvements and we are committed to improving mental health services. I tried to note the names...

Seanad: Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: Curim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I do not need to highlight the importance of a planned and systematic approach to the problem of flooding. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, joined us in helping out in my wonderful home town of Athlone when the floods struck and saw for himself the trauma and heartache arising out of the damage caused. I welcomed the allocation in 2015 by the...

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (11 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I will endeavour to speak to the Bill rather than score political points. It is a basic human desire to have one's voice heard. Whatever the context, each of us likes to know that our opinions will be listened to and, more importantly, taken seriously. This is particularly true when it comes to decisions made on our health and on treatments for ill health, and this should be as true of...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I welcome the €310 million allocated in the budget to address the infrastructural needs of higher and further education sectors. I ask the Leader to find out where the Technological Universities Bill is and when it will be completed on Committee Stage. The Bill signifies an important step forward for the higher education landscape in Ireland and it provides for much-needed institutes...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I also welcome everyone back and thank all those who worked so hard to have this beautiful Chamber ready for us today. I refer to the issuing of the Jadotville medals, an issue I have raised on numerous occasions. It is welcome that the Minister has agreed to give a medal to the gentlemen who survived in Jadotville in the Congo in 1961. It is long overdue and I am glad that it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I spoke earlier this week about an anti-bullying initiative, I'm a Friend. We all know that Ireland's harassment laws have not been updated since the advent of text messages and social media. When the Law Reform Commission highlighted this issue in a report last year, it identified some of the gaps in the legislation. It is obvious to everybody here that there is a need for reform. Last...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: A study published last week in the United Kingdom found that nine out of ten teens who suffered online bullying were also subjected to traditional bullying. While Members often think of cyber bullying as a significant threat to young people, the study finds that face-to-face bullying remains the most common form of bullying among teenagers. According to the study, cyber bullying is best...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second and Subsequent Stages (13 Jul 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome the establishment of the new Department of Rural and Community Development. Ireland has one of the highest proportions of rural dwellers of almost any EU country. Approximately 40% of our population lives in rural areas whereas the EU average is 27% and the proportion in the UK is 12%. Far too often in the House and elsewhere we hear, as with...

Seanad: Naval Service Deployment: Statements (13 Jul 2017)

Gabrielle McFadden: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As we have heard, since they were first deployed in the Mediterranean, Irish Naval Service personnel have saved a total of 16,806 people. That is more than every man, woman and child in a town the size of Malahide, Leixlip or Tullamore. Just picture that and try to imagine what might have happened to these people if the Irish navy had not...