Results 141-160 of 1,013 for speaker:Colette Kelleher

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (17 May 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I thank all members for the strong engagement today.

Seanad: National Rehabilitation Hospital: Statements (23 May 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the debate on the National Rehabilitation Hospital. This is an issue I have raised in this House, along with colleagues, a number of times and I am delighted to see time dedicated to this issue again. When I raised this issue back in October, the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath stated:I accept that services are underdeveloped and hanging...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Family Reunification Policy (24 May 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. She covers many bases much of the time. I know this is not in her Department's specific remit, but it is good to have her here. I ask if she would be able to endorse the goals of the safe passage campaign and introduce a humanitarian admission programme supported by a community sponsorship scheme, to create a new safe and legal migration route...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Family Reunification Policy (24 May 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I thank the Minister of State for being here on behalf of the Tánaiste. I welcome the reference in her response to the Syrian humanitarian admissions programme in 2014. The safe passage proposal is modelled on it and asks us to reconsider it in the light of the ever-increasing numbers of desperate people fleeing conflict. It is a practical and sensible proposal which is based on...

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (31 May 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I move amendment No. 1:In page 7, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:“ “domestic violence” means any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse, (even if all or any of those incidents, when viewed in isolation, may appear to be minor or trivial), inflicted against an applicant or a dependent person by...

Seanad: Controlled Drugs and Harm Reduction Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I thank Sinn Féin. I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of this enlightened, humane, informed, realistic and practical Bill introduced by Senators Ruane and Ó Ríordáin. The purpose of the Bill is to achieve decriminalisation. Claims that it is about legalising drugs are misleading and a red herring and I am disappointed that Senators Reilly, McFadden and Byrne...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I fully support amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 3 as proposed by Senator Daly. We are talking about language here and not simply a means of communication. It is about the respect that is owed to the deaf community. It is of critical importance that it be enshrined in legislation. That is not just semantics but a fundamental understanding of rights and the preferences of people who are deaf to...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: Good.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I did not like the manner in which it was made.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I disagree with what the Minister of State has said. The watering down of a requirement on public bodies will mean that nothing will happen. Therefore, the section must be as strong as possible and I disagree with his proposal. I would like him to consider making the provision as strong as possible in order to help people who need access to supports and education. I have read the briefing...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: Yes.

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I would like to congratulate Deputy Jim Daly on being made a Minister of State. Cork has had a good week. I wish him well and advise him that we will be critical friends to him in his role as Minister of State. I support the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill and congratulate Senator Freeman on it. She is a woman who really knows what she is talking about in this area. In that regard, we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I thank the committee for graciously facilitating me. I will have to leave shortly. I was here at 2 p.m. I understand someone was detained elsewhere. I welcome the Minister, who holds one of the most important briefs in the Cabinet. It is because there is so much riding on his success that we all want to work constructively with him. As Deputy Cowen has said, we want to help to remove...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I am never quite sure. I am still learning.

Seanad: Home Care Services: Motion (28 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I welcome the motion, which focuses in particular on people with dementia. I would also like to welcome the new Minister of State and look forward to working closely with him, as I did with his predecessor. As well as a growing population of older people, there are almost 55,000 people living with dementia in Ireland, 63% of whom live in communities. Most of us know someone, such as a...

Seanad: Home Care Services: Motion (28 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: And regulation.

Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: As we have a quorum, we will commence the meeting in public session. An apology has been received from the Chairman, Deputy Sean Sherlock. I advise members that Standing Orders 93(3) of Dáil Éireann and 79(2) of Seanad Éireann state: "In the unavoidable absence of the Chairman, the vice-Chairman shall perform the duties devolved upon, and exercise the authority conferred...

Committee on Public Petitions: Fairness of State Examinations: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: The next item is engagement with officials from the State Examinations Commission, SEC, and the Department of Education and Skills. Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and persons in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. I welcome from the State Examinations Commission Mr. Aidan Farrell, chief executive officer, Dr. Tim Desmond, acting head of the examinations division...

Committee on Public Petitions: Fairness of State Examinations: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I thank Mr. Farrell for his presentation, overview of the role of his organisation and response to the matter at hand. I ask the officials from the Department of Education and Skills to comment on what Mr. Farrell has said and then I will ask members to put some questions about the petition to the Department officials.

Committee on Public Petitions: Fairness of State Examinations: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Colette Kelleher: I invite the State Examinations Commission and the Department to respond. Can Mr. Ó Donnchadha leave us with a copy of his statement?