Results 21-40 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Seanad: European Union Affairs: Statements (5 Feb 2014)

Deirdre Clune: Thank you. I wish the Minister of State well. I appreciate the importance of the work he is doing. One point I would like to raise is the European Regional Development Fund and funding for urban renewal projects, which we hear may be excluded this time around. Cities like Cork, Dublin, Waterford and Galway, and probably Limerick as well, would not receive funding under this round, but it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Landscape: Minister of State (4 Feb 2014)

Deirdre Clune: What about the unity of patents?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Landscape: Minister of State (4 Feb 2014)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister of State has covered many of the areas that I am interested in and it was good to hear his response. Will he comment on the question of the unitary patent system? There is EU funding and State funding for businesses. I remember a previous review of the money spent on research in which there was always a suggestion that more could be done to leverage funding other than State...

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Deirdre Clune: I am not a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht but I followed some of the debate last week, and the debate following the establishment of Irish Water. Until last December there were 34 local authorities across the country, which were not connected or coordinated on delivery of water services and water treatment. Senator Barrett said that...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2014)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the publication by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, of a review of the apprenticeship model. Traditionally, apprenticeships have been largely associated with the construction sector. Much more can be done in this area. We have heard many times about the successful apprenticeship system in place in Germany where youth unemployment is below 8%. The review...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Deirdre Clune: Like Senator Darragh O'Brien, I ask that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government come to the House to have a discussion on Irish Water and its establishment, to get information on it and the costs associated which are the subject of committee hearings. It is appropriate that we would wait until those committee hearings have finished so that we have the full...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (19 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: John Cleary Development.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (19 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Given that three Senators are present, is it necessary to suspend the meeting?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (19 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Is it in order for us to continue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (19 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I congratulate Mr. Ryan and wish him well. He is very familiar with the work of the IDA. No doubt his 35 years of experience will be of enormous benefit, notwithstanding the previous comment by Deputy Lawlor. Like Senator Quinn, I would be interested to hear of what Mr. Ryan believes are the challenges. I do not know if it is on his agenda but something that came up recently in Cork is...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Finance in the new year on the mid-term economic review that was published yesterday? The report has been criticised by some for not being ambitious enough and by others for not being sufficiently cautious. The projections contained therein seem to me to be very realistic. The House should avail of an opportunity to discuss that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions: Discussion with International Criminal Court (17 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank Mrs. Bensouda for her time. It has been most interesting from my point of view to hear the depth and breadth of her work. I was particularly interested in her response to Deputy Mitchell concerning gender-based crimes against women. It has been most interesting and I thank Mrs. Bensouda very much. I wish her well.

Seanad: Critical Utilities (Security of Supply) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: As the previous speaker mentioned, if we were facing a strike on Monday, the tempo of the debate would be different. The context of the Bill, trying to protect critical utilities, is important. This afternoon, I thought back to the 1970s and 1980s, to which Senator Whelan referred, and the power strikes. We were given notice of the time we had power and we prepared for it. Senator Quinn...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister is listening to the Senator.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister has been here since 3 p.m. listening to all contributions.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Housing (10 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I emphasise the urgency of addressing this issue. Local authorities are preparing their budgets as we speak and it is important that the funding announced in the budget be made available to them as soon as possible in 2014 in order that they can address the problem of vacant houses.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Housing (10 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue, which has featured for some time. It arose during the annual meeting between members of both the Oireachtas and Cork City Council. We discussed the issue of vacant local authority housing. This is relevant to local authorities across the country. There is a shortage of housing and many thousands of families are looking for...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The last speaker said there was no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. There is a major difference. The Government has a plan for how it will proceed in the health service and the legislation we are discussing today and the changes introduced in budget 2014 are part of the Government's movement towards the goal of introducing a universal GP service for all before the spring...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The person who was speaking obviously had VHI or private health insurance. The value of a GP card should not be underestimated. It has been glossed over by the Opposition in this debate, but it is a very important support for the elderly. I have spoken to many people who depend on their GP for advice and support when they are worried about an aspect of their health. Free GP services which...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Following the CSO figures last week on unemployment, it is important to note the live register figures yesterday, which have decreased from 12.6% last month to 12.5%. I wish I was welcoming a figure of 4%, but I am not. We will get there, however, as we are on the right track. Also, as Senator Hayden mentioned, Forbes yesterday announced that Ireland is the best country in which to do...