Results 101-120 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (18 Sep 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I second the amendment to the motion outlined by my colleague, Senator Jim D'Arcy, who said that the position of history as a subject is secure and that history will continue to be studied by the vast majority of students at junior certificate level. The Minister outlined in his speech the number of students who are taking the subject and will continue to take the subject. Change is never...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation In Syria: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (18 Sep 2013)

Deirdre Clune: It have been important to hear the Tánaiste's views and about developments. I agree that it is time that the Security Council did something. It has been seen to be ineffective but it has an international obligation and some of the strong members need to act. A range of issues have been commented on. I am particularly interested in the refugee camps and the Tánaiste listed the...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Yes.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Internet Pornography (23 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I note the comments of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, that he believes it is probably worthwhile looking at the issue of pornography and children's access to it, not necessarily child pornography but pornography in general that is legal but access to which should be restricted. The Minister of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Internet Pornography (23 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter, which is the issue of child pornography and child abuse material, and ensuring that we introduce controls in the area. This has come to the fore following Prime Minister Cameron's speech yesterday in the UK. It has been discussed previously in this House. He addressed many issues yesterday. The Minister for Justice and Equality agreed...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Child Protection Issues (17 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am grateful for the Minister of State's report. Much is being done. We have an up-to-date report as of 21 June and the teachers are meeting Facebook, which is important and for which I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Child Protection Issues (17 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this issue for debate. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Ciarán Cannon. Last year the people adopted a new Article 42A in the Constitution recognising that children have rights of their own and inserting these rights into the Constitution. Last week Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, the Government's special...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister for explaining the legislation. He was efficient and prompt with his replies. I am glad that the Bill has had a speedy passage.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Snowden affair has cast a light on data protection issues and we all need to be aware of them. We need to know what kind of information companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google are gathering, what are they doing with that information and how they are using it. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested yesterday that as Facebook was headquartered here in Ireland, it is bound by...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (15 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the legislation and congratulate the Government for bringing it to this point. The Minister and Minister for State at the Department of Health, Deputies James Reilly and Alex White, the Taoiseach and members of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, chaired by Deputy Buttimer, have done an enormous amount of work. The information that was provided to all of us following the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank Senator Norris for putting forward the motion and I am glad there is unanimous support for it. I thank the witnesses for briefing us on this issue. I recall that they briefed the committee previously, although I was not a member of the committee at the time. I have been aware of the issue and it was very enlightening to hear the witnesses' contributions and get documentation on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I certainly will. As the only member of this committee who is also on the Council of Europe it is important I highlight the issue there also.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil): An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed): Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I wish to take up a point made by the previous speaker. I stood for election and canvassed on behalf of the Fine Gael Party during the last general election. Its manifesto contained a commitment that the matter would be put to the people in a referendum. The same commitment was stated in the manifesto of the Labour Party and the Senator was a candidate for that party. The referendum was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Home Care Provision: Discussion with Home and Community Care Ireland (2 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I have a few comments to make. I will not delay the meeting. We are an aging society and people generally want care at home. They also want to be sure, and we need to ensure, that those who are caring have a level of professionalism. I know there is a balance in terms of commercialisation. Most of the people providing care are women. We need to respect that fact and not just lean on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Home Care Provision: Discussion with Home and Community Care Ireland (2 Jul 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Could someone else do that? The fact that they are getting accommodation means they have somewhere to stay. Is there some flexibility with it? Are there other working areas that are similar? I am thinking of people working on car ferries who get their rest time away from home.

Seanad: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have an opportunity to speak about the Bill and I congratulate the Minister for bringing it to this point. We badly need a co-ordinated focus on further education and training and co-ordination will play a very important part. FÁS had a bad name but, as the Minister pointed out, the legislation will not redraw the organisation. It will co-ordinate FÁS courses and...

Seanad: Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Bill. It is a small but important body of legislation which will ensure there is a uniform approach to rents nationally. Everybody will welcome this. The debate provides Members with an opportunity to make contributions on the general issue of housing and housing supports for individuals who cannot afford to provide their own homes. It has been mentioned that there are...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Last Friday the European Council agreed to start talks with the USA on a transatlantic trade and investment partnership. It is a positive move which represents a great opportunity for indigenous Irish companies across all sectors to export to the huge US market. There is a great deal of work to be done on common regulatory standards and investment rules and I wish all those taking part in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: State Examinations Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister. I welcome that he will ask for a full and extensive report. I welcome in particular his comments on those students who will be expecting points for their CAO courses. It is important to acknowledge that.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: State Examinations Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to respond to this matter which asks for a full inquiry into how mistakes were made, particularly in the leaving certificate honours maths paper. The State Examinations Commission has apologised and stated it could have caused stress. It caused a lot of stress and distress. The subject of honours maths has received much attention recently. I...