Results 141-160 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I support Senator Ivana Bacik's call for a debate on the ICT sector. When Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn is in the House next week, it will be an ideal opportunity to raise the issue with her because, as the Commissioner responsible for innovation and research, she has a large budget from which Ireland could benefit if we were to take the right approach and have the right processes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I wanted to raise the issue of skills shortages, but I think Mr. Cotter has responded on that. This used to be an issue, but an attempt has been made to address it. Changes have been introduced and we are producing more graduates. There has been a question with regard to the issue of languages. This has been identified by the expert group on future skills needed in this country as an area...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Deirdre Clune: That is not our experience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Deirdre Clune: There seem to be different understandings of it. The two heads need to come together. If work is being done to alleviate flooding, the insurance companies must respond to that. Geomapping is obviously not reflective of ground conditions and does not recognise undulating ground or hilly territory. This is a small country with a few flooding hotspots and heads must be brought together on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am not a member of this committee but this topic is of interest to me. I have been following the committee's hearings on this matter. I have also written to the insurance federation, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and the OPW on the problem. There was no engagement on the issue until January and I hope it is because of the committee's work. As Senator Keane said about a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Black Market on Small Businesses: Discussion (16 Apr 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I agree with the points made by Mr. Fielding. I refer to the high level of operation of the black economy during the 1980s. Taxes were lowered during the 1990s and more businesses operated legitimately. There has been a resurgence of the black economy as taxes have increased. However, times have changed. People now will not pay for services in the black economy; they will write a cheque...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (28 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I welcome the Minister of State. I am glad to have the opportunity to raise the issue of the regulation of practitioners in the health and social care area, particularly counsellors and psychotherapists. The Minister referred to this area when we discussed the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill in this House and in the other House. A point raised was that there is concern that two...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (28 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for that and for outlining the roadmap that is ahead of us as he prepares to ensure that these professions are regulated. That is important. I hope that by this time next year there will be some developments but the report expected after the summer is important, and developments will follow from that.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am aware of research in this area. If one increases the number of axles, the load is spread more widely and this reduces the impact on the roads, which should reduce wear and tear. Senator Barrett would like the Minister to consider this suggestion. I know of engineering groups in the country and in America which have conducted studies on this issue. The transport operators are well...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (27 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister for attending. I wish to raise the issue of support for businesses, in particular, affected by flooding recently and in the past number of years. Unfortunately, Cork was in the headlines last week because of flooding, as it was in June last year and November 2009. Some commentators noted that if Cork city was to be built again, it would not be built where it is now; we...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (27 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister referred to the report he commissioned and the information he sought. That would have raised expectations that there would be something happening in the area. Will the Minister indicate what was the purpose of the report?

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I am glad to have this opportunity to speak on the Bill, which I welcome. It will introduce a positive approach with more openness and transparency with regard to decisions in family court cases and child care cases. I am conscious of the concern about this issue. In general, the public is not aware of the details of decisions in such cases. The in camerarule originally was introduced for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development: Discussion with Skillnets (26 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank Mr. Nuzum for his contribution. While we know about Skillnets, it is important for him to come along here and update us. His contribution has been most interesting. Perhaps Mr. Nuzum answer this in the previous question, but twice he mentioned barriers around value, quality and access. I ask him to elaborate. I note Mr. Nuzum is a member of the Expert Group on Future Skills...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Election of Acting Chairman (26 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I propose Deputy Áine Collins.

Seanad: Restorative Justice Process: Motion (20 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister and Senator Conway in his absence for putting down this motion and for giving me the opportunity to engage in the debate and to learn more about the issue. Restorative justice has a role to play in the justice system. Very strong arguments have been made by previous speakers. The Prison Service is very important but the cost is ¤65,000 for an individual prisoner for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Accommodation (6 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: Does the Senator have a question for the Minister of State?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Accommodation (6 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister of State must be allowed to conclude his remarks.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: While we had a debate before Christmas on the introduction of a property tax, this is another opportunity to put my thoughts on the record. I welcome the provisions of the Bill, particularly in respect of the number of exemptions included. It is very appropriate to exempt those houses affected by pyrite. I feel extremely sorry for those people whose situation is no fault of their own. It...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: It is important to introduce a property tax. We must put our taxation system on a more sustainable footing. The ravages of the 2000s were caused in part by the overdependency of the Exchequer on the market value of property and income from stamp duty and VAT payments on houses. We now find ourselves with a deficit we are making progress to close but which continues to cause an enormous...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Deirdre Clune: I note the launch of Senator MacSharry's policy document yesterday, which I am sure will contribute to the serious debate on the issue of suicide prevention. I welcome today's news that European Union finance Ministers have agreed to formally ask the troika to examine the best possible option for Ireland in extending the deadline for repaying the bailout loans. It is important news and,...