Results 41-60 of 216 for speaker:Margaret Conlon

Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: I welcome this opportunity to speak on the Charities Bill, which is long-needed and long-awaited. Irish people are, by their nature, generous. However, it is important their donations go to bona fide charities. The tradition of generosity in our country goes back generations and we have always had a proud record in this area. Our overseas aid and voluntary individual contributions are the...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if there are plans to provide tax relief for carers for predetermined categories of expenses associated with their caring commitments. [29755/07]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (20 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: Question 235: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to provide all full time carers with medical cards. [29753/07]

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (20 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: Question 236: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to increase the resources for the public health nurse service to deal with an expanding workload in view of the increasing number of carers providing home care for family members. [29770/07]

Written Answers — National Carers Strategy: National Carers Strategy (20 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: Question 344: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the national carers strategy will be delivered. [29754/07]

Written Answers — National Carers Strategy: National Carers Strategy (20 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: Question 345: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are plans to increase the respite grants. [29756/07]

Young People: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this useful debate. Contrary to Opposition claims, this is not a talking shop because our young people are very important.

Young People: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: They are our future and deserve to have their issues debated by us. Ireland has changed beyond recognition in the past 15 years. The Celtic tiger has led to increased opportunities and with opportunities come challenges. While we have become more affluent, we have also found ourselves dealing with the many societal issues that come with increased wealth. The majority of our young people...

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: As an educator in my former life, I welcome the improvement and investment in education in recent years, particularly in special education. Those with special educational needs receive increased support, enabling them to be the best they can be in a positive learning environment. For too long they struggled, became disaffected with school and chose the easy option of dropping out of school....

Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (27 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: I am pleased to contribute to the debate this evening. The Bill provides for the most significant changes to the provisions governing Voluntary Health Insurance since VHI was established 50 years ago in 1957. In the intervening period there has been only one other significant amending Act, the Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 1996.

Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (27 Nov 2007)

Margaret Conlon: VHI finds itself in the anomalous position of being both the market leader in the health insurance market and being an unauthorised insurer. The company's competitors consider that this position confers a competitive advantage on it. Although the present statutory arrangements also prescribe a number of significant disadvantages for VHI, the Government recognises that the derogation cannot...

Barron Reports: Statements (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Like my constituency colleague, I too come from a Border county, where the Troubles, and this event in particular, have had a major impact. As has been said, the terrible atrocities that took place in Monaghan and Dublin in May 1974 represented the greatest loss of human life in any single day during the Troubles. For me it is a...

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I wish to point out some stark facts and offer a basis on how to move forward to improve our health service and especially to tackle the unacceptable threatened diminution in services. Spending on health has increased by 370% during the last decade, seven times the rate of inflation, yet the HSE in the north east is running at €26 million over budget and the Cavan-Monaghan group has a...

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Margaret Conlon: As TDs we must be able to see, query and demand to know where and how our constituents' and taxpayers' money is spent and why frontline services appear to be regressing rather than progressing. I have been assured and have been telling my constituents that a new regional hospital will be built and that no services will be removed from Monaghan hospital until a safer, better and more...

Killing of Paul Quinn: Statements (7 Feb 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I raised this issue on the Adjournment on 24 October 2007 and it is good that we are having this debate today. Once again, I extend my deepest sympathy to Paul Quinn's parents, Stephen and Briege, and to his family and friends who are seeking the truth about, and justice for, his murder. I welcome them to the Visitors Gallery today. This murder was one of the most horrific crimes ever...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (12 Feb 2008)

Margaret Conlon: Question 198: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans for youth cafés to be initiated throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4537/08]

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I thank the Leas-Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address this motion. For many years I was a teacher and during that period I witnessed and worked through years of neglect of students with special needs. In many cases, students who were unique but different were ignored. Thankfully, in 2008, vast improvements have taken place and more are coming. We have transformed the provision...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Margaret Conlon: The children in these classes have access to a programme of work that is geared to their individual needs and adapted if necessary if it is found not to be best suited to their needs. They are able to attend mainstream classes when it is in line with their abilities. These schools enable and foster social integration, and the pupils integrate well with their peers. The staff were...

Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I am delighted to have an opportunity to address the House on this issue. I extend my deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the two lads who were brutally murdered in Drimnagh. It is abhorrent that such attacks, which reflect awfully on all of us, can take place in the Ireland of 2008. I condemn this brutal killing. Such crimes highlight major flaws in society, which appears to...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (5 Mar 2008)

Margaret Conlon: Question 205: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a medical officer has not been re-appointed for County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9549/08]