Results 61-80 of 228 for speaker:Déirdre de Búrca

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Déirdre de Búrca: I welcome the Minister. I intend to make only a brief statement regarding the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007, particularly because a great deal has already been said and owing to the fact that the legislation is technical in nature. I accept, and the Minister acknowledged earlier, that there is a sense of urgency regarding the introduction of the Bill which is, in a sense,...

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (19 Dec 2007)

Déirdre de Búrca: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, to the House and thank him for his response to the all-party motion which demonstrates the serious concern among all Members about the epidemic of alcohol misuse and illegal drug use in society. The Minister of State warned against exaggeration of the problem, and perhaps "epidemic" is a strong word to use, but when we examine society today and...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Déirdre de Búrca: I support the call for a debate on the use of Shannon and share the concerns about the use of Irish air space by aeroplanes that have been involved in extraordinary rendition. There are serious concerns with regard to the use of Shannon Airport by aeroplanes involved in extraordinary rendition and while we have the assurance of the American Government that this is not the case, there is no...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Déirdre de Búrca: There are sufficient public concerns to justify our seeking a strong response from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I call for him to come to the House in the new year and for further debate. We must ensure systems are put in place that will reassure people the practice does not continue and that Shannon Airport is not used for this purpose. There are concerns among non-governmental...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the House as soon as possible to respond to the announcement in my constituency today, which has caused great concern, to the effect that Allergan will close its operations in Arklow and relocate to low-cost Costa Rica. This is a matter of grave concern for the 350 employees working for the firm who have been left in...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: Will the Leader of the House invite the Minister for Defence to the House to discuss the issue of the delayed deployment of Irish troops to Chad? This issue is a matter of concern. It was discussed in the House before Christmas and many speakers wished the Irish troops well in the EUFOR mission in Chad. It was recognised at the time, however, that this was a dangerous mission. Since then...

Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (6 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House and thank him for his presentation. I welcome the opportunity to make a statement on the Government's waste management strategy. I do so as a member of a political party that is a party of Government but has long been preoccupied with the need to move towards a more sustainable waste management system. As a party we are now in...

Seanad: Health Services (6 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I ask the Minister for Health and Children to outline her intentions on the implementation of the recommendations of the Pollock report. This report was commissioned by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and was published on 7 February 2005. Its author is Dr. Ron Pollock and the title of the report is, An Independent Review of Cystic Fibrosis Services in Ireland. The report stated...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I also welcome this opportunity to recognise the important contribution that Ireland is now making towards achieving the millennium development goals, in particular goal No. 5, which has been referred to by other speakers, to improve maternal health and specifically to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality rate in developing countries. Under this commitment the aim is to reduce...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: The Government launched its information booklet on the Lisbon treaty yesterday. Will the Leader clarify what role this House will play in educating and informing the public about the treaty? Most people are aware there is a deficit of information on it. Members of the public have said they do not know enough about it and repeated polls have shown that. The House should play an important...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I join with other Senators in highlighting the importance of this House facilitating a comprehensive debate on the Lisbon treaty. Like other Senators, I am a member of the European Affairs committee which is in the process of finalising the stages of a first report examining all aspects of the treaty and reflecting the views of the groups that have come before the committee. If we are...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: ——because it is important that we have a balanced debate and that we are seen to listen to all of the arguments being made about the treaty.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: Some Members mentioned inaccuracies. The best way to deal with inaccuracies being put around about the treaty is to confront them in a debate and correct them. I suggest that if we have a debate on the treaty we invite in both sides of the debate, hear all sides of the argument and have a balanced debate.

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I welcome this opportunity to make statements on the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on the violent incidents arising from conflict in Northern Ireland. A good context in which to put this debate is the acknowledgement in the Good Friday Agreement that: "We must never forget those who have died or have been injured, and their...

Seanad: Forestry Issues: Statements (20 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, to the House. I congratulate her on her new portfolio and wish her well with it. I have no doubt she has various ideas on the way she would like that portfolio to develop and change. Perhaps I could be so bold as to make some suggestions to her. The Green Party has long been interested in the issue of forestry and we now find ourselves a...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I agree with the remarks of Senator Quinn and express my regret at the comments attributed to the Taoiseach this morning in the national newspapers. He is reported to have said that those opposing the Lisbon treaty were on the "loonie left", and made other comments to which Senator Quinn referred. I say this with reluctance because if it were not for the Taoiseach I would not currently be a...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the House to discuss Ireland's position on Kosovo's declaration of independence, because this issue is causing much tension within the EU. The Irish Government has expressed its support for Kosovo's independence. However, it is a complex issue because other newly formed states will also wish to declare independence in the future...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: In her speech on Private Members' business in the Dáil on 12 February, the Minister acknowledged special needs education has undergone a transformation in the past ten years. Credit must be given to the Minister and her predecessors for putting in place the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and providing extra resources and funding for special educational needs....

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: I would like the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to address the new regulations for nursing homes which the Health Information and Quality Authority approved yesterday. They are welcome because they cover many of the issues raised in recent scandals in nursing homes for the elderly which showed that the standards in public and private nursing homes left...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Déirdre de Búrca: In general I welcome the package and look forward to an opportunity to discuss it with the Minister for Health and Children.