Results 41-60 of 98 for long speaker:Lorraine Clifford-Lee

Seanad: Access to Contraception: Motion (15 Dec 2020)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: ...the best of it. That is not acceptable, and I do not think anybody sitting in the Chamber today thinks it is acceptable. We will not accept it in the future. This is an issue that has been a long while coming. We repealed the eighth amendment but we have not gone away and are not satisfied with the lack of progress on this. I will continue to raise this issue, and I know my colleagues...

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: ...the National Screening Advisory Committee to continue with its work and report on progress.” I thank Senator Norris for bringing the Bill before the House and for all the very hard work he has done over a long number of years. As his colleague, Senator Boyhan, pointed out, this work started a long time ago and he has seen it through. It is great that his Bill is before the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (25 Sep 2020)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: ...the concern of the Government of the day. First, a universal State-funded contraception scheme based on the GMS scheme but including the copper coil; second, the expansion of the GMS scheme as it relates to long-acting, reversible contraception, to be available to all women; and, third, a phased approach to the introduction of free contraception beginning with younger women in the 17 to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (25 Sep 2020)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I am very disappointed with the Minister of State's response. I understand the Covid pandemic is causing havoc, particularly for the Department. This issue existed long before Covid so I am very disappointed to hear that no progress at all has been made on it. It is a core issue in the programme for Government. I will be taking it up with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to determine...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I welcome the Minister to the House to deal with this very important legislation. As my colleagues, Senators Gallagher and Ward, outlined, it is long overdue. I worked in the legal system for a number of years and faced many of the frustrations that the Bill seeks to address. It is very welcome, although it is a pity it has taken something like a global pandemic to bring about these...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: ...know that children's health can deteriorate very quickly and if one takes a chance because one cannot afford €50 or €60 to bring a child to the GP, it can have devastating consequences for the long-term health of the child and the well-being of the family unit. This provision is therefore very welcome, as is the expansion of the income limits for people over the age of 70...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...violence, which is not being tackled. We are furious it is not being tackled properly. I would like to request that a specific committee be set up to examine the issue, although not over a long period. I would like a committee made up of people who have an interest in and knowledge of this area to produce a report within a matter of weeks because this cannot continue. A number of women...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (10 Dec 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: It is good to hear that just one job is outstanding. While I accept that the Minister of State does not know the exact date on which the ESB connection work will begin, will he outline how long he expects it to take?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Sep 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...we have a very productive session. I commend everyone who has worked on the restoration project. We are all delighted to be back in here. Many of us believed we would not be back considering how long the works were to take. It is fantastic to be back. I am particularly happy that the Leader is here with us and has not taken an extended holiday to the Rugby World Cup in Japan like his...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Sep 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...read the Taoiseach’s speech to the UN about the introduction of a carbon tax. Instead of a dividend being introduced, he announced a ring-fenced fund. Fianna Fáil has been calling for this for a long time. We welcome this U-turn as it is the only way of protecting against fuel poverty. Outside of the bubbles of Leinster House and of Brexit, there are everyday issues,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...one of a number of Garda stations where the proposed reopening was announced two and a half years ago. I have been raising the issue constantly at this committee and in the Seanad because for a long time there was no progress in respect of the actual reopening of the station and there was no information on it coming through to the local community. Rush, north County Dublin has a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Patronage (10 Jul 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...in the area. We need adequate school provision but also choice within that provision. I realise the Minister of State cannot tell me when in 2019 the process will begin, but can he indicate how long the process takes?

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Second Stage (9 Jul 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...the parole system we have does not necessarily take this into account. It is important that we put victims of crime and their families at the front and centre of the process. There has been a long-standing commitment to place the Parole Board on a statutory footing. A commitment was first affirmed by the then Minister of Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter, in 2011. This was repeated by...

Seanad: Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: I commend the Senators on bringing this Bill forward. It is long awaited and we are very proud to support it. It is a very real piece of the puzzle of solving the high insurance costs that businesses face. Successive Governments have failed to do this and I am very glad that some Independent Senators took the initiative and put this Bill forward. I am also very glad it has received such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ..., Deputy O'Callaghan, mentioned her case but I want to expand further on it. What happened to Ms Moynihan in 1984 exposed the distressing reality of what life was like for women in Ireland not long ago. It is heartening to hear that the Commissioner feels that it would not happen within his organisation now. I know that he and the Minister for Justice and Equality have met Majella...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Probation Judgments and Decisions) Bill 2018: Second Stage (18 Jun 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...support this Bill, the value of which was clearly outlined by the Minister. Supporting people's rehabilitation is what we always should seek to do. However, I am disappointed that it has taken so long to get these proposals to the House. Will the Minister comment on that?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Probation Judgments and Decisions) Bill 2018: Second Stage (18 Jun 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: No. I am talking about the ten years or so it has taken to progress this Bill. Will the Minister explain in his response why it has taken so long?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (21 May 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...Ardgillan community college. The latter is located in the town of Balbriggan in north County Dublin. It not only serves Balbriggan but also surrounding villages such as Balrothery and the Naul. Along with the rest of Fingal, Balbriggan is in the fastest-growing part of the country and has the youngest population in the State. As a result, school provision is very important in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Women's Aid Impact Report 2018: Discussion (8 May 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: When it takes so long to get the report, there would be several trips back to court.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (9 Apr 2019)

Lorraine Clifford Lee: ...quickly through the system. As I have outlined on previous occasions, Balbriggan is the youngest and fastest growing town in Ireland. St. Molaga’s senior national school has served the town for a long number of years and has an excellent reputation. However, it is in a difficult and unsatisfactory accommodation situation. It has 466 pupils, 28 teachers, including the principal,...