Results 1-6 of 6 for mother and baby homes speaker:Mary O'Rourke

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Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I am wary whenever history and social attitudes ask women to work. During the wars, women were needed to work in the munitions factories and elsewhere but as soon as the wars ended they were told to go back home. I would be wary of seeing women as economic ciphers with that purpose alone even though people are needed in the workforce. Senators Ross and O'Toole have two worthy motions on the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Lest I be out of step with other Senators, I am also glad to see that the Cathaoirleach has returned to the House. Senator Brian Hayes raised the House's appreciation of the Garda Síochána and the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy. He particularly referred to the sterling North-South work in which the PSNI and Garda Síochána are engaged. In an odd way, it is sad that it is this area of...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: ...employers give it. I would like to know why we are so out of step with all those other countries — it is quite amazing. I think France has excellent paid parental leave which can be taken by mothers or fathers until the child is two years of age. It is only right that is the case. A grudging attitude is still with us that it is the mother's job to mind the child and she should stay at...

Seanad: Children Act 2001: Statements. (20 Oct 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: I am glad to be here for the debate on this progress report. As the Minister of State was speaking I was thinking we should get progress reports on Bills that have become Acts and which are in various phases of implementation. We pass legislation and live by it and it is consigned somewhere. Legislation becomes a statue and then we do not hear anything more about what has happened in respect...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Second Stage. (20 May 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: .... Childbirth is a natural process. Fortunately, very few women have difficulty with childbirth. In cases where they do, they are helped medically. In the context of maternity leave, helping a mother to recover was never the point. The point of it was to allow the mother and child time together to bond, to use the modern word, to get to know and love one another and to allow them to go...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Mary O'Rourke: Yes I am, but let us not get particular about it. I am torn having listened to a Nigerian woman on "Morning Ireland" who said quite plainly that she came here to have her baby. She said she would get good maternity services here and wanted to give her child a good start in life. I asked myself what was wrong with that. She was speaking the truth, as any mother would, about wishing to give her...