Results 1-20 of 21 for other and baby speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: .... I have had a lot of phone calls from people in my area of County Carlow today. The expansion of hot meals to 900 more primary schools is really important, as is the free book scheme for textbooks and workbooks, which will be extended to up to junior certificate in secondary school. These things affect every family. It is welcome. Previous speakers spoke about the energy credit. It...

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I want also to talk on this subject today, and I am sure the Minister of State will be aware of the concerns I have. 6 o’clock I am sure he has heard them as well, being a Deputy from my constituency. I will discuss water quality. I recently visited someone in the hospital in Kilkenny. Ninety percent of the time I was there, the patients were getting bottled water. I do not...

Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Instruction to Committee (7 Dec 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is important that we support this motion to amend the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 to empower the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, or the Adoption Authority of Ireland to conduct a trace for specified purposes. Although the Act 2022 is now commenced in full and services are being delivered under the legislation, Tusla has now identified one area where the Act could be enhanced to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Magdalen Laundries (2 Jun 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The establishment of the national memorial and records centre is a central commitment in the action plan for survivors and former residents of the mother and baby and county home institutions. It is right we remember, honour and pay respect to those who were resident in mother and baby homes, county homes, industrial schools, Magdalen laundries and related institutions. The Government...

Government Response to Situation in Ukraine: Statements (30 Mar 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I too want to compliment the Irish people. They have shown so much generosity. I have received several phone calls about housing and people who are willing to take in families. Up to last night we have had 14,611 Ukrainians arrive in Ireland. In the last few days Carlow has had 49 arrive, including a baby and 21 families. I compliment the agencies such as the Carlow County Development...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister. I hear regularly from constituents who raise issues around affordability and availability of childcare and it is an issue that is becoming more pressing now. When we welcome so many young children to Ireland from the Ukraine, we also have to provide for them. It is very important that we address the affordability issue here. Many more childcare workers tell me of how...

International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle very much. As we celebrate International Women's Day, I am thinking of the women and children fleeing war in Ukraine. We are all thinking and praying for Racheal Diyaolu who will hopefully be out of the country as soon as possible. We must also think of those who have fled war in the Middle East and in Africa. I am thinking of women who flee...

Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Second Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister. Before I continue, I acknowledge how engaged the Minister and his staff have been. He listened to families, survivors and the wider community and made changes in this legislation that were recommended to him. We had a very lengthy process at committee but it was good that we did so. The Chairman, Deputy Funchion, and committee members from all parties worked...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Some of my questions have been answered. On the implementation of the action plan in response to the recommendations from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, I want to ask about fast-tracking the medical cards. I have been speaking to survivors. Good quality healthcare is so important here. Maybe the Minister could come back to me on that. We spoke a lot today...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Jan 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also have the same question. The survivors were very upset over the leak of the report into mother and baby homes. I would like to know where we are today in the investigation of that leak. People want closure. I ask that we get that out to people. There is a very significant issue here with communication and I know how committed the Taoiseach is to this. The other issue I wish to...

Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Second Stage (19 Jan 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...because there is a lot of misinformation coming from the Opposition. We need to sort this because it is not proper for wrong information to go out from this House, as happened with regard to the mother and baby homes issue, when some Deputies claimed that the files were sealed away. They were not sealed away but that information went out. It is wrong to give wrong information and in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (15 Jun 2021)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...House. I also wish to thank everyone today. It has been very informative. Many of my questions have also been asked already. One of the biggest concerns I have is about the information request and the lack of any enforcement mechanisms. Information is of critical importance and is crucial. I would like that to be looked at. As for people who wish to receive counselling, that is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of a Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill: Discussion (14 Apr 2021)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes. I thank Ms Corrigan for her earlier answer. I totally understand her concerns and the fact that it is so important that survivors and families are informed and that we work with them. That will be very important going forward. There are 22 recommendations in the report of the commission. In the context of the latter, the Minister indicated that there will be information and access...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...relates to vital services. We need to ensure funding is available. This funding is always important but it has been especially important in the past year when so much has happened with Covid-19 and everything else. I note one of the sections under childcare referred to a high-level goal of making childcare more affordable. This issue has been raised with my office. Many people want...

Impact of Covid-19 on Women for International Women’s Day: Statements (4 Mar 2021)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome this opportunity to discuss the disproportionate impact that Covid-19 has had on women and to reflect on where women are in Irish society today as we celebrate women on International Women’s Day on 8 March. In the 100 years since women won the right to vote, there have been millions upon millions of stories of strong women forging the way ahead, fighting for equality....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Engagement with the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth (16 Feb 2021)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister and I welcome him. All of us have many questions to ask. I have been contacted by survivors in recent days looking for the commission to be extended because of all the unanswered questions. I thought what one particular survivor wrote was really sad. She said she was tired and she wanted her history. I thought she deserved that. Why were only 18 institutions...

Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jan 2021)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Before I begin, I wish to take a moment to congratulate the most Irish US President since JFK, Joe Biden, and the Vice President, Kamala Harris, on their inauguration and wish them a successful term in office. In a speech yesterday Mr. Biden said "To heal, we must remember...it's hard sometimes to remember but that's how we heal". The report, which is 3,000 pages long, is a map but there...

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We all got a shock when we realised that we had to go to level 5 this week. Many people are doing the right thing by washing their hands, wearing masks and reducing contacts while businesses have spent thousands of euro modifying their premises to protect their staff and customers. They were all stunned when they realised that no matter how hard they tried, the virus had taken control and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services Waiting Lists (20 Feb 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...attending primary schools can be referred to dental treatment by a child health service or following a routine school visit. Children attending primary schools are screened in second, fourth and sixth class and, if necessary, are referred to the local dental clinic for treatment. Some children are referred to an orthodontic clinic for further treatment. This referral is from the...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...be a lot quicker. Hard decisions have to be made but this is a matter for individuals as everyone has their own story. I will give mine. I had my first child at 22 weeks. She weighed only 3 lb and then lost 8 oz to weigh just 2 lb 3 oz. She was quite strong and fought hard and today she is a nurse and a healthy person. This was a baby I gave birth to 30 years ago who, for unknown...