Results 61-80 of 240 for speaker:Maria Corrigan

Seanad: Confidence in the Taoiseach: Motion (16 Jun 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. Like all Members and every member of Fianna Fáil, including the Taoiseach, I am profoundly distressed when I hear of the extremely disturbing circumstances in which the people find themselves. As the Taoiseach, he feels the responsibility even more. This sense of responsibility drives his determination to lead the economy and our country...

Seanad: Confidence in the Taoiseach: Motion (16 Jun 2010)

Maria Corrigan: He immediately gave a commitment to the effect that no longer would the area of disability and mental health be the Cinderella of the health services.

Seanad: Confidence in the Taoiseach: Motion (16 Jun 2010)

Maria Corrigan: May I speak?

Seanad: Confidence in the Taoiseach: Motion (16 Jun 2010)

Maria Corrigan: Services immediately felt the impact of his commitment. There was extensive development, A Vision for Change was drawn and, for the first time ever, multi-annual funding was introduced. As the Minister for Health and Children and Finance and now as Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen has honoured this commitment to people who have been frequently forgotten. Therefore, I have every confidence he will...

Seanad: Provision of Health Services by the HSE: Statements (16 Jun 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister to the Chamber. Like other Senators, I am always in admiration of her ability to speak so comprehensively on the health service without a note in hand. I welcome the progress she has outlined. I am very conscious that the HSE is a relatively new body for the provision of services. It is very clear from the Minister's contribution this morning...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2010)

Maria Corrigan: Will the Leader make arrangements for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to come to the Seanad as soon as possible to discuss the role of county enterprise boards in responding to closures such as that announced by Pfizer? The county enterprise boards have a statutory mandate to act as a task force in the event of such closures, but they are struggling in terms of resources....

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Second Stage (19 May 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I will be as quick as possible. I welcome the Minister of State and commend Senator Quinn on his introduction of the Bill, which is much needed at a difficult time for subcontractors, be they small companies or sole traders. As the Minister of State said earlier, we all have experience of being approached by people who are finding it difficult to obtain payment and whose businesses are on...

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to this very important debate and I acknowledge the work the Minister of State has undertaken in this area. I am very conscious the Minister of State's portfolio is not just about child protection, but covers many other areas. It must seem to him, however, that at present his portfolio almost...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I also welcome the Minister of State and thank the Leader for the debate. It is the first time that women's participation in politics has been debated in either House of the Oireachtas, which is significant. I commend Senators Bacik and MacDonald on the work they invested in this report, which is thought provoking and provides the basis for this significant debate to take place for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

Maria Corrigan: Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Health and Children to attend the Chamber to discuss our childhood vaccination programme? I welcome the recent roll-out of the cervical cancer vaccine, but will the Minister discuss with the House the uptake of early childhood vaccinations and indicate to us the incidence of recent outbreaks? In the past number of months, there have been reports...

Seanad: Missing Children Hotline (29 Apr 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I thank the Chair for giving me an opportunity to raise this important issue. I thank the Minister of State for attending the House to respond. The issue I wish to raise is the need for a national hotline dealing with missing children. I cannot imagine the pain and loss experienced by the family of someone who goes missing. Families do not know what has happened to the children, where they...

Seanad: Missing Children Hotline (29 Apr 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I look forward to hearing from the Minister of State with responsibility for children in respect of the developments that are taking place. While the issue of children in the care of the HSE who have gone missing is extremely important, the hotline number to which I refer does not relate solely to them and is part of the EU response to missing...

Seanad: Banking: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I welcome the Minister of State and welcome the opportunity to continue this debate on this important issue. At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the sheer white fury that exists on the part of ordinary members of the public with regard to the banking situation, banks and bankers. I am conscious of the thousands of front-line employees in banks who do the best they can and who perhaps have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

Maria Corrigan: There have been significant changes in the provision of care and its funding, including the introduction of standards, inspections, the fair deal scheme, etc. However, there is also an increased commitment to support people to help them stay in their own homes for as long as is possible. In this regard, it would be timely for us to have a debate on the critical role carers play under the...

Seanad: Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2010: Second Stage (21 Apr 2010)

Maria Corrigan: With the agreement of the House, I want to share my time with Senator McDonald.

Seanad: Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2010: Second Stage (21 Apr 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, to the House. Her speech, contrary to Senator Twomey's claim, outlined that female genital mutilation, FGM, is an unacceptable and unjustifiable practice with no benefits. The Minister of State referred to one challenge we face in bringing forward the heads of the Bill on FGM, that is, the provision to take action against anyone who aids...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements. (30 Mar 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue and thank those colleagues who made strenuous efforts in recent months on the Order of Business to ensure it was raised in the House. It is very important that the Legislature is seen to send a strong message on domestic violence. I also welcome the Minister of State, on what I understand is her first appearance in the House, and...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements. (30 Mar 2010)

Maria Corrigan: As I am conscious of time, I will be quick.

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements. (30 Mar 2010)

Maria Corrigan: I would like the Minister of State to do something and I will skip through the rest. Would she consider increasing the number of places of safety? I welcome the strategy, but it will only work if we all take responsibility. We need to increase community awareness and send a strong message of zero tolerance of domestic violence. Will the Minister of State also review the legal procedures?...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements. (30 Mar 2010)

Maria Corrigan: It is important that we undertake a safety audit as a minimum. We should consider how to enhance protection and reduce waiting times. People who must get safety orders should not wait months. Will the Minister of State consider what supports could be put in place for children? In terms of prevention, it is important we examine what is occurring in schools. We should consider how to shape...