Results 61-80 of 131 for going forward speaker:Róisín Shortall

Road Traffic (Quads and Scramblers) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Oct 2018)

Róisín Shortall: I welcome the Bill and pledge the support of the Social Democrats for it. I commend Deputies Ellis and Munster for taking the initiative to bring it forward. This is the second time Deputy Ellis has tabled a Bill on this matter. Many Members, including Deputy Ellis and me, have raised this issue consistently over many years. Unfortunately, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears....

Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jul 2018)

Róisín Shortall: Some people are being very precious about this, and about who is responsible for bringing forward the proposals. That actually does not matter at all. The fact is that we are debating legislation that is going to become law over the next few months. There is now an opportunity to do something to address the issue of bogus self-employment. We are all aware that it is a widespread problem....

Northern Ireland and Brexit: Statements (12 Jul 2018)

Róisín Shortall: ...week, however, may prove to have been somewhat of a catalyst for the future of the negotiations. The White Paper which was published this afternoon lays the foundation for the UK's position going forward and the most strident dissenters have been sidelined. Despite this, there remain a number of potential pitfalls that will need to be addressed as soon as possible. From a first...

Apology for Persons Convicted of Consensual Same-Sex Sexual Acts: Motion (19 Jun 2018)

Róisín Shortall: ...Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, who introduced the legislation to allow for decriminalisation and an equal age of consent. However, it should be noted that it took five years, from 1988 to 1993, to bring forward legislation to address the European Court of Human Rights ruling against Ireland that led to decriminalisation. Recent events show us again that, in the main, progress on social...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (16 May 2018)

Róisín Shortall: ...be used in those early years but it principally gives flexibility to parents to balance their work obligations and their parental obligations. It provides that kind of flexibility where they may go on a four-day week for a period, take time off during summer holidays from schools and that kind of thing. It is an extremely popular measure. In the main, it does not cost an awful lot....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (16 May 2018)

Róisín Shortall: I will respond to some of the points made by the Minister of State. I agree that pre-legislative scrutiny is a good thing and a good practice that we have developed but that is where one is talking about a new measure. This is not a new measure. It is an existing measure that has been there for some time and is merely an extension of that. I repeat that it is an eight-week extension that...

Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Second Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Róisín Shortall: ...enjoyed. Too many people find themselves waiting for emails or texts from their managers or co-workers telling them the roster is done, or checking with trepidation to see where and when they are going to be called in to work in the week ahead. Plans for child care or social events go out the window along with the family's budget. Increasing globalisation and the sense that some...

Report on the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Róisín Shortall: ...and putting time into researching, listening and learning about the many aspects of the abortion issue. I think all of them made a sincere and genuine effort to grapple with the issue. They came forward finally, in the relatively tight timescale allocated to them, with a comprehensive report on the matter, and we should all thank the committee and be grateful to its members for the...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2018 Second Stage: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2018)

Róisín Shortall: ...by 11% in Cork, where there is an existing rent pressure zone. Overall, throughout the country rents have increased by 9.5% in the past year. It is because of this that the Social Democrats have brought forward the Bill. We believe the spiralling rents are directly responsible for the surge in homelessness. These increases are simply unsustainable and lay bare the abject failure of a...

Domestic Violence Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Second Stage (15 Dec 2017)

Róisín Shortall: ...Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul convention. We have been talking about the convention for some time and it is good that we are now at a point where we will hopefully be in a position to sign up fully to it and to commit to all of its provisions. The problem of domestic violence is a very prevalent one and...

Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (14 Dec 2017)

Róisín Shortall: ...that we are now at the point of ensuring that ISL finally takes its place as a fully recognised language in Ireland. I commend Senator Mark Daly and the Minister of State for ensuring that we have got to this point. Senator Daly has been working with the deaf community over several years and to finally get to this day is a wonderful achievement. Irish Sign Language is the native...

European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Róisín Shortall: ...in the new year. I have concerns that differing perspectives as to what the Brexit agreement actually means will undoubtedly cause problems over the coming year or so. The deal references the Good Friday Agreement in several parts and on several occasions. While the idea of a fudge in the Good Friday Agreement may have been a necessary evil in allowing people from a number of...

Committee on the Future of Healthcare Report: Motion (Resumed) (16 Nov 2017)

Róisín Shortall: ...on a very significant area of public concern. Sláintecare was and is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something of real importance in this country and should be grasped with both hands by Government. We have a cross-party consensus on health policy for the first time which is key to making progress. For the first time we can take the politics out of health and end the...

Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Second Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Róisín Shortall: Five years ago the final report of the Mahon tribunal into certain planning matters and payments stated:Corruption in Irish political life was both endemic and systemic. It affected every level of Government, from some holders of top ministerial office to some local councillors and its existence was widely known and widely tolerated. Although that corruption was occasionally the subject of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Róisín Shortall: 191. To ask the Minister for Health the circumstances whereby the HSE announced a change in policy relating to supports for persons affected by breast cancer; the policy going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31953/17]

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: ...a lay majority and a lay chairperson to make recommendations in respect of those who may be suitable to serve as judges seems absolutely sensible and I see no difficulty with it. Insofar as it goes, it is to be welcomed. However, one must look at the circumstances which led to its being brought forward. Although it has been talked about for a significant period, it has been rushed...

Reform of An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (11 Apr 2017)

Róisín Shortall: ...before the rule of law and the authority of the Garda is completely disregarded. It is clear there have been serious problems within the Garda for decades. The problem is that successive Governments, led by the major parties, have utterly failed to tackle the problems. It seems the major parties have been happy to use and abuse An Garda Síochána for their own purposes. Not...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Colscaradh) 2016: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Divorce) Bill 2016: Second Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Róisín Shortall: ..., the one-year separation period in Canada can be waived in cases where a spouse is mentally or physically abusive. While the Bill's provisions are welcome, there is no logical reason to fail to go further. If we are to put a constitutional amendment to the people, one which is effectively administrative, why not remove this matter from the Constitution? Surely it is more suitably dealt...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (4 Apr 2017)

Róisín Shortall: ...Union institutions rather than this country for parental leave rights because our current parental leave entitlements derive almost entirely from EU legislation. While member states are allowed to go further, Ireland has stuck to just above the bare minimum of leave set down by Directive 2010/18/EU. It is time we legislated for parental leave of our own volition, rather than being...

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Róisín Shortall: .... In light of what we know at this point, an explanation is needed and the question of whether there is a pattern or a reluctance to prosecute in particular cases needs to be researched. Without going into the detail of specific cases, some kind of explanation should be given where, for example, there have been shortcomings in the law or the preparation of cases. The public needs to...