Results 4,001-4,020 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister of State for making this significant change. The recommendations of the original committee were softened in the first draft of the Bill, but we have come a long way in the second draft. The reason I have tabled amendments to remove medical practitioners from the picture entirely is the Government has removed the requirement for a medical certificate only in respect of a...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I strongly support the amendment. The Government will not reduce the age from 18 years to 16, as we have suggested. Will the Minister of State recognise the obstacles that lie in the path of a 16 year old in such cases?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: Absolutely. He or she must produce proof of identity, proof of birth, a statutory declaration, a certificate from a medical practitioner, as well as an endocrinologist, parental consent and an order of the Circuit Court. A case in the Circuit Court is infinitely more expensive, as Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh said, than in the District Court. It is also a great deal slower. My experience...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I referred to a British study which indicated that 96% of people who want to change gender decide that they must do so before they have reached the age of 18. It is generally recognised that if somebody discovers they are living in the wrong gender they suffer a lot until such time as they can go through the process of getting formal recognition. We have been given examples of this. I ask...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: It is perverse that we will have gender recognition legislation which will require a person who is happily married to divorce his or her partner or terminate a civil partnership simply because of the fact he or she is changing gender. I recognise the Minister of State’s legal difficulties and that court proceedings are in train. However, I do not believe we should close down for the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I would be broadly supportive of that. One of the issues that has been brought to my attention is the lack of provision for people under the age of 16. Correspondence I have received from the group representing this sector indicates their concern that increasing numbers of those they are dealing with are under the age of 16. This amendment would provide a partial solution, but perhaps the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (16 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 267. To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the increase in property values, if he will consider amendments to the capital acquisitions tax regime in order to relieve the burden on persons who receive or inherit property; if he will introduce specific reliefs to cater for physically or mentally disabled persons who inherit a property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23721/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (16 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 918. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of monitoring her Department undertakes of local authorities' implementation of ministerial recommendations regarding the listing of particular structures under section 53 (3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000; her plans to ensure action is taken by local authorities in this regard; and if she will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Salmon Hardship Scheme (11 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 224. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on reopening the compensation scheme for drift-net salmon fishermen, who did not avail of the scheme when it was in operation, in view of the fact that only a very small number of persons are involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22791/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason access has not been granted following a section 29 Appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is attending a feeder school and whose parent is suffering from a critical illness and requires daily hospital treatment; if she is aware of parents abusing the Common Application System by using false...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 166. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a Department inspector will review payments under the disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is a spina bifida patient and in financial difficulty pending an increase following the cessation of a maintenance payment from that person's estranged spouse for their now independent adult child, her...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 190. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the costs of the community employment schemes for each year from 2009 to 2014; the projected costs and actual costs under the headings, materials budget, training budget, supervisory budget and participant allowances; the number of participants and supervisors employed under the schemes for each of these...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 220. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, in five year blocks, the length of service accrued by currently employed community employment scheme supervisors, both male and female; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21829/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 222. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the free travel pass to include pensioners from other European Union countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21842/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 231. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a decision remains with an inspector since March 2015 pertaining to a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; the reason the inspector in question is unable to reach a decision to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21989/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 241. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the child care supports will be put in place to ensure that those receiving payment under the one-parent family payment can avail of returning to employment or education, as promised by her on 18 April 2012; if she will honour her commitment to those persons, who feel that their family status is discriminated against, in particular those...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 260. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the impact the Government’s privatisation of public transport services will have on the free travels scheme; if she will carry out an assessment of this policy change on the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22345/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 261. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to ensure that the senior citizens and disabled travellers who use the free travel scheme do not suffer a reduced public transport service, in view of the change of policy regarding the tendering of public transport routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22346/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Staff (9 Jun 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 498. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, in respect of the past ten years and of 2015 to date the total number of employees, full-time and part-time, at the Irish Greyhound Board; the total wage bill for each year; the exact date that the Irish Greyhound Board accounts for 2013 and 2014 will be made public; and if he will make a...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister reduced the respite care grant.