Results 20,141-20,160 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I am likely to support it on Report Stage, which is the point Deputy Jack Chambers is making. It is a matter of head and heart.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I have to say no at the moment and seek legal advice.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: This amendment addresses both articles 8 and 29 of the convention, dealing with accessibility and participation in political and public life. The Deputy mentioned some examples of polling stations that are not accessible. That is unacceptable to me as the Minister of State with responsibility in this area. While I am completely in agreement with the spirit of the amendment proposed I have...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I do not disagree with the Deputies on the points they raised. While I understand the frustration with the working group, the problem is also one we had in respect of the capacity issue. We placed advertisements in newspapers and received 50 submissions. The more that came in, the more people became involved and the more complex everything became. At the same time, if we did not consult...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I share the concern of the Deputies who have tabled the amendment that information provided to voters in a referendum should be accessible and easy to understand. However, this concern is addressed through current practices. In line with its existing duties under the Referendum Act 1998, the Referendum Commission prepares and provides information on referenda for persons with disabilities,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I see what the Deputy is up to. We must push forward to ensure that more people with disabilities can go forward and get involved in politics and lobbying but the Referendum Act 1998 provides for the preparation of this information on referendums for people with disabilities, including an easy-to-read format for people with intellectual disabilities. That is something I have seen used...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, line 25, to delete "Every person" and substitute "A person". I hope I win this one. The section makes two amendments to the National Disability Authority, NDA. It makes provision for the NDA to play a role in a monitoring mechanism for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It also provides for staff of the NDA to become civil...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I move amendment No. 7: In page 5, line 38, to delete "applies" and substitute the following: "applies, and in such case, a reference in this section to "appointed day" in relation to a person means the day appointed under this paragraph in respect of the category or grade of staff to which the person belongs".

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: Section 4, as drafted, deals with reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation are practical changes that service providers have to make so that people with disabilities can obtain and use all kinds of services on an equal basis with others. The convention provides that reasonable accommodation be provided for people with disabilities in the areas of...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: Disproportionate burden is the standard provided in the convention so from my point of view, it would be very risky to remove the standard.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I move amendment No. 5: In page 7, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: "Amendment of Disability Act 2005 5.The Disability Act 2005 is amended— (a) in section 46(3), by the substitution of "members, within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, of the Garda Síochána" for "the Garda Síochána", and (b) by the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: The NDA will monitor and report on progress in respect of employment. I have also set up a team under the national disability inclusion strategy, which meets every couple of months. I bring in officials from every Department and we sit around the table and ask what they have done on disabilities over the previous three or four months. There is accountability to me as Minister of State and...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: It is of the utmost importance that the essence of Article 14.2 is adequately provided for in primary legislation. In this regard, the Department feels strongly about, and continues to prioritise, the development of legislation on the deprivation of liberty safeguards. While it was initially intended to include a deprivation of liberty safeguard on Committee Stage, the importance of...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I will take Deputy Ó Laoghaire's views on board and I assure him that the heads of the Bill are ready.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I take the points on board that were made by Deputies Wallace and Ó Laoghaire. I have consulted IHREC and understand that it has made provisions for its role as an independent monitor in its work plan and budget for this year. On the question of resources, IHREC receives substantial Exchequer funding each year to support its core activities. The 2019 Estimates provide an allocation of...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I agree with Deputy Chambers. This section of Bill creates a statutory basis for IHREC's role in the monitoring framework with regard to the UNCRPD. IHREC, as Ireland's national human rights and equality body has a function to keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights and equality and so is well placed to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I said that I am open to supporting the amendment.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I may have to come back on Report Stage with some changes to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act of 2014 to make provisions consistent.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: I am in a similar position. I have a group of disabled people in the audiovisual room waiting for me at 11 a.m. and we have about three other events on today. It is difficult. I am prepared to facilitate if the committee wishes to choose a quieter time when we are not rushed to complete this.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Finian McGrath: That is okay.