Results 2,101-2,120 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (2 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I am raising the issue of access to St. Michael's House in Dublin 9 for day service users. These people are having difficulty accessing transport. The Department is well aware of this issue. In a presentation made to me last week, however, I was told that it had 788 adult service users who are transported to day services every day, of whom 200...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (2 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: With the greatest respect, it does not really do much, particularly for the eight service users who are at home and cannot access the service because they have no transport or the 18 individuals who are transported by family members, something which St. Michael's House has indicated is not sustainable. I ask the Minister of State to reconsider the answer he has provided, particularly in the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (2 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Senator can go ahead.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I wish to raise two issues. What the women of Ireland need now is leadership from these Houses. I know that politics has a bad name, but politics can do much good in the coming days. I am delighted that Senator Norris mentioned the name of the woman at the heart of this scandal, Vicky Phelan. People have asked for this not to be made a political football and then have immediately engaged...

Seanad: Education (Welfare) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (2 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I concur with my colleague and I also welcome the Minister to the House. I appreciate the work that she and her officials have done in this regard. I completely agree with her. What she has outlined is not the intention of our Bill in any way. The intention is to bring parents under the compassionate arm of the State rather than having them end up in a courtroom. I appreciate the...

Seanad: Education (Welfare) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (2 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate the Acting Chairman's indulgence. I thank the Minister and I reiterate that I hope nobody thinks that the intention of this Bill is stick rather than carrot. There are principals like myself in my former occupation who had the situation where they could only deal with the agents of the State, the National Educational Welfare Board as it was then and Tusla now, if a child was...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I ask the Cathaoirleach for the indulgence of the House for an amendment to the Order of Business to take No. 12 before No. 1.

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: First Stage (3 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to prohibit recognised schools, subject to certain exceptions, from charging admission or enrolment fees or from otherwise seeking contributions from parents towards meeting the costs and expenses incurred in providing education at that school; and to provide for connected matters.

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: First Stage (3 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Next Tuesday. Can I say a few short words on it?

Seanad: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (3 May 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am sure that the Minister will agree that in the political sphere we operate in it is time to move beyond business as usual when it comes to political barbs, finger pointing and point scoring. The issue at hand is far too serious. The Labour Party absolutely stands with the Minister and accepts his bona fides. In his efforts to deal with this matter his interaction with our party and...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will raise two issues, if I may, and call for two debates. First, I had a meeting on Monday in the Department of Health with grieving parents of a young Irish boy, Gavin Coyne, who passed away in Newcastle last year with a heart complaint. The care that we provide for children with heart issues needs to be examined and the way that we care for parents who have to deal with this situation...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Minister to the House. While I broadly welcome the Bill, I would like to make some comments on it. When we are making provisions that relate to religion, I always think the constitutional reality we have means we can do no more than tinker with the issue. That is why the Labour Party is arguing that the Citizens' Assembly should reconvene to discuss the relationship between...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will second that.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Senator Marie Louise O'Donnell has been critical of my use of my phone in this Chamber so I want to make sure I build bridges by seconding her amendment to the Order of Business, like a good student.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I hope that is done now. On the question of housing another debate with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government would be beneficial and important.Senator Humphreys and I have discussed the importance of reinstating the rent-to-buy scheme. It was available ten years ago and allowed people to raise enough money for a deposit while still renting. I refer to that stuck...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It would be a small gesture in response to a big issue. We can all see what is happening with Brexit, which has anti-immigration sentiments. We also have Trump and we have seen what has happened in Italy. In addition, after what has happened recently with our referendum and the referendum that took place a number of years ago, people look to us to stand for something better. Let us...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move amendment No. 35:In page 24, line 9, to delete “school;” and substitute the following:“school, or by virtue of his or her family relationship with a member of the board or a teacher or other member of the staff of the school;”. The amendment speaks to an issue within the Bill which gives permanence-----

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I accept that. The amendment relates to the provision within the Bill that allows for children, grandchildren or family members of past pupils to be given a level of priority when seeking access to an oversubscribed school. There are two amendments on this in two different sections that relate to it but it is very much the same point. This particular section makes the point about family...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I defer to the southsider on that score.