Results 241-260 of 12,629 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy's party was in power for five. The Deputy had his chance.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: It cut funding for the disabled.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I hate listening to hypocrisy.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: It is hypocrisy.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: And the five years before them.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The same as Deputy Quinn.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: What about Deputy Quinn?

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: You had five years.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: If the Deputy's party did as much as it did previously, they are better off.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy's party had five years.

Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)

Willie O'Dea: What did it do?

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Willie O'Dea: We had a long debate about this at the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights when maternity protection legislation was being discussed. I pointed out a difficulty, namely, that if somebody on additional maternity leave went out sick, it would mean, in accordance with the recommendations of the committee's working group, that provision would have to be made that the...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Again, the difficulty with this amendment is that the maternity working group wanted a situation where the leave would end immediately after the child came out of hospital. In order to provide some flexibility, we managed to get in a period of seven days. However, I believe it would be undesirable to extend it. We have moved from the original position recommended by the working group. To make...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I am happy to accept this amendment, which I believe improves the text of the Bill. I thank Senator Tuffy and her drafting advisers.

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Frankly, I did not understand the thinking behind the amendment although the Senator has now explained it. I believe the situation she is worried about is addressed. I will give her the official response and we may discuss it further if she wishes. The purpose of this section of the Act is to make the employee's job secure while absent from work on adoptive or additional leave. This section...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Willie O'Dea: They say that an open confession is good for the soul. I confess that we got it wrong and I accept both amendments. I thank Senator Tuffy.

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Willie O'Dea: When we try to process legislation and publish it as quickly as possible, I am told there are vacancies in the Parliamentary Counsel's office. Perhaps I could speak to Senator Tuffy afterwards about that because she has it right again and I accept the amendment.

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I take Senator Tuffy's point in regard to amendment No. 15. The main objective of the legislation is to amend the Adoptive Leave Act. It has to amend the 1995 Act in any event. However, in the Long Title to a Bill we must describe accurately everything the Bill does, in so far as we can. The Bill before us amends the Unfair Dismissals Act and also the redundancy payments legislation....

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I wish to make two points in response to Senator Hayes. On the issue of clerical sexual abuse against children in Dublin, I am informed that the television programme which highlighted that issue prompted the Bill. The Senator suggested that this be the first item to be considered by one of the new commissions. I shall convey that to the appropriate people. On the question of Ministers being...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Amendment No. 8 seeks to amend section 12(3), the provisions of which must be considered in the context of the whole section, as must the amendment. Section 12(1) provides that a witness must be informed about any evidence received by a commission which may be relevant to him or her or to the evidence he or she is about to give. Under section 12(2), a commission is not required to reveal the...