Results 281-300 of 1,150 for speaker:Frank Fahey

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: As I said in my reply, that is already provided for——

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: ——except in the case of a couple in a same sex relationship where one partner wishes to take force majeure leave to look after the other. This is already provided for to look after a parent or child. Where one partner needs to care for another, I am prepared to recommend that.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: On the second part of Senator Terry's question, perhaps I might clarify that the legislation does not need to be amended, since the change can be made by ministerial order under section 13(2) of the Parental Leave Act 1998, and that is what I will be recommending. If the employee is in loco parentis, he or she already qualifies under the 1998 Act for force majeure leave for a child and under...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: This amendment would require the Minister, within three months of the enactment of the Bill, to lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas in regard to the feasibility of introducing paid parental leave. This is not an appropriate mechanism for dealing with this matter. As Senators are aware, the question of paid parental leave was considered during the review of the Parental Leave Act...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: In common with the previous amendment, I see no merit in this proposal. A feasibility study on increasing the duration of parental leave would not add to our understanding of the issue. The parental leave review group considered proposals made by ICTU and the Equality Authority to increase the duration of parental leave. These proposals were considered in the context of the following factors:...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: As I indicated on Committee Stage, an unintentional anomaly has come to light in section 2. The reference to the upper age limit for adopted children needs to be corrected. The construction used in section 2(2)(b)(ii) unintentionally narrows the parental leave entitlement for the parent of an adopted child. It does this by providing that in respect of a child who is the subject of an adoption...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: The Parental Leave Act 1998 provides an individual and non-transferable entitlement to each parent to 14 weeks unpaid leave from work per child to take care of young children. This is consistent with the provisions of the EU parental leave directive, which gives legal effect to the framework agreement on parental leave agreed by the social partners at EU level. Section 2(2) of the agreement,...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: This amendment proposes to delete section 3(b) of the Bill, which provides for a ten-week interval between periods of parental leave. As I said on Committee Stage, the effect of the amendment would be contrary to the parental leave working group's recommendation that parental leave may be taken in separate periods, each consisting of a minimum of six continuous weeks. The working group's...

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: They are not excluded.

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: There is no such legislation anywhere in the world.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: I welcome the opportunity to make a statement to Seanad Éireann regarding the implementation of the equal opportunities child care programme. The programme for Government and the progress of the equal opportunities child care programme are confirmation of the Government's commitment to developing child care services and to keeping child care at the forefront of its social agenda. The...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: That is not possible.

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Apr 2005)

Frank Fahey: I would appreciate if the Deputy would give me the details of the father who wrote that letter. I would be interested in meeting him.

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (19 Apr 2005)

Frank Fahey: I thank the Deputies who contributed for their comments on the Disability Bill 2004. I concur with Deputy Timmins that we all want the best for people with disabilities. I have listened to valuable contributions in the House and read extracts trom the debate when I was not present. Much of what has been said relates to the ten key points raised by the disability legislation consultation...

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (19 Apr 2005)

Frank Fahey: ——even relatively minor impairments such as the need for glasses to read or having a birthmark. Deputies have mentioned some aspects of the definition about which they are concerned. I will be happy to discuss in more detail any specific perceived difficulties on Committee Stage. I am open to considering amendments in this respect. Many Deputies have called for a clear right to an...

Disability Bill 2004: Referral to Select Committee. (19 Apr 2005)

Frank Fahey: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Disability Bill 2004: Order for Report Stage. (18 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (18 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, propose to insert a new Long Title into the Bill and deal with equal rights of people with disabilities. Employment equality and equal status legislation already exists in the State. The present legislation is a positive action measure and I consider, therefore, that the present Long Title reflects that fact accurately. The two main issues are that the Bill...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (18 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I did not interrupt Deputy Cuffe.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage. (18 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: In no country in the world——