Results 361-380 of 1,150 for speaker:Frank Fahey

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: The Bill provides that the assessment officer will be independent, with responsibility for delivering an independent assessment of need for individuals. In addition, the assessment will be undertaken without regard to the cost of the service envisaged or the capacity of the executive to provide those services. The independence of this officer is essential to the process and is a response to a...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I would never question Deputy McGrath's objectivity, which is to be found in his contributions to this Bill. I agree that there are major gaps in the services provided for people with disabilities. There are waiting lists across the spectrum. Those gaps must be tackled and the resources must be found in order to provide those services. The entire thrust of the Government's policy is to...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I have not been critical of any Deputy present with regard to the need for extra resources for this Bill. However, I do not have much respect for the opportunism of some Deputies.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I move amendment No. 81a: In page 15, lines 7 and 8, to delete "within a specified timeframe" and substitute "without undue delay". Under section 11(3), the liaison officer can request the council's support in preparing a service statement, including the identification of an appropriate education service for person's with disabilities under the age of 18. Opposition Deputies asked me on...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: The amendment will provide for a response from the council within a specified timeframe. I am happy to make this amendment in response to the case being made by Deputies Stanton and Lynch.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I move amendment No. 87a: In page 15, to delete lines 27 to 35 and substitute the following: "(e) in the case of a service to be provided by or on behalf of the Executive, the need to ensure that the provision of the service would not result in any expenditure in excess of the amount allocated to implement the approved service plan of the Executive for the relevant financial year,". This is a...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: The liaison officer will be subject to the service plan for the HSE, which will be handed down to the executive at regional level. Under the normal financial planning exercise, the amount of money made available for disability services will be made known to the liaison officer who will draw up a service plan in accordance with that resource provision.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: At the beginning of each year the Minister will be obliged to state the level of resources made available for disability services. The HSE will be the direct beneficiary of that legislation but it will not be ring-fenced because changes may take place during the year. Given that I am taking a transparent approach to this Bill, the amount for the disability must be stated at the beginning of...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: It may not.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I move amendment No. 88a: In page 15, line 41, to delete "without undue delay". I brought forward an amendment on Committee Stage to ensure applicants would receive copies of their service statements without undue delay. That amendment was in response to a proposal by the National Disability Authority. During the Committee Stage debate, Deputies sought a change in the amendment so that both...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: Deputy Stanton is incorrect in his interpretation. I have taken legal advice on this matter.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I am prepared to withdraw the amendments if Deputies are unsatisfied. I included them at their request.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: That is exactly what these amendments provide.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I devised these amendments in response to the views expressed by Deputy Lynch and others on Committee Stage. Now I am told I have not made the correct change.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I will withdraw the amendments if Deputies are unsatisfied with them.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I reiterate that both the preparation of the statement and its communication to the relevant parties must take place without undue delay under the provisions of these amendments.

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: I move amendment No. 88b: In page 15, line 44, to delete "concerned" and substitute "concerned without undue delay".

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: The provisions of section 12 look beyond the health and education sectors and provide a mechanism to allow the supply of relevant information in order to facilitate access to other services. The section is a significant and practical response to the concerns of the disability sector that the Bill should foster appropriate linkages to mainstream services. Amendments Nos. 90 to 93, inclusive,...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: The proposal in amendment 93a is outside the scope of the current legislation. However, I agree that it is a good proposal and I assure the Deputy that the Bill would not prohibit the introduction of a card scheme such as that being suggested at some point in the future, should that become policy. I understand that an interdepartmental steering group is active in this area and that the...

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Frank Fahey: As I stated, the proposal is not appropriate to this legislation. However, this Bill would not prohibit the introduction of a card scheme in the future. However, this is a matter for Government policy. An interdepartmental group is considering this matter and it is quite possible that it will consider the Deputy's proposal and introduce a card scheme in the appropriate way. However, it is not...