Results 381-400 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and the written submissions we read in advance of the meeting. A very strong case has been presented on the various issues, but especially on the fact that the forced divorce provisions are not only legally unnecessary but could be in breach of the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR. I read Dr. Fergus Ryan's paper in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: Perhaps I should have asked Dr. Ryan to elaborate on annulment as well because that is important. The issue arises that a person might not be able to get a divorce or an annulment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I support Senator Mooney's amendments. I want to speak about PRSI on rental income. The Bill as drafted would require people to pay PRSI on income and not profit. While capital expenditure, mortgage interest, etc. can be deducted for income tax purposes before paying the income tax aspect of it, I understand the PRSI will need to be paid on income. Let us not forget that the vast majority...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I wish to respond to the point made by the Minister that PAYE is paid on employment income. I agree but I still think that is quite different from somebody who makes a loss on a rental property. At least with employment every euro one gets is extra and there is no question of losing money. As I pointed out, what is being done in this provision is different from the existing code for income...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: If I may respond directly on that point before Senator Mooney asks about another issue, the crucial point is that the income will be subject to tax but the Minister is not providing for disregards from the PRSI liability in the way she does from income tax. That is the gap, and it is a huge gap because the reality is that somebody who does not pay any income tax on their rental property...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: Fianna Fáil is strongly opposed to section 5. For the second year in a row, working mothers have been targeted for huge cuts in maternity benefit. Last year, the payment was taxed for the first time with the result that many women lost an incredible €2,700 over the course of one maternity leave period of 26 weeks. In this Bill, the payment is being cut by €32 per week...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: Fianna Fáil is strongly opposed to this section of the legislation. While I acknowledge changes were introduced under the previous Government for a reduced rate of payment for 18 and 19-year olds, there was a good rationale for that because it is not right that someone would go straight from school onto the dole. Unfortunately, there is a history in many areas of intergenerational...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: That is 1% of the cohort.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Back-to-School Costs and Schoolbook Rental Schemes: Discussion (13 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I will be brief. I wish to ask one question and make a comment. Much of the debate has been around a form of words which were used in a report. It is important that this is done in a collegiate way. It is fair to acknowledge that it is not the committee's job to fund schools but it is its job to give a balanced report of why schools are in the present situation. We need to work on...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Adult Education (20 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to take this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I have tabled the matter on behalf of the adult and further education committee of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, NAPD. The NAPD is concerned about the draft scheme of the education (admission to schools) Bill 2013 and the...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Adult Education (20 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I strongly welcome the acknowledgement in the Minister's response of the need to adjust the general scheme of the Bill to ensure there are no unintended consequences for the plc courses. At least it shows there is an awareness in the Department that there are issues. I appreciate also his reassurance that those issues will be addressed before the legislation is finalised. I reiterate that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Accreditation for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Facility in Bahrain: Discussion (27 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: This is a very serious issue and the committee should be concerned about it. It not only affects the reputation of the RCSI in Bahrain and here, but also the reputation of Irish education. Education is something we are trying to market to other countries and its reputation should not be in doubt. The witness has made the main points. I was in Bahrain with an Irish delegation of doctors,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Accreditation for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Facility in Bahrain: Discussion (27 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I propose a two-pronged approach. It is a good suggestion to invite the Medical Council and others to discuss the matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Accreditation for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Facility in Bahrain: Discussion (27 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I know, however, that given the committee's agenda, it will take some time to arrange such a meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Accreditation for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Facility in Bahrain: Discussion (27 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: In the interim we could write to the Minister for Education and Skills, as suggested by the group, to express the committee's concern that the college may not be acting in accordance with its accreditation and to seek an urgent investigation. At least we will have sought an investigation straight away while waiting for groups to meet the committee given that the situation has been going on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Accreditation for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Facility in Bahrain: Discussion (27 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: Yes. Does Dr. Ó Cuinn want us to write to NUI as well? Does he suggest that we just write to the Minister?

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. While I welcome also that we are discussing the issue of mental health this evening there is, in some respects, a sense of déjà vu in that we have discussed this issue a great deal over the past two years. While on the one hand, this is reflective of the priority which Members on all sides of the House give to this issue and the...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Averil Power: Yes. A lower allocation of €20 million has been provided for mental health services in this year's budget, which I find very worrying. The provision of €35 million is a drop in the ocean in terms of what is needed in this area. There is no doubt that we have under-spent in this area for a long time, and not only in the past two years. We have never given mental health the...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Averil Power: Like other Members I welcome some elements of the Bill, particularly the retention of the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector. I lobbied the Minister for Finance on that throughout the year and an excellent campaign was run by the Restaurant Association of Ireland and other groups pointing out the business case for it, that it has paid for itself and supported employment particularly in...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Averil Power: I will not ask the Minister of State for his views on lap-dancing.