Results 401-420 of 1,827 for speaker:Jillian van Turnhout

Seanad: 90th Anniversary of Seanad Éireann: Statements (11 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I am honoured to speak on behalf of the Taoiseach's nominees. In preparing for today I spent the past week reflecting and reading through the history of the Seanad, as it appears my colleagues also did, and in particular I looked at its earlier days. My colleagues know I have a keen interest in family history, and through my research on my family I learned the necklace I am wearing today...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I will begin with some positive news and will acknowledge the role this House has played. The 116000 missing children hotline now is operational and I believe this House played a strong role in this regard. If Members recall, they came together as a House in October 2011 for what I believe to have been an excellent debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Moreover, Members,...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I also tabled an amendment to deal with this issue. The difficulty I have is there is one big anomaly in the vetting and protection of children. The Child Care Act 1991 distinguishes three groups. Everyone is in agreement that the first group under section 58(a) are the relatives of the child or children or the spouse of such relatives but that is not what we are seeking to amend. We are...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I also tabled an amendment to deal with this issue. The difficulty I have is there is one big anomaly in the vetting and protection of children. The Child Care Act 1991 distinguishes three groups. Everyone is in agreement that the first group under section 58(a) are the relatives of the child or children or the spouse of such relatives but that is not what we are seeking to amend. We are...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I listened carefully to what the Minister had to say. As I stated on Second Stage, I welcome the Bill. It has been long-promised. It is great that we are debating it and I will do everything I can to ensure its successful passage. I am torn on this issue. It is an issue, not only in regard to vetting, but which has been neglected, of regulation. It is preschool children on whom I am...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I have listened carefully to the debate because, like the Minister, at the beginning of this issue I would also have supported Senator Ó Clochartaigh. It is important, however, that organisations would know of such soft information. The Minister's words have been very useful. My difficulty is that a conviction, or even a spent conviction, is barring people from so many professions. I...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I seek clarification in respect of section 12(5), which states, "This section shall not apply to any employment, contract, permission or placement referred to ... that commenced or was entered into ... before the commencement of this section". I looked at that section and then read paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of section 21(1), which refers to retrospective vetting. I believe these...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I thank the Minister for that clarification. My difficulty is that were I an employee, under section 12, I could claim that vetting does not apply to me. If one then puts in place retrospective vetting, it is about the organisation but as an employee, could I refuse to be vetted? I refer to the position into which that could put an organisation.

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I have a comment on section 19, which partly speaks to what Senator Ó Clochartaigh has proposed. My background, as the Minister is aware, is in youth work organisations. I am confused as to whether an organisation must report to the HSE, the Garda Síochána and the bureau. Why can the authorities not speak to one another? Why is the onus put on organisations to do all of the reporting?...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I accept what the Minister said but my difficulty is that looking at the situation from the perspective of organisational resources, the onus is being put on the organisations to do what could be called double-reporting, but my concern is that we are not getting the arms of the State to ensure that they report to one another and that one would have the HSE reporting to the Garda Síochána or...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: Yes.

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I, too, welcome the amendment. In the interests of time, I will confine my contribution to expressing my support for the view expressed by Senator Ó Clochartaigh. I look forward to the Minister's response.

Seanad: Youth Work: Motion (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I move: That Seanad Éireann:acknowledges the important role that youth work has played and continues to play in assisting young people in Ireland, in supporting them to be active citizens and to reach their potential; welcomes the Assessment of the Economic Value of Youth Work Report (For the National Youth Council of Ireland by Indecon International Economic Consultants, 2012),which shows...

Seanad: Youth Work: Motion (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I move: That Seanad Éireann:acknowledges the important role that youth work has played and continues to play in assisting young people in Ireland, in supporting them to be active citizens and to reach their potential; welcomes the Assessment of the Economic Value of Youth Work Report (For the National Youth Council of Ireland by Indecon International Economic Consultants, 2012),which shows...

Seanad: Youth Work: Motion (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I thank the Minister for her input and for having attended the full debate. I also wish to thank each of my colleagues who contributed to the discussion, in particular, the Independent group's Members who contributed without hesitation. Senator O'Donnell seconded the motion and explained superbly how our group feels about this issue. At the group meeting, Senators Zappone, Mary Ann...

Seanad: Youth Work: Motion (12 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I thank the Minister for giving that commitment to meet with the council's representatives. This is a two-way matter because the State also has a responsibility to review the resources at its disposal, including public buildings and schools. What resources does the State have, other than cash transfers, in order to support youth work? How can it stretch itself to deliver more in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cystic Fibrosis Unit: Discussion (13 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: One of my reasons for requesting the meeting today was because we are all very aware of the stress and distress of the patients from the media reports. I understood that the purpose of today's meeting was to restore confidence. I do not have that confidence. I am reading the statement signed by the witnesses and the Cystic Fibrosis Association that states clearly: "1-2 in-patient rooms in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cystic Fibrosis Unit: Discussion (13 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: Professor Gallagher made a very clear statement that the 14 beds should be allocated in the same place. I do not have all the clinical terms. This is my understanding of reading an agreement about 20 beds being flexed up to 34. Everybody would know where these 14 are. I would like a commitment to work towards allocating the 14 beds and to examine structurally how to allocate them. I know...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: I welcome the Minister to the House. I wish to make the following statement as leader of the Independent Group of Taoiseach nominees, namely, Senator Fiach Mac Conghail, Senator Martin McAleese, Senator Mary Ann O'Brien, Senator Marie Louise O?Donnell, Senator Katherine Zappone and myself. We are aware of the difficult decisions that successive Governments have faced in recent years....

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

Jillian van Turnhout: On a point of order, there are other amendments. What does this have to do with them?