Results 401-420 of 2,078 for speaker:Mary Seery Kearney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility in Planning and Delivery of Transport Projects: Discussion (3 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I apologise to Mr. Creegan, but is the NTA relying on people to report where an issue emerges? Is that a message that we need to send?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility in Planning and Delivery of Transport Projects: Discussion (3 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: To mitigate the problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility in Planning and Delivery of Transport Projects: Discussion (3 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: That is everything. I thank Mr. Creegan. I look forward to talking to him soon about BusConnects.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility in Planning and Delivery of Transport Projects: Discussion (3 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank Ms O'Donnell.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I welcome this Bill and the fact the Minister has brought it forward so quickly in his tenure, despite everything else that was going on. It shows the priority he is giving it. I thank him also for acknowledging the great work of Deputy David Stanton as well. What is extraordinary is that we have to legislate for gender equality where pay is concerned. We should have long since moved past...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I congratulate Senator Ruane and the wider Civil Engagement Group on bringing forward the Bill. It demonstrates a level of thoughtfulness and is an intervention that is honourable in itself and honours victims and survivors of sexual abuse who have, shamefully, been subjected to NDAs. That is a most appalling use of an NDA and it perpetuates the abuse in a most egregious manner. I...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: Tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the Convention Centre Dublin.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: Four weeks ago I raised the plight of long-term patients in hospital who are waiting to get home and the fact they are allowed no visitors. I thank the Leader for writing a letter to the Minister for Health. I followed up on the issue with him in the meantime, asking that long-term patients in hospital should be afforded the same visiting rights as those who are in nursing home care. There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility in Planning and Delivery of Transport Projects: Discussion (3 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank Ms Graham.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank the witnesses for their submissions, which were particularly detailed and helpful. I look at the three entities represented today and it appears that two are disenfranchised. We are trying to advance their cause. From women's point of view, meanwhile, we are trying to ensure we have greater female representation. The submission from the Irish Traveller Movement has that really...

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank the Minister of State for being here. While I missed some of the debate due to meeting commitments, I echo the calls for the increased use of antigen tests. I understand the caution and the nerves. When I first saw them advertised in a supermarket I was concerned that their cavalier use could facilitate more socialising and more people being out and about.If we get instructions and...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: The wording "as soon as is reasonably practicable" has to do with the fact that this provision is about putting the regulations in place. Thus far, the Minister has always delivered anything he has committed to within a timeline. The impetus in the programme for Government and so on is to put this legislation in place as quickly as possible. While I understand and agree with the urgency, I...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: My points related to the GDPR aspect of it. The collection of data such as these would be very well done by a body such as IBEC or the Department on a collective where there is pseudonymisation and where people cannot be identified. The proportion of part-time employees in many employments is considerably lower than the proportion of full-time employees, so there is a possibility of...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: In the principal Act the definition of remuneration covers any kind of remuneration, whether in cash or in kind, that an employee receives directly or indirectly from the employer in respect of that employment. It is a real catch-all. Having argued the point in the context of what basic pay and conditions means and whether it is the same as remuneration, there are times when the two are...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I will be brief. In an ideal world, this would apply everywhere in every company and would be administered appropriately in every company. I am mindful, however, of the advice that came through the Oireachtas Library and Research Service, which states: Given the experience that has been identified in the UK and other jurisdictions regarding the administrative burden that gender pay gap...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: The recourse to the Circuit and the High Court in and of itself is very powerful from the point of view that it is public. While larger companies may be able to buy their way out through paying fines and penalties, what is of greater value is the need to avoid potential reputational damage by not ending up in the Circuit or High Court. The very welcome decision by the Supreme Court in the...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: The point made by Senator Higgins is valid, to be fair. There is an idea that whoever is to tender for public contracts must show compliance but such compliance should be demonstrated across a number of areas and not just this. It is something that could be put into regulations without it being mandated here. In public procurement rules there is a requirement to comply with all sorts of...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: I wish to refer to the very fact that access to the likes of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court can be had, and there is no threshold of payment or threats of fees or costs afterwards in the event of an unsuccessful claim to the WRC. The very fact that we have that avenue of redress and an ability to lodge a complaint will have the effect of throwing up where we have...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: The announcement is great because for years I advocated for a joint labour committee for childcare. Well done on all of that all around and hearts up.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: The Minister stole mine last week.