Results 5,001-5,020 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (30 Apr 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: 127. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what actions he is taking in the short term to deal with the significant shortfall in places for infants under the age of two; if he is aware that some early years and childcare services have very high wait lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19202/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Apr 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: 358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on school extension plans that were submitted to her Department for a school in County Kilkenny (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19416/24]

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: Apologies have been received from Senator Seery Kearney. The agenda item for consideration this afternoon is pre-Committee Stage detailed scrutiny of the Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021, sponsored by Deputy Cronin. As members will already be aware, this Private Members' Bill was drafted by Deputy Cronin and its principal aim is to provide for an entitlement to bereavement...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: We will move on to Ms Baxter.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Ms Baxter. We will move to questions from members. I call Senator Clonan.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: I am glad we are having this discussion. There was some debate about whether there was a need for pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill because it is so straightforward but it is good for the public to hear and see the matter being discussed and taken seriously at national level. I did not know what had happened to Senator Clonan and his family, and I offer my condolences. It is amazing how...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: The departmental officials may not be able to answer this. Would it be hoped to combine the research? That is a question for both Deputy Cronin and the officials. Would there be merit in combining some of that research with this Bill or are they two totally separate pieces? It is fair enough if they are.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: It needs to be straightforward for them.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: We will move into session 2 in a few minutes but I believe Deputy Murnane O'Connor has a question.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: We will suspend to allow the witnesses to leave the room before we begin session 2 of the meeting.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: Once again, the purpose of this afternoon’s session of the meeting is to continue our pre-Committee Stage scrutiny of the Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021. The principle aim of this Private Members’ Bill is to make provision for an entitlement to bereavement leave to an employee who has been bereaved of a child. This leave entitlement should be for a period of...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Ms Doyle.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Senator Clonan. Would any of the witnesses like to comment on any of those points? Perhaps on the timeframes or some other aspect.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: Thanks very much. Those were important points, not just about the timeframe, but about the effect on the whole family. It affects siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and everyone. People are affected differently. Similar to what Senator Clonan said, people do not know when it will hit them. They might think they are doing fine. Then, all of a sudden, they are not. People listening in...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: Nina, do you wish to contribute?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: Thanks so much for sharing that. I wish to offer you our condolences on the loss of Liam and Grace. As I said in the earlier session, I had nieces who passed away at 23 weeks. My sister was living in America. The last thing on any of our minds was work. Even for us, who were not the direct parents, there was no issue. This goes back to what Caroline said in her statement, in that it...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: It reaffirms for all of us the importance, and I have a personal view on this, of consulting people and groups when we are looking at any policy. We did question whether scrutiny was needed because it seemed to be straightforward. How could you not agree with this? However, when scrutiny is actually undertaken and when this committee gets to hear directly from people, it opens your mind...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: Not at all. Thank you for being so real, honest and open. It really is very much appreciated. I know my own sister always says that too. Sometimes people will say they were not sure what to say so they did not say anything. That is the worst thing you can do. She went on to have three children but all after Alannah had passed away. They speak about them all the time but she always said...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Ms Smith. On behalf of the committee I pass on our condolences to you both on the death of baby Stephen. I cannot imagine how difficult it is to be asked to come in and share your story in a public forum. We acknowledge that. It is very helpful for us in our work when we are looking at Bills to hear directly from people who have actually gone through the really difficult...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Parental Bereavement Leave (Amendment) Bill 2021: Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny (14 May 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: Yes.