Results 501-520 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Whole-School Approaches to Mental Health and Bullying: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We agreed earlier to finish this section at 3 p.m. There are people outside who have been waiting two hours to come in. I must be fair to everybody. I call Ms McClorey.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Whole-School Approaches to Mental Health and Bullying: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The next speaker is Deputy Jim Daly, followed by Senator Moloney. I ask members to be brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Whole-School Approaches to Mental Health and Bullying: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Perhaps the delegates would respond to Deputy Daly's questions on the teacher training colleges and children in care.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Whole-School Approaches to Mental Health and Bullying: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Who wants to take that question? I call Deputy Butler but he must be very brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Whole-School Approaches to Mental Health and Bullying: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Whole-School Approaches to Mental Health and Bullying: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the witnesses for attending. This is an issue we will have to come back to. From a school perspective, the various agencies they must deal with and the responsibilities that come under Departments, be it Health, Education and Skills, Children and Youth Affairs or whatever, is frustrating. We will send on the presentations to the Minister for Education and Skills but we will ask...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome Dr. Don Thornhill, Mr. John Church, Professor Oliver FitzGerald and Dr. Robert Ryan. I also welcome officials from Arthritis Ireland to discuss with us the costs of absenteeism in the workplace arising from musculoskeletal disorders. By virtue of section 17(2)(l ) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I fully agree with Dr. Thornhill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am quite stunned by the figures Dr. Ryan has cited. Committee members will pose questions, but there are no representatives of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin or the Technical Group here. How were the figures of €750 million a year for 7 million lost working days and €280 million spent on illness benefit arrived at?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Are we talking about a recurring illness - not something that will go away overnight, but one that will dog somebody for a considerable period of time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Is it the single biggest cause of absenteeism through sickness in the workplace?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: A Seanad vote has been called. The delegation has outlined a particular problem and the figures are very stark. I am impressed by the wide coalition of employers, unions, experts, patient organisations, etc. Has the potential solution been costed? Knowing the cost could determine policymakers' reaction to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Is there potential to go from public sector department to public sector department initially? It was stated large corporations might be better resourced to roll out the model before the establishment of a national plan. Could this approach be considered first?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is a cross-party committee of the Oireachtas that invites witnesses to discuss subjects such as that under discussion. Has Mr. Church had any face-to-face contact with departmental officials or Ministers with regard to his body of work and research?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It can be a difficult challenge for something like this because the committee structure here is so compartmentalised. Even the previous presentation would have gone between committees dealing with health, children and education. However, Mr. Church is here from the social protection viewpoint and is focusing on those savings. Are there any further comments in summary?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: What helps Dr. Thornhill's case is that he has identified the problem. If this is the No. 1 reason why people are missing work, then obviously it is something that has to be corrected. All of us on this committee believe that early intervention is the key in most areas of policy. Dr. Thornhill has identified the costs. In his initial presentation he said he was looking for champions in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Absenteeism Costs Arising from Musculoskeletal Disorders: Discussion (27 Mar 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In conclusion, I wish to thank our guests for having briefed us so comprehensively. We will send their presentations to the Minister for a written response on the issues that have been raised. I wish all members of the committee a happy Easter. The committee now stands adjourned until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 April 2013.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: A Reflection on 15 Years of the Good Friday Agreement and Looking Towards the Future: Discussion (11 Apr 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank our guests for their contributions and apologise for my late arrival. In the context of a presentation made to it previously, the committee was informed that the majority of young people between the ages of 18 and 26 in Northern Ireland are not even registered to vote. Does this give rise to a generational political disconnection and, therefore, does politics in the North still...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: A Reflection on 15 Years of the Good Friday Agreement and Looking Towards the Future: Discussion (11 Apr 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The statistics indicate that a small majority of 18 to 26 year olds are not registered to vote.