Results 621-640 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: It is anticipated that 216,000 places are needed, but how many of those will be funded?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Is the funding the same as for the current year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Is there any Government commitment on the funding?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Syrian Conflict (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I am interested in hearing what Ireland and the EU are doing to help bring about an end to the conflict in Syria, to stop Assad's aerial bombardment of civilians, to ensure food aid is getting through and to assist refugees fleeing their homes in terror. I also take this opportunity to stress the need for the international community to help address the root causes of the conflict and secure...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Syrian Conflict (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Although he said that Ireland and the EU have been pushing for an end to the violence and a transition to representative government, there is no sign of that getting anywhere. It is not something that has been getting any international attention. As a result, there is very little faith. I have met with Syrian representatives here in Ireland...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I refer to amendment No. 36. It is a Fianna Fáil amendment to amend the Education Act 1998. I also second the amendments proposed by Senators Craughwell, Zappone and van Turnhout concerning public facilities. It is important, regardless of whether people have a gender recognition certificate, that they have full access to public services and the support they need in education and...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: No, amendments Nos. 35 to 39 are grouped. Amendment No. 38 ensures schools will be told the young person should be supported in terms of how he or she is addressed and is entitled to use the preferred name and gender, that person will be permitted to wear the uniform or clothing appropriate to the preferred gender and entitled to use the facilities appropriate to the gender. This is...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I understand what the Minister of State is saying about introducing separate amendments to different Bills covering incitement to hatred legislation, education legislation and others. The unfortunate point then is that we will have to wait for separate Bills to come through. There is no reason it cannot be done here. Is the Minister of State saying that this cannot be included for legal...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Is that a political decision or legislative constraint?

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 36: In page 29, after line 28, to insert the following: “Amendment of Education Act 1998 38. The Education Act 1998 is amended by the insertion of the following after section 37:“37A. (1)In this section ‘a person to whom this section applies’ means a person whose preferred gender is different from the gender assigned to the person at birth,...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I, too, support Senator Zappone's amendment. I welcome the fact that this is one of the areas where the Government has at least brought forward an amendment. I would have preferred to see more Government amendments to address the issues raised on Second and Committee Stages, but I acknowledge that the Government has moved somewhat on the matter. I share the same concerns about setting a...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: As I stated on Second and Committee Stages, my preference would be to allow access for those over 16 to be treated as adults using the procedures set out in the Bill for those aged over 18, and to allow access for those under 16 to a full gender recognition certificate through the court process. I can see Senator van Turnhout accepts that while we have made this argument at earlier Stages,...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I formally second amendment No. 4. My preference is to take out the medical aspect altogether and the medicalisation of people, and instead accept a statutory declaration by the individual, as is now best practice in other countries that have legislated more recently. Some other countries are re-examining their laws in this respect. I would prefer if there was no medical involvement at...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 9: In page 9, line 8, to delete "18 years" and substitute "16 years".

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Amendment No. 9 would delete the reference in the Bill to 18 years, the age from which someone will be treated as an adult, and replace it with "16 years". As we have discussed on Second and Committee Stages, 16 years is the age of medical consent and the age at which young people can make much more significant decisions affecting them - for example, to undergo an elective medical procedure...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: The Minister of State referred to what is in the best interests of the child. Both of our amendments are based on providing for what is in the best interests of the child. Amendment No. 25 makes it very clear that a court can only grant a gender recognition certificate to a person under the age of 16 if it is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the child. The parents will also...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: We need to have a system that can examine the individual needs and best interests of the child and consider what is best for them. Instead the Minister of State is bringing in a blanket ban on all children. He is saying that in no circumstances whatsoever can this be granted, no matter how sure the parents are, how sure the young person is or how satisfied the court is that this is the best...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Who commissioned the report that led to this Bill?

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, line 35, after “the” where it secondly occurs to insert the following:“name (or, if the person has been known during his or her life by more than one name, current and former names), date of birth and ”.This amendment is designed to make it clear that data relating to the birth, placement of adoption, procurement of adoption and...

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 6: In page 7, to delete lines 21 to 25 and substitute the following:“ “personal data held in respect of the adopted person” includes personal data relating to the birth, placement for adoption, procurement of adoption or adoption of the adopted person that identifies the adopted person, natural parent or parents or adoptive parent or parents of an...