Results 661-680 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Telecommunications Services. (6 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: Question 34: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the implications for Ireland's national telecommunications infrastructure if Eircom is taken over by investment group Babcock & Brown; if he has met Babcock & Brown, Eircom management and other stakeholders on the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13613/06]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (6 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: Question 94: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received and reviewed a copy of the European Commission's report, Bridging the Broadband Gap; the implications of the document for the Irish broadband market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13614/06]

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I wish to say to the Minister of State and those involved in this legislation that it is not the Labour Party's intention to delay this Bill in any way. It is too vital for that and too many people are waiting on it. That is the reason we have continuously asked questions about ensuring that it is delivered on time. We are talking about an issue that is controlled by time. Pregnancy lasts for...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I still do not understand why the Legislature cannot do something of its own accord without referring to the group conducting centralised bargaining and perhaps the Minister of State could explain it. The Opposition Deputies will need to write to those negotiating on behalf of workers in these talks and insist that a timeframe is laid down in respect of advances on parental leave. When the...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I agree with the Deputy on this matter. We will give employers greater flexibility if we extend the time, particularly if we continue to allow it at 14 weeks. I take it that the approach to this Bill on the part of the Government and those involved in centralised bargaining was more concerned with employment than with how we treat our children, which is very unfortunate. It is also...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I will be brief. Am I right in my understanding that this debate will continue until 7 o'clock?

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: That is all right. I wanted to make sure of the arrangements. I support amendment No. 10, in the name of Deputy English. I know several instances where both partners work for the same company and there can be a lack of flexibility in the arrangements that such people can make. I accept that the Minister of State is very much constrained by the negotiations that took place four years ago. I do...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: When dealing with legislation that affects children of a very young age, the main concern should be flexibility. That is all the amendment asks. There will be times when a manufacturer in September, for example, is preparing to fulfil an order for the Christmas market. Everyone accepts that it might not be possible for someone to take the extended time-off entitlement at that time. The same...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I have one brief and final point on this amendment. The ICTU approached me but I am not sure if it approached others about this amendment.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: The Minister of State has continually made the case that this legislation, including the constraints it contains, is coming from the trade union movement. If that is the case, then surely he must listen to the trade union movement when it says——

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I do not know.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: That might be stretching the imagination a bit too much.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: The argument has been made very strongly to us by the ICTU. Perhaps if the Minister of State's officials were to contact the ICTU on this issue, it could then make its case to him and he could consider it.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I move amendment No. 13: In page 6, to delete lines 16 to 28.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I move amendment No. 16: In page 7, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: 4.—The Minister shall by regulations provide that— (a) an employee shall have a right to request more flexible Parental Leave arrangements than those provided for under the Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2006, (b) the employer is obliged seriously to consider any such request, and (c) refusal of the...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: From time to time when Opposition Members must engage with the Government on legislation, it may seem to be very rancorous and confrontational. This is the nature of Parliament. As the Minister of State has said, this Bill is part of a substantial baseline body of legislation on the subject of maternity and the provision of child care relief when a new person comes into the house. I...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: Question 158: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of applications her Department has had for the general practitioner visit card since the introduction of the scheme; and the number of these applications which were rejected or are under appeal. [14524/06]

Written Answers — Revenue Commissioners' Audits: Revenue Commissioners' Audits (25 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: Question 292: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of inspections by the Revenue Commissioners which have been carried out in the past year on properties developed under the section 50 tax relief scheme to ensure that qualifying developments are conforming with the guidelines that they must be occupied by students during the college year; the number of audits which have been done on...

Electoral Registration Commissioner Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: I welcome the legislation and I congratulate Deputy Gilmore on having the foresight to introduce it, although he has been discussing it for a considerable time. The rest of us are also concerned about the register. I received a query from a person who could not obtain a permit to park outside his house. Disc parking was recently introduced in the area and he contacted my office because he did...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (26 Apr 2006)

Kathleen Lynch: Question 125: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a treatment for Parkinson's disease known as deep brain stimulator that is not being made available for patients here; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that according to physicians worldwide deep brain stimulator is hailed as one of the most significant advances in the...