Results 7,081-7,100 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There was a significant discussion on Committee Stage about some of the GDPR provisions. I reflected on the points made by Senator Higgins. I was unable to accept her amendments then and I am not in a position to accept the amendments she will be putting forward today. However, I have tried to go some way in addressing some of the GDPR issues she raised, particularly issues pertaining to...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: We believe that eight years is a correct assumption. We looked at the situation and had a previous discussion with Senator Higgins regarding it. We believe the figure we arrived at for the number of years is a fair balance.

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: We reflected on this and sought legal advice on it. I asked my team to consider whether we would table an amendment to take account of the position outlined by Senator Higgins. It was very much the view that the requirements of the general data protection regulation, GDPR, mean an employer must destroy records when it no longer has a legal basis for holding them. That is now the position...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a very technical amendment to reflect the title of the relevant Minister, namely, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The proposed amendments are quite similar to those we discussed. I will make similar points regarding them. Seasonal variation can be built into a flexible working arrangement and very much form part of that. There may be situations where it disadvantages an employee to immediately revert to the original arrangement. I do not share the Senator's concern that seasonal variations will be...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I share the objective in ensuring what we do is trans inclusive. It is important, however, we understand the Interpretation Act we are bound by. The legislation must be read in accordance with the provisions of the Interpretation Act. That allows us to read this provision in a way that is trans inclusive. It is particularly the view of the Parliamentary Counsel, from which we have to take...

Employment Equality (Pay Transparency) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I apologise that I was not in the Chamber when discussions commenced. I thank both Deputies for bringing forward this Private Member's Bill, which the Government will not be opposing on Second Stage. As the Deputies said, discrimination at any stage of employment is unacceptable and the proposed amendment today to the Employment Equality Act would prohibit advertising a position without...

Employment Equality (Pay Transparency) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I think I have addressed the main elements and set out the Government's position.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Accommodation Recognition Payment, provided under the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, is a tax-free monthly payment available to those providing accommodation to Ukrainians who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive since March 2022. The rate of payment doubled from €400 per property per month to €800 with effect from 1 December 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and childcare (ELC) providers are private entities and set their own admissions policies which are agreed with or offered to a parent. An overwhelming majority of these providers are also in contract with my Department to deliver a range of programmes, including the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. The ECCE programme is a universal fully funded two-year...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Provision for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas has been under active consideration by my Department and advanced significantly in 2022. Officials in my Department have been examining the legal and operational issues relating to the introduction of a scheme of maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas. Some aspects were identified that would benefit from the consideration...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Projects (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together. In March 2022, the Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance to be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin 1. The Centre will stand as a site of conscience, and will be a national memorial to honour equally all those who were resident...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Due to the large amount of work to be undertaken to provide an accurate report in relation to the request made, the finalised report will be available by Friday 3rd of March and will be sent to the Deputy directly. I apologise for the delay and will ensure this request is given priority.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials can confirm that this building has not been offered to my Department for use as an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre to accommodate international protection applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Details of the capital funding provided by my Department to Youth Services and Early Years providers for a range of capital projects in Westmeath since June 2020 is set out in the table below. The nature of this funding is small grant funding rather than funding for any larger scale refurbishments or major infrastructural projects. For example in relation to capital funding provided for youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department, with the support of my colleagues in Government, are moving to create new responsive structures and put in place new funding channels to recognise the impact of new arrivals on communities around the country. Earlier this month my Department launched The Communities Integration Fund (CIF) for 2023 where €500,000 will be made available to local community-based projects...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (2 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to ban conversion therapy. The National LGBTI Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion strategy 2019 – 2021 contain commitments in relation to conversion therapy. The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy provides for the prohibition of “the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (2 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, I can assure you that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by this Department is of the highest priority to myself and my officials. International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are currently subject to regular unannounced inspections both IPAS officials and by an independent inspectorate company (QTS Limited)....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (2 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, I can assure you that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by this Department is of the highest priority to myself and my officials. International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are currently subject to regular unannounced inspections both by IPAS officials and by an independent inspectorate company (QTS Limited)....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (2 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.  In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100...