Results 741-760 of 1,827 for speaker:Jillian van Turnhout

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Issues: Discussion (17 Oct 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: As the cochlear bilateral implants have been mentioned, I will not mention them again. It is the best practice for treating children who are profoundly deaf and it has such an impact on their lives. Prescription charges have already been mentioned also. I have publicly welcomed the free GP care for those under six - I will not go into that today - and the Minister's moves on tobacco. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Issues: Discussion (17 Oct 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I do not make individual representations. I have the privilege, being a Senator, of not being in that territory. However, the Irish Hospice Foundation has told me of those who get the medical card for six months because they have a terminal illness where the difficulty arises at the six-month point. What happens is that those who live beyond six months and seek to renew their card then...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. For some reason, an infamous Irish saying springs to mind: "I would not start from here." However, here is where we are. We have a mandate from the people and I feel the weight of responsibility. What can be done immediately and within existing parameters? I welcome and support the Taoiseach's proposal to introduce legislation to extend the Seanad...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I move: “That Seanad Éireann - notes the calls from civil society organisations, legal practitioners, academics, human rights activists and Members of the Oireachtas for reform of Direct Provision, the administrative system for accommodating asylum seekers; notes that, according to the latest available statistics from the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) Monthly Report June,...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I will first deal with the Minister's statement on the events of the past 48 hours. I thank him for his honesty in sharing his concerns and the plans for the proposed review. I agree the Garda Síochána has an important role to play as part of the child protection system. Nevertheless, I am concerned about the amount of detail that went into the public domain with these cases, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: End-of-Life Care: Discussion (24 Oct 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I am approaching the hearings as a learning exercise in the hope that when we bring together the report that we will be able to add our voice and put together recommendations. I am in no way an expert on the issue. A wealth of experience is evident in this first session. My question relates to the call for a national strategy. Many of the points could be integrated in a strategy. How...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I thank the Leader for ensuring that the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013 will not be guillotined. We need to have a very important debate. I have put down three amendments to the Bill and I tried to be constructive. I have also been in touch with the Minister's office over the past week with several questions, so I look forward to the debate over the coming days and will make my...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I welcome the Minister to the House. It is important to realise that this is the sixth in a series of cumulative cuts for many people. While we are discussing individual cuts in the Bill, I am very aware that many families and individuals have been hit six times in one way or another. It is my third time to discuss the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill in this House. I feel slightly...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: The Senator is taking time from his colleagues.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: Senator Zappone, without interruption, please.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I echo and agree with everything Senator Power said. I spoke about this on Second Stage yesterday so I will not repeat myself but I am concerned because I know part of the narrative is that the payment is going up for some people while it is going down for others. The payment is going down for 95% while it is going up for 5%. Ms Orla O'Connor of the National Women's Council said a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: The Minister mentioned arrangements in other countries. I could provide a list of other countries in which there are preferential arrangements in relation to maternity and paternity benefits. I want the record to show that Ireland is not a leader in the world in respect of maternity benefits and leave.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I will not rehearse the discussion we had on section 5 but I endorse it and it is related to this issue. Has the Minister given consideration to providing surrogacy leave? The Equality Authority has advised on this; I refer to the Ms Z case. A teacher with a rare medical condition preventing her from carrying a pregnancy, although she had healthy ovaries, arranged for a surrogate to give...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I endorse what the Minister said about surrogacy. The case I was citing to her is just one case, but we know there are other cases. I welcome the briefing note that we received on the Family Relationships and Children Bill 2013. I look forward to it being debated in this House.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: Yesterday on Second Stage I highlighted the fact that this is a critical issue. I believe the cut is regressive and is likely to exacerbate the difficulties that these young people are already experiencing in getting back into employment and training. I noted yesterday that during the boom times young people were at the top of the list for getting into employment. Therefore, there is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: According to the Department's briefing note on the youth guarantee scheme, this will take place before the end of December. I seek clarification on the commitment made to have the debate by then. The timing of the debate should factor in when the plan becomes available to us and the plan should be the basis of the debate before it is submitted to the Commission. That would allow time for...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: The Senator should speak to section 9.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: Will the Senator keep to this section? In the first round there was a good deal of latitude on the sections, so can we keep to the section?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Jillian van Turnhout: I am encouraging the Senator to pursue that.