Results 761-780 of 1,311 for speaker:Sheila Terry

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: It is not being taken by those on low incomes.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I do not see how this amendment would involve any charge. Its purpose is to allow either parent to take the leave so no charge would arise.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: It is beyond me how a charge could be involved in this case. When a parent is entitled to parental leave, either parent should be able to take it.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I hope I understand the amendment correctly. It was my understanding from the debate the other day that parents would be allowed take shorter periods of parental leave, be it for one day a week, one day a month or even part of a day. However, that is not reflected in the legislation. Senator O'Toole is attempting to make parental leave flexible. In response to a question, the Minister of...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I support this reasonable amendment that would benefit the legislation. I cannot imagine any employer not allowing a parent to attend a school if his or her child had been involved in an accident or fallen ill. However, in the event that an employer refused to allow the parent to attend, it would be better that the eventuality be covered.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I support the thrust of this amendment. We should be doing much more to adjust our legislation to make same sex couples more part of our society in general, or at least make our legislation more friendly towards those couples. I would welcome anything that could be done with the legislation before us to forward that. The Minister of State may help me regarding the only question I have. Will...

Seanad: Pension Provisions. (9 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond to this evening's Adjournment matters. The Minister of State may be aware that the Government is to provide €500,000 to the pensions board to fund a national pensions awareness campaign this year. I am concerned that the pensions board will use the money to sell pension products by pointing out their benefits and informing...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I support the comments made by Senator Ulick Burke in regard to the success of the gardaí in west Dublin in tracking down the number of criminals in the area and confiscating a huge number of illegal weapons held by them, evidence of which we saw on our television screens last night. I received figures from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform this morning which demonstrate that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I want to express my deep concern about the way in which the Government parties are dealing with the democratic workings of this House. We have descended to a new low today, which does not do justice to the people or to the Members of this House. To treat Senator Norris's Civil Partnership Bill in such a shabby fashion does not become any of us.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: This is a moderate proposal recognising that many people live together, be they in a same sex relationship or as heterosexual couples. This is a moderate proposal which the Government was prepared to vote down and it would not even allow a sensible debate to continue on the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: The Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform are on record as speaking in support of such proposals.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: For the Government parties to guillotine a debate on this proposal is not good enough.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: Fine Gael supports this proposal and will support it on Second Stage today. While we have some reservations about it we would have dealt with those by way of amendment on Committee Stage. That is the way in which legislation should be dealt with in this House. Shame on the Government, on the Members opposite and on all of us in this respect.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: Senators should listen to the debate and then decide to vote for or against the Bill.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: "(2) The Minister shall, in the interests of equality, within three months of the enactment of the this Act, cause a Report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas examining the feasibility of introducing paid parental leave." I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I am disappointed in the Minister of State's response. In light of the ongoing debate about the situation of families, working parents and lone parents, this amendment would have provided the Minister with a good opportunity to report to both Houses within three months on this issue. In the broader context, it is an issue about which debate will take place in any case. The rejection of this...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: We are talking about a small amount of time in the first eight years of a child's life. In that context, the cost of a paid parental leave provision on an annual basis would be small. While some people may decide to take it in blocks at an early stage in a child's life, the majority will probably try to spread it over the eight years. Along with many organisations with an interest in the...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: "(2) The Minister shall, within three months of the enactment of this Act, cause a Report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas examining the feasibility of increasing the parental leave entitlement from 14 weeks to 25 weeks.". This amendment requests the Minister to consider increasing the parental...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: The response of the Minister of State was very disappointing but predictable.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: "3.—The Minister shall, on 31 March 2005 and annually thereafter, publish a statement detailing the reasons why parental leave may not be transferred between parents.". I do not understand why we do not make rules and laws that are flexible and that would make life easier for those who are going to avail of...