Results 9,461-9,480 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Death of Shane O'Farrell: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I thank all Members for their contributions. I convey my personal condolences to the family of Shane O’Farrell on their loss. We are all of the view that there were serious failings and shortcomings in the period prior to which Shane O’Farrell lost his life. During a thorough and lengthy criminal investigation, GSOC examined each of the 56 allegations or concerns put to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Adoption Legislation (12 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: Section 6 of the Adoptive Leave Act 1995 provides for an entitlement to 24 weeks adoptive leave for an employed adopting mother or a sole male adopter. Following adoption of the 34th amendment to the Constitution and its subsequent legislative changes, my Department identified a lacuna in the Adoptive Leave Act 1995 that prevents male same-sex married couples from availing of adoptive...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (12 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: Ireland has comprehensive and robust equality legislation in place – namely the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 and the Equal Status Acts 2000-2015 – which prohibits discrimination on ten specific grounds, including on gender and family status. As the Deputy will be aware, the legislation is designed to promote equality and prohibit discrimination and victimisation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications Data (12 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: There are currently 34 accommodation centres located in 17 counties throughout the state. Based on the most recently available information, the statistics requested by the Deputy (age profile by gender) are outlined below. Age Female Male 0-4 331 369 5-12 309 333 13-17 102 124 18-25 269 438 26-35 678 1,016 36-45 407 625 46-55 116 203 56-65 43 42 66+ 20 13 Total 2,275 3,163

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (12 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10th September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Under this programme the Government pledged to accept a total of 4,000 persons into the State including through the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (12 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: The full year running costs of a Garda Youth Diversion Project will vary between projects and is dependent on several factors including location, catchment area and the number of participants. The most recently established GYDPs which were set up in 2015, were allocated a maximum annual budget of €125,000 each. This included any costs that may be associated with the establishment of...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, line 5, after "amend" to insert "and extend". Before commenting on the Government's amendments I want to say I am very happy to have the opportunity to discuss the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017. Increasing working parents' flexibility and choices, and helping to provide them with the opportunity to spend more time with their children, is a worthwhile...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I have not much more to say at this point. I was just introducing my initial thoughts on the Bill. It is true that it has had a fairly quick turnaround. There was no consultation or pre-legislative scrutiny on it. I said previously at the committee and here that Bills benefit from giving the stakeholders an opportunity to have input into them but that did not happen in this case,...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I move amendment No. 2:In page 3, lines 5 and 6, to delete “to extend unpaid parental leave from 18 weeks to 26 weeks; and to provide for related matters”.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I move amendment No. 3:In page 3, to delete line 12 and substitute the following:“(a) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (1):“(1A) The reference in subsection (1) to a period of 18 working weeks shall be construed—(a) in the year 2019, as a reference to a period of 20 working weeks, (b) in the year 2020, as a reference to a period of 22 working weeks,...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I have listened carefully to what colleagues have said and, as I said at the very start of Second Stage, Government is in favour of extending this unpaid leave. It took a while to get advice and views because this moved so quickly. It was not until now that we got the view of the Attorney General and we have genuinely been told that there is a risk. 9 o’clock I have listened to...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I move amendment No. 4:In page 3, line 16, to delete "8 years"," and substitute "8 years".". The purpose of amendments Nos. 4 and 5 is to modify the Bill's approach to those parents who have already used their full entitlement to parental leave and those parents who were unable to use their full entitlement to parental leave previously. The Government policy is that both sets of parents...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: No.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: Since we have made changes earlier, there has been a knock-on effect. I stated we were considering extending parental leave on a phased basis. I still have some concerns about constitutionality. I believe the Deputy's amendments are okay.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: Agreed.

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I move amendment No. 8:8. In page 4, to delete line 16 and substitute the following: "(3) This Act shall come into operation on 1 January 2019.". This is a straightforward amendment. We must bear in mind the changes proposed that would not be accepted here and that I did not press. This is a straightforward amendment that seeks to delete section 3(3) of the Bill and replace it with the...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages [Private Members] (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: The actual text is before us now. We should probably do it now rather than in the Seanad. I do not see why we need to wait. If the Deputy is proposing that we wait for the Seanad, we can do that. I am not pushed one way or the other because we can do it in the Seanad, if the Deputy wishes. I am happy to withdraw the amendment at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (13 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10th September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa.   Under this programme, the Government had pledged to accept a total of 4,000 persons into the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (14 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 109 together. I am of course aware of the recent media coverage of this matter and, in response to previous questions in this House, I have already provided details of actions that are in train in this regard. As the Deputy is aware, a number of issues which impact on the effective administration of the Garda Diversion Programme were identified...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (14 Jun 2018)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 111 and 112 together. The operation of the Garda Diversion Programme is monitored by a Committee established under Section 44 of the Children Act 2001, whose annual reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. These reports provide a breakdown of categories of referrals to the Garda Diversion Programme. The information requested by the Deputy...