Results 9,661-9,680 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: The Reception and Integration Agency of my Department has been encountering significant upward pressure on its accommodation portfolio over the last year or so. This pressure has increased further in the last number of months with an increase in the numbers of persons claiming international protection and a growth in the percentage of protection applicants who...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Second Stage (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: As Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, I am pleased to be here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, who conveys his apologies. I acknowledge the work of the Labour Party in preparing this important Bill and, in particular, the work of Senators Bacik, Ó Ríordáin and Nash. This is an important issue and I commend them on raising it and giving us...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Second Stage (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: However, the Government sees it as an important mechanism to allow bona fide special cases to be addressed.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Second Stage (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: In that case, I withdraw that remark. Citizenship laws in this State not only have an impact on this country but also impact our fellow member states, as any citizen of Ireland has the right to travel and work freely within the EU, along with attendant family residence rights. No other member state currently offers birthright citizenship on the terms proposed in the Bill.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Second Stage (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: The Bill, if enacted, would also change the rules significantly for Irish citizenship entitlement in Northern Ireland. Currently, one parent must be an Irish citizen or be entitled to claim the same for the child to qualify for Irish citizenship, or one parent must have been lawfully resident on the island of Ireland for three out of the previous four years. The Bill could be seen to...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Second Stage (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: This outcome could result in the UK introducing or considering the introduction of measures in response, which could have further east-west or North-South impacts. Any wider political ramifications for Ireland’s relationship with the UK, including on the operation of the common travel area and, potentially, with the EU on how Irish citizens born in Northern Ireland access benefits as...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Second Stage (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: To be frank, I would be aghast at a proposal that we would amend our citizenship laws without any discussion or dialogue with authorities in Northern Ireland and Britain despite the clear impact north of the Border,-----

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Second Stage (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: -----in Ireland and on the broader UK jurisdiction. If the proposed amendment was permitted by the House, and had the direct consequence of attracting more people to the State to seek to achieve residency status through the birth of a child here, the consequential strain on State services, including existing immigration provision, housing, education, medical services and welfare, would need...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Second Stage (21 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: I am referring to people in the EU illegally. There are similar impacts on Northern Ireland and the common travel area, including North-South and east-west impacts, which would need to be carefully considered. Amending immigration law has wide-ranging implications and benefits from a detailed analysis of the implications, including broad consultation with all impacted parties and the NGO...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (27 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: I thank Deputy Eugene Murphy for raising this important topic. I also acknowledge his interest and support in Ballaghadereen previously and his sincerity in this regard. It is important to set out for the record and for public awareness the chain of events that led to this development. In January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency of my Department...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (27 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: It is not. That is terrible.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (27 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: I will do the best I can. A lot of people criticise direct provision, but we have made significant improvements in the system over the past number of years and continue to do so. That has to be acknowledged. We have shortened the time people live in the centres and we move them on as quickly as we can. Either they are told their application has not succeeded and they must leave, or they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (27 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, as part of Budget 2019, the Government announced the introduction of a new paid parental leave scheme which will commence in late 2019. This new scheme will initially provide for two weeks of paid, non-transferable leave per parent, with a view to expanding the scheme and increasing the number of weeks of paid leave for both parents in future years. This new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (27 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: The information requested by the Deputy is compiled on an annual basis and is broken down between families headed by one person and families headed by two persons. The information for end December 2017 is set out below in the manner requested: Family Type Lone Parent Families Family size LP+1 LP+2 LP+3 LP+4 LP+5+ Number of units 222 108 53 18 6 Family Type Married/Partner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (27 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: As outlined in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of the 20th November 2018, my Department agreed with the contractor running the centre to arrange overnight accommodation/rest and comfort breaks for those travelling to Dublin at the accommodation centre that they currently run in Sligo for anyone attending interviews in the International Protection Office or indeed accessing any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (27 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: All accommodation centres for those persons seeking protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies. There are currently 38 accommodation centres being operated under the direct provision system. The accommodation centre at Ashbourne House, Glounthaune, Cork is commercially owned and operated and is contracted to provide 95 bed spaces and is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (27 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: All accommodation centres for those persons seeking protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies. There are currently 38 accommodation centres being used to provide accommodation to persons seeking international protection in Ireland. The accommodation centre in question opened in September of this year in response to a call for expressions of...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017 which was introduced by the Labour Party in the Seanad and has been passed by that House. The fundamental aim of this Bill, which is to address the gender pay gap, is fully in line with Government policy as expressed in the programme for a partnership Government and in...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: The principle of equal pay for women and men for equal work or work of equal value has been part of Irish law for almost 45 years and is part of everyone's contract of employment. The gender pay gap is somewhat different in that it is the difference between the average gross hourly pay of female and male employees. Not respecting the principle of equal pay is likely to be a contributory...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Nov 2018)

David Stanton: No. We are waiting for the committee.