Results 9,901-9,920 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Immigration Policy (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: They are all welcome. On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, who sends his apologies, I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I welcome the opportunity to address the position on the spouses and partners of returning Irish emigrants and their access to the labour market. Broadly speaking, spouses and civil partners and de facto partners of Irish nationals...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Immigration Policy (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and for his ongoing work in respect of the diaspora. The Minister and his officials in the Department are very aware of the challenges which many returning Irish emigrants face and are actively addressing the removal of the barriers the Senator has described, where possible. It is expect that the revised arrangement will make a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wildlife Control (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: On behalf of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Madigan, I thank the Senator for the opportunity to discuss this important issue. Before I begin, the Minister has asked me to address the fire on Torc Mountain in the Killarney National Park over the weekend. I would like to put on official record our thanks to the Kerry fire and rescue service, the staff of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wildlife Control (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I will bring the points made by the Senator to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Madigan. Deer management is a complex and multifaceted process. There is a significant challenge in attempting to balance the demands of agriculture, forestry and conservation with the need to ensure the deer population, occupying the same land resources, are managed at sustainable levels and in a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staff (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, who sends his regrets, I thank the Senator for raising this matter and for her sincere interest in this very important subject. Inclusive education is a fundamental principle of our education and training system. This principle is put into practice in the policies of the Department and the Teaching Council. That is clearly articulated,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staff (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I will ask officials from the Department of Education and Skills to convey to the Senator the information she has requested. A range of in-service professional development supports has been provided to teachers by the Department since March 2017. The NCSE support service has a remit to develop schools' capacity to include students with special educational needs and to promote a continuum of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Pensions Reform (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this important matter and for his continued interest in the area. Since late September 2018, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners who were born on or after 1 September 1946 and who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Pensions Reform (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: As stated in the reply, the Minister said it would take a number of months. Some 34,000 people have been written to and he is anxious that they would respond, if they have not done so already. Where a pensioner is awarded an increase, it will be backdated to 30 March 2018 or the person's 66th birthday, if later than that, and arrears will be paid, which is important. Following the...

EU Regulations: Referral to Joint Committee (9 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves the following:(i) the exercise by the State of the option or discretion, provided by Article 4 of Protocol No. 19 on the Schengen Acquis integrated into the Framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to request to take part in the following measure to the extent...

EU Regulations: Referral to Joint Committee (9 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I thank Deputies for taking part in this quite important debate. There are reasons it is taking place now to do with Brexit and the dangerous things that might happen there. We are strongly of the view on this side of the House that Ireland should participate in the adoption and application of this regulation. With respect to Deputy Ó Laoghaire's point on the creation of a large...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (9 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: The Deputy will be aware that as part of Budget 2019,  the Government announced the introduction of a new social insurance-based paid parental benefit scheme.  This new scheme will support parents during the first year of the child's life by providing two weeks of paid leave to both parents, and will allow parents more flexibility in achieving and managing a work life balance. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (9 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: The attached table details the position in relation to staffing and funding of Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) in Cork for the year 2019. In relation to the broader development of these services, my Department is pursuing an Action Research Project (ARP), supported by the Research Evidence into Policy Programmes and Practice project (REPPP) in the University of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: UN Conventions Ratification (9 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, who sends his regrets, I thank Senator Ruane for raising this important matter in the House. We acknowledge also Senator Ruane's dedicated interest in this area and in respect of penal reform and detention generally. It is an important issue which I hope she will continue to raise. As the Senator said, Ireland signed the Optional Protocol to the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: UN Conventions Ratification (9 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to bring the House up to date on this matter. I also thank her for stating she would be willing to assist with this process. That is a welcome suggestion. The Government is committed to ratifying OPCAT. However, it is not straightforward. It involves not only the justice sector but other sectors too. The Department of Justice and...

Courts (Establishment and Constitution) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Order for Second Stage (10 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Courts (Establishment and Constitution) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (10 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I move: "That be Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have this opportunity to introduce the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) (Amendment) Bill 2019 to the House for Second Stage on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan. We look forward to engaging in a constructive debate as the Bill proceeds through the various Stages. It is the intention...

Courts (Establishment and Constitution) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (10 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Deputies for their Second Stage interventions in response to the Bill. In the main, Deputies have been supportive of it. As I set out during my opening statement on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, my view is that while this is a small two-section Bill it will have a disproportionately positive effect in terms of the access to justice. If...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (10 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the report in relation to the Youth Referral Examination was forwarded to the Garda Commissioner on 5th March 2019. In addition, external consultants Crowe Ireland have submitted their final validation and verification report and a copy of this was appended to the Youth Referral Examination Report. As the Deputy is aware, the Commissioner has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (16 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: My Department, through the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), has commenced a national procurement programme for accommodation centres for persons entering the state and seeking international protection. This will comprise a series of regional competitions through the Government's procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie. The Department ran a tender competition for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (16 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I wish to advise the Deputy that a substantial review of firearms licensing, including consultation with the public, stakeholders and the relevant Oireachtas Committee, was undertaken in recent years. A number of measures identified as a result of this review are being progressed by my Department and implementation of these will require legislative amendment to the Firearms Acts...