Results 1,101-1,120 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: There are no limits to anything anybody wants to discuss. The Deputy can list 47 different things he wants to know are being discussed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: To my knowledge, all issues are being discussed. Nothing is off limits, but I have not been at a working group meeting. I am allowing the group to have the independence it sought. The group is an independent working group outside of political interference. I know the members are discussing all the issues the people in this room, those outside it and those who are in direct provision...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The overarching question is that of "when" with respect to people in the system. As the Deputy has quite rightly said, we do not want a report, with recommended actions and Government support, but no timeline for those actions to be taken. It is not my decision as to whether the report will be published but I assume it will. On receipt of the report we can collectively ensure that whatever...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The issues raised are at the forefront of the matters engaged by the working group. I may be giving a similar answer about not impeding the work or being seen to interfere too much. The Chairman mentioned parenting and modelling food preparation. That can sometimes be overlooked as a minor issue but it is not as we are talking about people's childhood. Some people in 50 or 60 years will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As the working group is so close to its final determination, it is realistic to wait until it has concluded. Both the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children have been in touch with the Chairman and had robust discussions. The Chairman is clear about their opinions on the matters, as I am. We will await the report.

Other Questions: Anti-Racism Measures (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Government is firmly committed to combatting and challenging any and all manifestations of racism. Ireland was one of the first states in the world to develop a national action plan against racism. When the National Action Plan against Racism 2005-2008 was launched, it was conceived as a four-year programme to run until the end of 2008. It was designed to provide strategic direction...

Other Questions: Anti-Racism Measures (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from. Last night in the Seanad I said that we should be reasonably satisfied, without being complacent in any way, that the political system and political debate in this country have not been strangled by the issue of immigration. If one looks at what is happening in the UK and across Europe at the moment, one can see that xenophobic tendencies are...

Other Questions: Anti-Racism Measures (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate the Deputy's comments. Work is ongoing in respect of Traveller ethnicity, direct provision, integration and interaction. Yesterday there was positive interaction with the Deputy's committee. One of the points I am quite keen to pursue under the integration strategy relates to young people. Obviously, a number of young people are between two identities at the moment. They...

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is the first time Sinn Féin has raised it.

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: They do not care. It is not in their make-up.

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Blackrock College debating society - go on.

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: How many questions did the Deputy ask before today?

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: He is for the Blackrock boys union.

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It would protect Irish Water workers as well, by the way.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Programme for Government committed to publishing, "following wide consultation, a realistic implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy, including sectoral plans with achievable time scales and targets within available resources and ensuring whole-of-government involvement and monitoring of the Strategy, in partnership with the disability sector". I am pleased to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Women's Strategy (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The implementation of the National Women's Strategy 2007 – 2016 relies upon the efforts of a wide range of Government Departments and Agencies. Insofar as the financial resources being provided by my Department to support the implementation of the Strategy are concerned, the following is the position. The Equality for Women Measure, co-financed by the ESF, has made funding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As previously announced the Government has decided in principle to amend the Equal Status Acts to prohibit discrimination in relation to residential tenants, or prospective tenants, on the basis that they receive assistance with their rent through rent supplement or social welfare payments. The necessary legislative amendments are being prepared by my Department in consultation with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Government has given a firm commitment to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and intends to proceed to ratification as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are met. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has a dualist legal system and therefore does not become...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (15 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The European Commission launched proposals to amend Maternity Leave Directive 92/85/EEC in October 2008. The European Parliament voted substantial amendments to the Commission's proposals in October 2010. These amendments were opposed by virtually all Member States, including Ireland, on a number of grounds including that they were cost prohibitive and far exceed minimum standards...

Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It was not a smart answer.