Results 1,181-1,200 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Disability Support Services (27 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The consultation event to which the Deputy refers was undertaken by the National Disability Authority (NDA) in January 2014. Information about the event and the final consultation report are available on the NDA's website. Based on the outcomes of this event and further consultation with Government Departments and disability stakeholders in the interim, a draft Programme of Actions, for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (28 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Government's response to the problem of drug misuse in our society is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. I am aware that in recent years, the nature and scale of drug misuse has changed, with an increased prevalence of polydrug use, as well as use of benzodiazepines, and other prescription or non-prescription tablets. Treatment figures indicate an increase in the number...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (28 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 is a cross cutting area of public policy and service delivery. A core objective of the National Drugs Strategy is the development of a national integrated treatment and rehabilitation service that provides drug free and harm reduction approaches for problem substance users. The National Drug Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (NDRIC) is chaired...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Rights (28 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Under existing Irish law and EU Directives, maternity leave is only available to a mother who gives birth to a child. This position has been supported by Judgment C-363/12 of the European Court of Justice delivered in March 2014. Eligibility for parental leave is wider. Parental leave may be available to persons who are the natural parents, adoptive parents, adopting parents or acting in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (9 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Employment Equality (Amendment) (No.2) Bill currently before the Seanad at Committee Stage proposes to amend, rather than repeal, section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998. I would draw the Deputy's attention to the Supreme Court judgment in the Article 26 referral of the Employment Equality Bill 1996, in which the court found that the provision - which later became section 37 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Funding (9 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Places (9 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Complaints Procedures (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, to thank the Senator for raising this issue. The Minister, Deputy O'Sullivan, is in the Dáil answering oral questions. I welcome the opportunity to address the role and clarify the position of the Department of Education and Skills in the complaint procedure process for secondary schools. The...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Complaints Procedures (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I share the Senator's concerns. While an incident such as a student being described as a sponge is rare, it would be outrageous if such a comparison were to be made that one student was a radiator, while another was a sponge. Most professionals never use that terminology, but, unfortunately, such instances can and sometimes do occur. As the Minister has stated formally in her reply which I...

Seanad: Customs Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would be obliged if, in accordance with Standing Order 136, the Cathaoirleach directed the Clerk of the Seanad to make the following minor drafting corrections to the text of the Bill: on page 44, Part 1, Schedule 1, lines 10 to 44, inclusive, to correct the format of the citations used listing the enactments to be repealed by this Bill in order that they follow the appropriate convention,...

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate the opportunity to speak about the commemorations and what the State is doing. I appreciate the motivation behind the Bill. As Senator Darragh O'Brien has quite rightly stated, this is something on which we can have a cross-party discussion on how best to move forward. I know the issue intimately as I used to represent the north inner city area on Dublin City Council. One of...

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We recognise culchies. They are as much a part of the nation as anyone.

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Senator asked for a non-party political debate. He cannot help himself.

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Government bought the properties.

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will.

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: No, I do not like it.

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Deputy O'Brien cannot help himself.

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are working so hard-----

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are working so hard to make this a collaborative approach and Senator O'Brien is completely out of synch.

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are trying to achieve so much on a cross-party basis.