Results 1,241-1,260 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

One-Parent Family Payment Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (30 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The final phase of the reform will take place on 2 July 2015 when it is anticipated that approximately 29,400 one family payment recipients, whose youngest child is seven or over, will be transitioning out of the one family payment scheme to the jobseeker's transitional payment, the job seeker's allowance, and the family income supplement. The gain for individuals will be in the range of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (30 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The draft national programme under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund has been circulated to the partnership of non-governmental organisations and other relevant interests, established in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council. Recipients have been asked to let the Department have their views within four weeks. Meetings can be arranged...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (30 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, I will be leading the development of the Drugs Strategy for the period after 2016. My intention over the coming months is to lay the groundwork for a concise and focused policy, placing a clear emphasis on the practical implementation of actions. This work will include an assessment of the extent to which the current...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Correspondence (30 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Funding (30 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together. As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (1 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I intend to bring forward a Bill by the end of the year to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act so as to allow the Government to declare substances to be controlled, thereby meeting our EU and international obligations to control substances that are dangerous and have the potential for abuse. Furthermore, the Bill will clarify the provisions under which Ministerial orders and regulations are made....

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (1 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 190, 191 and 194 together. As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (1 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that methadone is the most commonly prescribed substitution treatment for problem opiate use in Europe. In conjunction with other services and supports, methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that provides a pathway to recovery for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (1 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 197 together. Government policy in relation to drugs emphasises the need to provide opportunities for people to move on from illicit drug use to a drug-free life where that is achievable. However, every person with a drug problem has their own individual needs and their own personal goals for recovery. An Expert Group, set up by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Budget (1 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that methadone is the most commonly prescribed substitution treatment for problem opiate use in Europe. In conjunction with other services and supports, methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that provides a pathway to recovery for the individual affected by problem substance use. The latest...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (2 Jul 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 you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 to 157, inclusive, together. As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Auctioneering Licences (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, I thank the Senator for raising this matter. As the Senator is aware, the Property Services Regulatory Authority, PSRA, was established on a statutory basis in 2012, in accordance with the provisions of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The authority is independent in the performance of its functions. A key role of the authority...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am very pleased to be here today on the resumption of Committee Stage of this important Bill. To respond to Senator Power, it is my intention and my hope that I will be the final Minister to deal with it. Senators will be well aware of my strong opinions on the need to amend the current section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and that I, together with Senators Ivana Bacik and...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is my intention, and the individual discussions can then take place on Report Stage.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: He reminds me of a good friend of mine, a committed Dublin supporter, who once had to do teaching practice in Meath and had to convince all the children of the merits of supporting the Meath football team, which really went against his ethics. Not to belittle the point that has been made, the difficulty we have here is a procedural one because it has been two years since we had this...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Procedurally, again, my response is the same as to all these amendments. Report Stage would be a better context in which to debate them.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are trying to achieve this together. In the Dáil three weeks ago, a Bill was tabled by three Deputies from the Anti-Austerity Alliance and the Government did not oppose the Bill because it accepted its spirit, despite the fact that a Bill was already working its way through the process. I hope Senators will accept my bona fides. We are trying to ensure we have full context to what...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Again, in the absence of Government amendments, the same point is being made and I will repeat my remarks. The Government amendments will oblige relevant employers in religious-run schools and hospitals to show that favourable treatment of an employee, or prospective employee, is limited to the religion ground. The religion ground shall not be regarded as justified unless it is the...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate what has been said. However, most European countries have a section 37(1) or their own version of section 37(1). The difficulty in Ireland is that the vast majority of schools, particularly national schools, are under religious patronage whereas in other European countries that is not the case. In every other European country that I am aware of, a version of section 37(1) is...