Results 1,261-1,280 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

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

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would-----

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

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The essence of the amendments is to provide a clear definition of what "conduct" means. My nervousness is that because it took so long to get it to this stage, if we start giving specific examples of the meaning of "conduct", it could take a lot longer before the Bill is enacted. I take on board what the Senator said that perhaps we need to do some work on language and perhaps we can do...

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is a very therapeutic session.

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I was not listening to you so I was not frowning at what you were saying.

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Deputy should not go there. He is on very shaky ground. Sinn Féin made it happen. Is the Deputy paying his bin charges?

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In fairness to the Deputy, he did not write the speech.

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate that, a Cheann Comhairle. On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, I thank Deputies for their contributions to the debate on this legislation. I might use the time available to me to remind the House of the main features of the Bill. It will abolish imprisonment for non-payment of debt and provide for two new District Court measures for the recovery of modest debts....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (7 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I refer the Deputy to previous answers on this issue on 16 April, 23 April and 19 May 2015. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Religious Discrimination (7 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Insofar as my area of Ministerial responsibility is concerned, I can assure the Deputy that we are robust in our protection of the rights of non-religious and minority faith persons. We have strong legislative protection against discrimination on 9 grounds, including religious belief, in the Employment Equality Acts, which cover discrimination in the workplace, and the Equal Status Acts,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am aware that the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Committee in its recent country review recommended, inter alia, that Ireland expedites the enactment of the Family Leave Bill to ensure a statutory entitlement to all family-care related leaves, including paternity leave. As already announced, the Government has approved the drafting of the Family Leave...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (7 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 the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (7 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 to 408, inclusive, together. Government policy in relation to drugs emphasises the importance of providing the opportunities for people to move on from illicit drug use, through drug treatment and rehabilitation, to a drug-free life where that is achievable. The provision of harm reduction measures, such as needle and syringe programmes and methadone...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (8 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Medically supervised injecting facilities exist in a number of other countries, and have been proposed as a response to the problem of street injecting in this country. According to a recent report from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, drug consumption facilities can be effective for difficult-to-reach populations of drug users and have resulted in immediate...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Drugs Rehabilitation Framework (9 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The national drugs rehabilitation implementation committee, chaired by the HSE, has developed a national drugs rehabilitation framework. As Deputy O'Sullivan is aware, people in recovery have complex needs and may require multiple interventions from a range of agencies to assist them in their recovery. The aim of the framework is to provide a continuum of care for the recovering drug user...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Drugs Rehabilitation Framework (9 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate what the Deputy has said. We had an interesting conversation at the North Inner City Drugs Task Force. I have visited various drugs task forces around the country, particularly in the Dublin area, since my appointment to this post. I share the Deputy's concern about how this situation is changing, in that it is worsening and becoming more acute in certain parts of the country...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Drugs Rehabilitation Framework (9 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I agree with everything the Deputy has said. In regard to controlled substances, I found quite disturbing what Inspector Des McTiernan of the inner city drugs task force had to say about the mother who told him it would be almost impossible for him to convince her child to get a minimum wage job in Dunnes when there is €1,000 a week to be made selling certain substances on the street...

Topical Issue Debate: Cancer Screening Programmes (9 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Deputy McEntee for raising this important issue. The importance of early detection of cancer is fully accepted by Government. Population-based screening programmes are an important element of early detection and have been introduced for cancers in Ireland where international evidence supports this approach. At present, available evidence has given rise to population-based screening...

Topical Issue Debate: Cancer Screening Programmes (9 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On the consultation process on the new national cancer strategy, I would encourage individuals, organisations the Deputy might know to contribute to that process before the closing date of 24 July. The Department of Health and the national screening service in the HSE will continue to review emerging international evidence on screening, including any developments that arise in relation to...

Topical Issue Debate: National Monuments (9 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am aware of reports that NAMA is seeking buyers for the loans it holds in respect of the commercial entity that owns the Dublin central development site that includes the national monument at Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. Contrary to the impression being created by some of those reports, the fact is that it is loans and not properties for which NAMA is seeking expressions of interest. I am...

Topical Issue Debate: National Monuments (9 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As part of the transfer of ownership to the State, all loans will be discharged over the monument site and all necessary licences and wayleaves will be put in place to carry out the national monument works. I want to be as clear as I can in the hope that it will dispel the attempt at confusion and uncertainty that has always been the hallmark of certain parties that seem to be more...