Results 1,321-1,340 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (14 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: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (14 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Funding from the Department of Health's Drugs Initiative Fund is allocated to the Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces to support community based drugs initiatives. Applications for funding for the organisation concerned should be made directly to the relevant Local or Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (15 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.

Leaders’ Questions (16 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Sinn Féin would know about that.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (16 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Employment Equality Act 1998 protects employees against discrimination on any of nine grounds (age, civil status, family status, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, race, or membership of the Traveller community). Claims under the legislation can be taken for assessment and adjudication to the Equality Tribunal and a person who considers that he or she has been...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (16 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.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am very pleased to be before the House today to present this Bill, which provides for important changes to the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 arising from the Government's initiative of 13 May to strengthen support for people in mortgage arrears. The main reform contained in the Bill is the new provision for independent review by the Courts where a proposal for a personal insolvency...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Nuair a bhí mé ag éisteacht leis an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh, rith an seanfhocal a bhíodh ann tráth dá raibh, "céard a dhéanfadh mac an chait ach luch a mharú" liom - what would the son of the cat do only kill a mouse. When one is dealing with an amoral system, regulations will always be catching up in relation to such amorality. On...

Seanad: Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In my short time here, I have listened to contributions from both sides that have been constructive. I have also listened to much rhetoric on the issue in the Dáil. While I do not like being party political about it, rhetoric such as "bully tactics", "ruthlessness" and "intimidation" coming from Sinn Féin are galling in the extreme.

Seanad: Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Such accusations, coming from Sinn Féin in particular, are remarkable and do nothing to debate properly the issues at hand. The Senator should reflect on the choice of language that was provided for him, from wherever it came.

Seanad: Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Senators who decided to be constructive in their contributions. The Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill represents a balanced measure which provides creditors with improved enforcement mechanisms for modest debts and provides strong safeguards for debtors. The Bill abolishes imprisonment, an important point to stress and something I assume people would generally be in favour of, and...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Senator Darragh O'Brien. Section 1(4) applies with equal force to all four Houses of the Oireachtas officer posts under consideration in the Bill. In taking this approach the Government has in mind that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, under the chairmanship of the Ceann Comhairle, would have the latitude in the future to take decisions on the tenure of the relevant...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Senators for their contributions. I appreciate where people are coming from in respect of this. Senator O'Brien mentioned the Ceann Comhairle. The Ceann Comhairle is the chairman of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, not just the Dáil, and the commission is representative of parliamentarians. This Government and the previous one are anxious to give the commission...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would like to respond to the reasonable questions that have been asked about the office of the Clerk of the Seanad. Under this Bill, there are positions in the Oireachtas office to which the Clerk of the Seanad could be transferred. While I appreciate that the Opposition amendment is intended to be constructive, its effect would be to leave officers in office for life without that type of...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is my understanding, based on the advice we have been given, that it is not unusual for principal officers in the public service to have fixed terms.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I reiterate that it is the intention to fill the posts from within the Oireachtas. The main reason I do not propose to accept the amendment is that the proposal, if implemented, would leave officers in situfor life.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Senator and I will not agree on this issue. To be constructive, I will repeat the advice available to me. The current arrangement under the 1959 Act is left in place, which means the Clerk of the Seanad can remain until the age of 65 years.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Senator O'Brien and the Leader of the House for coming to an accommodation on the previous amendment. I remind Senators that it is always a benefit to everyone if the hyperbole is kept to a minimum. To suggest this will rock the very foundations of the entire public service is a bit of a stretch seeing as this legislation only affects the Oireachtas. On the matter raised by...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In accordance with Standing Order No. 136, I wish to direct the Clerk to make a number of minor drafting corrections to the text of the Bill. They are corrections of a verbal or formal nature which are being made in the interests of textual clarity and do not result in any change to the substantive meaning of that text. The changes are as follows: in page 3 of the Bill, line 26, to delete...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: No; it concerns different lines in the Bill.