Results 1,401-1,420 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: This is the first I have heard of the ruling. How is it a potential charge? I am sure this is just a glitch in the system, but I have not even received a letter about the ruling. I accept that one normally gets a letter, but I literally did not know of the ruling until I stood up to address the amendment. The Bill is an amendment to and extension of the Child Care Act. Its Long Title...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: It was before my time.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I acknowledge that since I last rose to speak I have found on my desk a letter addressed to Senator Phil Prendergast which makes the point about the amendment being ruled out of order. I wish to correct matters. A letter was sent. I agree with much of what Senator Norris said about the basis on which amendments were ruled out of order. I propose to raise this matter at the next meeting of...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: As leader of the Labour Party group in the Seanad, at the next meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges I propose to raise the complete lack of consistency in ruling amendments in or out of order. I will say no more about the matter today, in fairness to the Chair. I thank the Minister of State for what he said. I understood him to say he thought the issues raised by me and...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: If that is the basis on which the Minister of State does not accept what is being said and thinks we should go further, I will be happy to discuss the matter with him or support an amendment he might bring forward which, of course, would not be ruled out of order.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 4: In page 8, line 31, to delete "detention" and substitute "rehabilitation". This has more to do with the language of the Bill than with anything else. When we discussed this matter on Second Stage, I had the impression the Minister of State was somewhat sympathetic to the point being made about the use of a word such as "detention" in a child care measure. The word...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: The fact the word "detention" is used in various judgments cannot be the end of this matter. Once a word enters into the language and the nomenclature, if that is the right word, that is the language everybody uses. We are the Oireachtas and are in an important position of being able to change legislation and by doing so we can change the way matters are referred to. If we make such a...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: We could canvass some other options between now and Report Stage. In situations such as this when one brings forward a proposal which may not be perfect and the Minister is not amenable to accepting it but understands the argument behind it, I am always struck that the person who is in the best position to come up with alternatives is the Minister and his advisers. They would know what...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I think so. The words "secure placement" are as close as one can get. Rather than just being prepared for us to canvass alternatives, I hope the Minister of State will consider the matter with his advisers and come up with wording that might suit. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: This section deals with the determination by the HSE that a child requires special care. Amendment No. 12, in my name, relates to a similar issue of consultation in the context of a different section, which deals with the functions of the HSE when providing special care. I am proposing that consultation should be provided for in such circumstances. I have listened to the comments of...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I would say there is probably some comfort to be gained, for the purposes of this debate, from the fact that the section we are discussing provides that there must be consultation, before setting out that there are circumstances in which it may be determined that consultation would not be appropriate.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: It sets out the parameters within which that consultation should not take place. It is very much framed as an exception, rather than a rule. In those circumstances, I have some sympathy with the argument that this subsection should remain in the Bill

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I move amendment No.12: In page 44, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following subsections: "(2) Regard shall be had to the views of the child, having regard to the child's age and understanding, prior to taking steps under this section. (3) Regard shall be had to the views of any parent of the child prior to taking steps under this section, and save where such steps are urgent, the...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I am grateful to the Minister of State for taking on board that proposal. I have no difficulty with him considering the language involved. He did not mention the second part of the amendment which states that "Regard shall be had to the views of any parent of the child prior to taking steps under this section". Was the Minister of State including that in his comments on the information...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I am pleased with what the Minister of State has said he will do. I am grateful for that and acknowledge it. I will not be pursuing that part of the amendment. As regards the second part of the amendment, I will see what comes out in respect of the Minister of State's work on this. I might reserve my position on the second part of the amendment, but I will certainly not press it now....

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: They have been now.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: It is because someone might want to speak on a section.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 25: In page 66, before section 22, to insert the following new section: "22.—Section 45 (as amended by the Act of 2004) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following section for section 45— "45.—(1)(a) Where a child leaves the care of the Health Service Executive, the Executive shall, in accordance with subsection (2), assist him for so long as the...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: What the Minister of State said was extremely helpful. I warmly welcome his comments. As demonstrated previously, he has taken an extremely responsible approach to this matter. On the basis of what he said, I do not intend to press the amendment in my name. I hope it will prompt a further evaluation of what might be the future possibilities and options in this important area. I thank the...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: Yes, we should agree to extend the proceedings.