Results 1,421-1,440 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Funding (22 Oct 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. 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.

Travellers' Rights: Motion [Private Members] (3 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: "extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Lynch, Gilbert and Connors families on the tragic loss of their loves ones in the Carrickmines fire and offers solidarity and support to the wider Traveller community; agrees that in the aftermath of the Carrickmines...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Disability Support Services (3 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Strategy, which was launched on Friday 2 October, sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who are able to, and want to, work are supported and enabled to do so. People with disabilities are only half as likely to be in employment as others of working age. The reasons for this are complex, and include level of education and skills, fears around loss of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (3 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Employment Equality Acts outlaw discrimination on the ground of disability in employment, including recruitment, subject to the employee or prospective employee being fully competent or capable of undertaking the duties of the job. The legislation requires employers or prospective employers to take reasonable steps (otherwise known as reasonable accommodation) to accommodate the needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (3 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 to 2015 and the Regulations made thereunder, the manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and possession of cannabis is currently unlawful except for the purposes of research. My Department is aware that cannabis for medicinal use has been legalised in some countries and that there have been several studies internationally on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (3 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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 Treatment Programmes (4 Nov 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 Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (5 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 157 together. I should explain that section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 generally prohibits discrimination in relation to the admission policy operated by an educational establishment except where it is a primary or post-primary school operating in an environment which promotes certain religious values. In such circumstances, the school, under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Community (5 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: At my request - and following an earlier round of consultations with other Departments and the Traveller community on this issue - my Department has continued its discussions with Traveller interests with a view to developing a precise understanding of the legal implications, if any, of the recognition that the Traveller community is seeking. To facilitate a focussed discussion, 4...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (5 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: With the exception of Part 2 of the Act, which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Health, and which has been commenced in respect of children under five years of age only, all provisions of the Disability Act 2005 have been commenced and are in force.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (5 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 generally prohibits discrimination in relation to the admission policy operated by an educational establishment except where it is a primary or post-primary school operating in an environment which promotes certain religious values. In such circumstances, the school, under subsection 7(3)(c), may favour the enrolment of students of a particular...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (10 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 406 together. As these are service matters, they have 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: Drugs Crime (11 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: A Bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act so as to allow the Government to declare substances to be controlled and to clarify the provisions under which Ministerial orders and regulations are made is currently being drafted and is listed in the Government Legislative Programme for publication in 2016. This will once again allow regulations to be made and, if necessary and appropriate, bring...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (12 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Ireland signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2007 and is one of three EU member states yet to ratify. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is a dualist State, Article 29.6 of the Constitution providing that international agreements have the force of law to the extent determined by the Oireachtas. It is essential therefore that the State...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Disability Support Services Provision (12 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I understand that the National Disability Authority (NDA) engaged with the employer umbrella groups, Chambers Ireland, IBEC and ISME and invited them to prepare a joint proposal in relation to the provision of an Employer Helpline, as recommended in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities which I published in October this year. The specification for the project...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Community (12 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Deputy will be aware that there is a consultation process underway led by my Department to develop a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. Phase 1 (identification of key themes for the new Strategy) has been completed, and Phase 2 (identification and agreement of high-level objectives under each agreed theme) will commence shortly. The final Phase, Phase 3 (identification...

Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I wanted to share time with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. She regrets that owing to the length of time it took to conclude the previous debate she cannot give her remarks, but she very much supports this move. I am delighted to present this important Bill to the House today. The Bill started life in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Care Costs (18 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Family Leave Act 1998 (amended) entitles both parents to eighteen weeks unpaid parental leave on the birth or adoption of a child. The leave may be taken until the child has reached the age of eight years with certain extensions permitted beyond that for adoptees and children with a disability or long-term illness. Parental leave is unpaid and unlike maternity leave does not attract a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (18 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem. Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities. ...

Choice of Court (Hague Convention) [Seanad] Bill 2015: Order for Report Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."