Results 1,681-1,700 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re tribunal of inquiry into the fatal shootings of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan; No.19, Ráitis maidir leis an nGaeilge, statements on the Irish language; and No.18, Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No....

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: No Supplementary Estimate is promised. That matter has not come before the Government so I am not certain what the proposals are. The Government has been dealing with the issue of child care for a considerable period.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: Regarding Deputy Kenny's first question, I cannot say if any further progress has been made on that matter. I will get back to the Deputy.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The Bill is imminent. The Government cleared the heads some time ago and it will be published and taken in the House before the summer recess. Many of the issues raised are already catered for in existing legislation. There is no justification for people not being paid the going rate, the agreed rates or for the law not being enforced. The existing labour laws apply to non-nationals as much...

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I know that in recent times the minimum wage law is being enforced and that if any cases are brought to the attention of the authorities, they are pursued vigorously. The new work permit legislation simply provides for the new regime that exists, in particular since the enlargement of the European Union when permits became an exception. Permits are mainly for higher skilled workers because we...

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The tribunal has a distinguished chairperson. It is a matter for him to decide where evidence is collected, not for the Government or the Oireachtas. I have no information as to whether the tribunal will submit an interim report.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The Bill will be in the House later this year.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The nurses' Bill will be introduced later this year. The legislation does not propose to prevent nurses from taking industrial action.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The President has ten days to sign it from the time it was passed in the Oireachtas. I am not certain whether it has been signed, but will revert to the Deputy on the matter. The Comhairle (Amendment) Bill has been published, but I am not sure when it will be taken in the House. I will discuss that with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I am not in a position to say when we will have that legislation.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The legislation to establish the health information and quality authority on a statutory basis will be published and, I hope, enacted this year. As the Deputy is aware, the authority was established on an interim basis in Cork recently.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I would not. I love this challenge.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The reason the tribunal cannot inquire into this matter is the court held that given the age of the witnesses, it would be wrong and unfair to require them to give evidence. That will also apply to any new inquiry that could be established in this area. I recently had discussions with a number of the interests in this matter and I will make a decision shortly. I will communicate directly with...

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: Later this year.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: Legislation is not needed to build more terminals at Knock Airport.

Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The Bill will be introduced this year but it will not deal with the issues raised by the Deputy.

Nursing Home Charges. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together. My Department is currently studying the Supreme Court judgment with regard to repayment of charges for publicly-funded long term residential care in detail and will take on board all the consequences for policy and law arising from the judgment. A special Cabinet sub-committee comprising the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, the Minister for...

Nursing Home Charges. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: Regarding the Statute of Limitations, the period is six years. While I have not got definitive legal advice from the Attorney General, we are still in the process of drawing up a memorandum for Government that I hope to take to the Cabinet meeting on 6 April so that we can make a decision on how to proceed. Trying to assemble all the information and thereby get a definitive opinion from the...

Nursing Home Charges. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: With regard to the cases to which I referred, there was a lawyer from Cork on the radio a few weeks ago, who may be associated with one of the parties in the House, who has taken on a number of cases on the nursing home and private nursing home issue. That matter was also dealt with in this advice. He is not the only one, but he is on public record as indicating that he was taking cases. I...

Nursing Home Charges. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: It is not widely available, but available under privilege. They were all at the same meeting and all facing the same cases. The advice they were getting from the Department for many years, going back to 1978, was that they should not contest. Therefore, if one long-term bed occupant had a lawyer who could help him or her to take a case, he or she would no longer be charged while somebody not...