Results 1,701-1,720 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: At the same time, the Bill includes strong provisions to ensure that any bankrupt person who tries to conceal his or her resources from creditors or evade his or her obligations will end up with a longer bankruptcy term and a longer bankruptcy payment order. The Bill makes important changes to modernise bankruptcy procedures, reduce unnecessary costs and ensure that the official assignee has...

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, I thank Senators for their interest in the Bill and for their contributions to this debate. This is a significant, reforming Bill which will complement the reforms already introduced to personal insolvency legislation. The most important element of the legislation is the reduction of the bankruptcy term from three years to one year, a...

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I apologise. How dare I suggest he is no longer in the House and that he is no longer interested in the debate.

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I know what that feels like. On the points Senator Mooney raised, and the statistics he quoted on those in bankruptcy losing their family homes, a small study was carried out by official assignees in respect of initial cases in bankruptcy. It is important to note many of the families had surrendered their homes to the banks before they entered bankruptcy. Certainly, personal insolvency...

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Not everybody will be eligible on the same day. They will be dealt with on a staggered basis.

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I reiterate the point that under the transitional provisions, assuming there are no grounds for extension an existing bankruptcy which was due to terminate three years after adjudication, if it is already due to terminate less than six months after the commencement date, will terminate on its due date. Otherwise, it will terminate one year after adjudication or six months after commencement...

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: No problem.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (13 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Currently, maternity leave extends to 26 weeks paid with a social welfare benefit and a further entitlement to 16 weeks unpaid leave immediately afterwards. These periods are towards the upper end of the European range of entitlements and I have no plans to extend them further. The Deputy will be aware however that the Government has decided that two weeks paternity leave will be introduced...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (13 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 458 and 484 together. Under the Parental Leave Act 1998 (as amended) both parents are entitled to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave in respect of each child under the age of eight years with certain extensions allowed for adoptees or children with a disability or long-term illness. I have no plans to change the current arrangements along the lines...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (13 Jan 2016)

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 and Alcohol Task Forces (13 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The budget allocation for the twenty four Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from the Drugs Initiative of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive in each of the years referred to by the Deputy is set out in the table hereunder: LDATFs 2011 2012 2013 2014 DOH 2014 HSE 2015 DOH 2015 HSE 2016 DOH 2016 HSE Ballyfermot  1,492,413 1,569,489 1,522,404 461,150...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (13 Jan 2016)

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 Justice and Equality: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (14 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am currently preparing a revised National Disability Inclusion Strategy with a view to having it in place by early 2016. This involves a 3 phase exercise. Phases 1 and 2 involving the identification of key themes and building on those through a broad consultation process to produce high-level objectives for the years 2016 - 2019 have been competed. Phase 3 will focus on agreeing specific...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Disability Strategy (19 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am currently preparing a revised National Disability Inclusion Strategy with a view to having it in place by early 2016. The new Strategy is being prepared on the basis of wide consultation with interested parties in a 3 Phase consultation process. Phases 1 and 2 involving the identification of key themes and building on those through a broad consultation process to produce high-level...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As I indicated in my previous reply, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to "examine different mechanisms to promote the recognition of Irish sign language" and in this regard the National Disability Authority (NDA) facilitated consultations with the Deaf Community in Ireland in 2012 at the Department's request in relation to actions that could make improvements in the lives of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (19 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 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. Ireland signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (20 Jan 2016)

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: Health Services Staff (21 Jan 2016)

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: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (26 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am currently preparing a revised National Disability Inclusion Strategy with a view to having it in place by early 2016. The new Strategy is being prepared on the basis of wide consultation with interested parties in a 3 Phase consultation process. Phases 1 and 2 involving the identification of key themes and building on those through a broad consultation process to produce high-level...

Seanad: Direct Provision: Motion (27 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: One of the members.