Results 17,601-17,620 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Motorised Transport Grant Closure (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the proposed Health (Transport Support) Bill with the Joint Committee on Public Petitions on Wednesday 11th October. The Deputy will be familiar with the background to the closure of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant schemes in February 2013. Since the closure of the Mobility Allowance, the Government has directed that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims due to an increase in claim volumes and the need for more detailed decisions to be provided, following a High Court ruling. Corrective actions are in place, including additional deciding officers assigned to the scheme. As a result average processing times have reduced over recent...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The PRSI contribution conditions are that the person must have at least 260 (5 years) paid contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance (DA) from this lady. The claim was referred by a deciding officer (DO) to a social welfare investigative officer (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. The SWI met with this lady on 14 September 2017 and outlined to her the documents needed in order to progress the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Payments (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Backdating of the Invalidity Pension claim of the lady concerned has been considered and the claim has now been awarded from 08 November 2012, i.e. from the first Thursday following receipt of her Disability Allowance application. Arrears for the period 08 November 2012 to 10 May 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue shortly to her...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Illness benefit is a payment for persons who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. For illness benefit claims made in 2017 the governing contribution year is 2015. The rate of payment depends on the person’s level of earnings in the governing PRSI contribution year. Where the average weekly earnings are...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Cathaoirleach and all the Senators in the House. I am delighted to be here again and to have been able to achieve consensus on this Bill. I commend Senator Mark Daly for his magnificent work. I also thank and commend members of the deaf community for all of the work put into achieving this consensus. It is important that I, as Minister of State, recognise the value of the work...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I welcome the comments from all Senators and totally endorse what they said, particularly about the exclusion of the deaf community. It is not acceptable any more and I agree with Senator Ó Clochartaigh that it is a civil rights issue. We are all on the same page in that respect. In the emergency over the past couple of days, Senator Dolan is right that the intervention of the deaf...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Senator Warfield may be there as well. Or Senator Dolan.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Amendment No. 2 is a technical one, which moves a section to the end of the Bill. Once we have agreed the suite of amendments before us we will have a much shorter Bill with just one part. The convention in respect of short Bills is that the commencement provision comes at the end. Then we have two variations, in that the Government's amendment is for a standard commencement provision,...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: We want to ensure public bodies only use the services of interpreters who are competent and whose competence has been verified by accreditation under the new scheme to be put in place by the SLIS, for which funding via the CIB has been agreed. In response to the issues raised by the deaf community, the commitments to ISL in the national disability inclusion strategy have also been...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: My objective in amendment No. 10 is to replace the existing section 1 with a text that strengthens the recognition of Irish Sign Language and links it explicitly to the duty on public bodies to provide users of Irish Sign Language with free interpretation when availing of, or seeking access to, statutory entitlements and services. One key provision of the Bill will be of critical importance...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I accept what Senator Daly has said. It may be that in the future we will facilitate a motion in the Dáil and Seanad as that would be a very important statement. I will absolutely take the views of Senator Higgins on board. I take the point about participation in culture. Not to be excluded but rather to be actively involved is very important. A few months ago, we had a statement of...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: We propose to change the section to more closely follow the format of the Official Languages Act 2003. This section along with section 4 captures the full range of courts and public bodies, including the Workplace Relations Commission, which adjudicates complaints under employment, equality and equal status legislation. I commend the amendment to the House.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Senators Daly and Clifford-Lee make very important points. Recent court cases have demonstrated the practical consequences on people's lives. I feel very strongly about the provisions on legal proceedings. Senator Daly referred to a lack of understanding. We need huge cultural and attitudinal change in the broader society. I have seen some of the research carried out by the National...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I am delighted to have achieved agreement on how this section should be amended. Mr. Andrew Geary and officials in the Department of Education and Skills have put a great deal of work into this. This amendment takes a practical approach to meeting the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children within the education system, including supports in classrooms. Interpretation centres and other...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I take everyone's points, especially as they relate to education for deaf children. People who are now in their 50s and 60s tell of being sent off to Dublin from Kerry, Galway, Cork or somewhere else as very young kids. That was the thinking at the time. It shows that we need to change the thinking, so I welcome this amendment.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I note that Senator Mark Daly had proposed to replace section 7, which specifies the number of hours of interpretation that the State is to provide for users of ISL for social, cultural and other purposes, including GP visits, with a simpler section that provides for funding for such purposes. This annual quantum of hours for the provision of services will be in addition to the provision of...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Amendment No. 15 is on the duty of public bodies and amendments Nos. 19, 21 to 39, inclusive, and 46 will be taken with it. This is one of the key sections of the Bill. We are creating an obligation on public bodies to provide free services to Irish Sign Language, ISL, users when users are accessing public services and entitlements. This is a very important part. Given the real...