Results 2,481-2,500 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Acting Chair and wish Senators a good afternoon. I am pleased to be here to bring two Bills to the House, which aim to amend our Constitution to reflect the values of a more inclusive Ireland. Our Constitution is the fundamental law of Ireland. It should be a reflection of who we are and the values we hold dear, but right now the text of our Constitution does not reflect our...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators on all sides of the argument for their detailed contributions, in particular those Senators who spoke about the proposals to extend the values of our Constitution to ensure that it reflects families who have previously been excluded from the constitutional family and, indeed, society. In the past, non-marital families, single mothers in particular, were discriminated against...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I value it for reasons that are unique to me.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: No. I am sorry. Each person's marriage and each person's decision to get married is one that is unique to him or her. No more than I would ask or question why Senator McDowell decided to make that decision himself-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: That was part of part of my reasoning as well.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Inasmuch as I fought to get access – Senator Mullen had a different argument in terms of that – it is important that we hear from people who, right now, are excluded from the constitutional definition of the family and excluded from the value. Not only does marriage mean something to me, our Constitution means something to me, as I have no doubt it means something to other...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: If we believe that it is right to broaden out the definition, it is with us now. We have the opportunity, in the context of the referendum and in the context of the wording that is before us to make that change. We are not, as Senator Mullen maintained, seeking to gut the definition of the family. We are seeking to be inclusive and to recognise the value of relationships that we know...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are guaranteeing it.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Because the Constitution continues to recognise the importance of marriage.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are not changing it. We are fundamentally not changing it.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are continuing to recognise the value of marriage and its special position. In the context of the changes we are making, the State will continually be able to make a distinction between families based on marriage and other families.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is separate. It is a recognition of marriage as an institution and what we are looking-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: What we are seeking to do is to ensure that those families based on marriage continue to have recognition in our Constitution, but we are looking to broaden it out to include other types of families as well. These are families we know and see in our everyday lives.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We want to ensure that they make continue to receive the protection of our Constitution. I believe that this is something-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I beg to differ. It is an important step to give that valid and important constitutional recognition to the tens of thousands of people who are in committed relationships outside of marriage. We have the opportunity to make that change. Our Supreme Court is not going to make the change. We, as legislators, are putting that change to the people on 8 March and we have this opportunity to...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to present the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023 to the House this evening. I thank those who will participate in today’s debate for their continued interest in this significant proposition, which will give the Irish people the opportunity to vote at last on removing the outdated language related to the woman’s role in the home from our...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Acting Chairperson and I also thank Senators for the detailed consideration that they have given the proposals set out in the Bill. The issues we are discussing here are not new. The need, as articulated by many, to amend Article 41.2 to remove the archaic language from that provision, has been discussed in many fora in Ireland through constitutional reviews and citizens'...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (18 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile (AEYSP) provides a detailed overview of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector in Ireland, including the numbers of children in receipt of state subsidies, information on ELC and SAC fees, staff wages, qualifications and turnover. In December 2023 the Department launched the Early Learning and Childcare Data...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (18 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Payment details for the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are deemed confidential and commercially sensitive. It would not serve the public interest to divulge payment rates to contractors for services as it could prejudice the Department's negotiating position to deliver value for money with respect to other accommodation providers and locations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to ban conversion therapy. The National LGBTI Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021 contain commitments in relation to conversion therapy. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned research into the issue of conversion...