Results 2,661-2,680 of 4,178 for speaker:Paul Gavan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Delivery of Services for Students with Down’s Syndrome: Discussion (12 Mar 2019)

Paul Gavan: I thank all the witnesses for their attendance. They all provided valuable information and I thank them for that. I want to reference something Mr. Ward said early on in his statement. He said: "Government policy on supporting children with special educational needs aims to ensure that all children with special needs, including children with Down's syndrome, can have access to an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Migration Crisis (6 Mar 2019)

Paul Gavan: The EU's deal with Libya is "sentencing refugees to death". They are not my words, but those of Irish journalist, Sally Hayden, who has been reporting for al-Jazeera on the situation in Libya for several months now. The Minister and the Government are part of that deal. With the support of the EU, in February 2017 Italy and Libya signed a deal to stem the flow of migrants from north Africa...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Migration Crisis (6 Mar 2019)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I welcome her confirmation that our naval forces are not handing people over to the heinous regime in Libya. I heard first-hand testimony from Sea-Watch in the Council of Europe about just how appalling the Libyan coastguard is. However, the fundamental problem remains. We are funding organisations such as the Libyan authorities and its...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I second the proposal of my colleague, Senator Devine, to amend the Order of Business. Not for the first time, I wish to address the issue of the appallingly low rates of pay in the childcare sector. A graduate outcome survey published by the Higher Education Authority last week revealed the extent of low pay in the early years sector. Some 43% of honours degree graduates in the sector...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: Well said.

Seanad: Health (Exemption of Charges for Involuntary Psychiatric Patients) (Amendment) Bill 2019: First Stage (28 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I second the proposal.

Seanad: National Training Fund: Statements (28 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I acknowledge the comments of Senators Davitt and Byrne with regard to his commitment to his role. I have a couple of short points to make. The important point to begin with is that Sinn Féin supports the National Training Fund policy. We think it is a progressive policy which puts us much more in line with best practice in Europe. We...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: Last Monday evening, I tuned into Channel 4 News to get the latest news about the ongoing soap opera that is Brexit but it was not the lead item. In fact, the lead item was from Libya, which involved tremendous work done by an Irish journalist called Sally Hayden. She has been crucial in exposing the horrific torture and human rights abuses going on in Libya. I recommend that people watch...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I wish to briefly raise two matters today. First, I remind people that the National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017 is to be debated this evening at 6 p.m. I express my gratitude to people across all parties who have offered expressions of support today, and I appeal for their support again this evening to get this very simple but important Bill through to Report Stage....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: That is no problem. It is an important question. The report was written by TASC, the Think-tank for Action on Social Change. It is a very academic and well-respected report. The launch was well attended yesterday. I saw colleagues from the Labour Party and Sinn Féin there, as well as Independents. I want to draw attention to it because we have a massive problem with inequality in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 1:In page 4, line 28, to delete “subject to section 39” and substitute “subject to section 41”. I welcome several guests to the Gallery this evening. I also welcome the Minister of State. We have had a tremendous interest in this Bill because it affects tens of thousands of workers in the hospitality sector. I am delighted to welcome...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 2:In page 4, to delete lines 36 and 37 and substitute the following:"(iii) require the employer to pay to the employee compensation of such amount as is just and equitable having regard to all of the circumstances, and".

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: The purpose of the amendment is to allow an employee to seek compensation for the breach together with an award for the amount withheld or deducted. As with the previous amendments, I want to take on board the Minister of State's comments. I offer to work with the Department prior to Report Stage to tighten up the wording as best we can.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I welcome what Senator Craughwell said and very much appreciate his support. The importance of getting the compensation right is because of the damage that is done to people. I will give an example my office received last week. This relates to a lady works in a restaurant who knows that the tips will never go to her. The tips are left and are gathered by management. In order to get a tip...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 3:In page 5, line 8, to delete “for employer involvement” and substitute “for employee involvement”.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 4:In page 5, line 9, to delete “Subject to subsections (d) and (e)” and substitute “Subject to paragraph (d)”.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: I take on board what the Minister of State said. We have designed this Bill on existing legislation in Ontario, which has been in place now for a couple of years and no issues have no arisen. This Bill is almost identical to that legislation. The Minister of State said that there is a danger of us being overly prescriptive. That is not what we want to do and I do not think we should do...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: Senator Horkan is correct in that regard. Let us tease out the issues. We know this legislation works. It is not in any of our interests to make it overly prescriptive because then it would be damaging to employers. There are no tax implications.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2019)

Paul Gavan: Taxes are not referenced in this Bill. They are not part of this Bill and there will be no tax implications.