Results 3,081-3,100 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seirbhísí Farantóireachta (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Ba mhaith liom i dtús buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Seanadóir as ucht an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a chur ar an gclár díospóireachta. Is fíor go bhfuil cúraimí Gaeltachta agus oileán leagtha ar an Aire Stáit sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta.Cuireann an Roinn fóirdheontas ar fáil chun seirbhísí...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seirbhísí Farantóireachta (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an méid sin. Tá sé ag iarraidh a rá go gcaithfimid a bheith réasúnta agus níl i gceist anseo ach cruinniú a shocrú idir na páirtithe uilig. Labhróidh mé leis an Aire Stáit. Dar liom féin, is plean réasúnta é sin ar bhealach agus b'fhéidir gur chóir...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Adoption Legislation (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As the Senator is aware, the Government approved the publication of the heads and general scheme of the adoption (information and tracing) Bill 2015 last July. The Bill is intended to facilitate access to adoption information and operates on the basis of presumption in favour of disclosing information in so far as is legally and constitutionally possible. The Bill will, for the first time,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Adoption Legislation (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate the Senator's commitment to this issue and her own personal connection with the issue. I will endeavour to discuss the issue with the Minister, Deputy Reilly. I am sure that whatever progress can be made on this Bill before the ending of the term of parliament will be made.

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

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, who regrets that she cannot be here, I am very pleased to present the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill to the House, and I look forward to hearing Senators' contributions. It is a very significant reforming Bill, and I will highlight its main objectives. The Bill proposes three key changes to bankruptcy law in Ireland, as...

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: EU Directives (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The basis for the current age limit is contained in Council Directive 2010/18/EU giving effect to the revised Parental Leave Framework Agreement negotiated by the European social partners in 2009. The essential point is that the upper age limit was negotiated and agreed by employers and Trade Union representatives at EU level and their agreement was then given force of law by the Directive....

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Agencies Funding (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The funding allocated to Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide is outlined in the following table. Year €m Notes 2005 2 2006 3 2007 4.5 2008 4.75 2009 4.553 2010 5.07 €4.083m core, plus €0.987m once-off provision for Imagine Ireland initiative 2011 6.997 €3.997m core, plus €3m once-off provision for Imagine Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Agencies Expenditure (17 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Culture Ireland was established in 2005 under my Department to promote Irish arts abroad. Following a review in 2012, the Government committed to maintaining Culture Ireland as a division of my Department and to expanding its remit to work on a cross agency basis to ensure maximum impact from investment in Irish arts. An Expert Advisory Committee has been established to guide and oversee this...

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I agree with what the amendments are trying to achieve. A total of €6 million was allocated in the budget to fast-track many applications. That is why between 60 and 80 leave to remain cases are being processed each month since publication of the working group's report. The report is being implemented. I agree with the right to work. I accept what the Deputies are saying about...

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move amendment No. 24:In page 19, to delete lines 4 and 5 and substitute the following:"(5) An application for international protection shall be made in the prescribed form and shall include—(a) all details of the grounds for the application, and (b) all information that would, in the event that section 48, 49, 55 or 56 were to apply to the applicant, be relevant to the decision of...

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: If a 16 year old arrives in the manner articulated - I am sure that can and has happened - the determination on that situation is made by the protection officer with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. That is how that situation is dealt with. There is no suggestion that individual would not be entertained or that an application would not be processed. The amendments in this grouping...

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move amendment No. 22: In page 18, line 37, to delete “legal advice available to it” and substitute “legal advice, available to it”.

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will deal with the amendments one by one. Some of what we have done in the amendments is reflective of the debate in the Seanad, when Senator van Turnhout and the Children's Rights Alliance had concerns around the Bill. I will explain that it will be necessary to have two opinions of the age of a suspected minor, not one, as previously envisaged, and also that the Child and Family Agency...