Results 301-320 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Morris Tribunal Reports: Motion. (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion. When the second Morris tribunal report was published last week, the public was deeply shocked when it was realised what had been going on in Donegal. We cannot underestimate public concern around the implications for the Garda force of what has been revealed to have happened in Donegal. As enunciated in the House during this debate,...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I ask the Minister of State to assure the House, in light of what has been said, that the amendment is not necessary.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I very much support this important amendment. The Long Title sets out the intention of the legislation. Senator Terry seeks to delete the following words: "occasioned to persons with disabilities by their disabilities, to enable Ministers of the Government to make provision, consistent with the resources available to them and their obligations in relation to their allocation,". Allocations...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: Exactly.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I think I can answer Senator Terry's question. These words do not appear elsewhere as this legislation is resource-based not rights-based. The Senator's amendment would make it rights-based legislation whereas the Government's words make it resource-based legislation. I have been a Member of this House for nearly eight years and do not recall this particular configuration appearing before. It...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I was not finished. On the disability proofing statement, the Minister of State probably knows that this is the view of the Disability Federation of Ireland. It proposes that each Department and public body produce an annual disability proofing statement of its policies and services. This would show the level of progress in opening their services to people with disabilities. The Minister of...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I have a technical question.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: In that case, I have a question on the section.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: What is meant by the phrase, set out in amendment No. 45, "as soon as may be"?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I concur with the other speakers and I commend Senator Quinn on putting words into action in his business. Other employers are doing the same and it makes a difference. It makes a difference because the Senator's customers will have the experience of meeting somebody with a disability in an environment where they might not otherwise have met them. It creates an air of normality which is...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: There are hidden ones we are not told about.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I join with Senator Terry in expressing disappointment at the Minister of State's response, particularly in light of the unanimity in the House. The public service plays an important lead role in many areas and we expect it to comply with the highest possible standards across the board. There is an expectation that it would take a lead role in employing people with disabilities. Not enough is...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is interesting that the Minister of State believes the appeals mechanism would work through the office of the Ombudsman. I invite him to go along with that.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I know that.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: In the light of what the Minister of State said, I will probably bring forward an appropriate amendment on Report Stage.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I am picking up on the general remarks of the Minister of State, on his views as expressed to the DLCG. If the Minister of State holds a particular view, why not go with it? As the Minister of State, he is in charge. We are Members of the Seanad, one of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Ultimately, we in the Houses are responsible for the legislation. My understanding is the DLCG is a...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support Senator Terry's amendment. Amendment No. 37 also seeks to strengthen the rights of the applicant. The amendment suggests the insertion on page 21, subsection (12), line 13, after "appropriate", the words "and shall, where requested by the applicant,". That part of the subsection would then read: "The appeals officer may, where appropriate, and shall, where requested by the...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 38: In page 23, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following new subsection: "(24) An appeal shall lie from a decision of the Appeals Officer to the District Court for the district in which the applicant is ordinarily resident or carries on any trade, profession or business.". In light of our earlier discussion, will the Minister of State clarify whether there is a...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 40: In page 24, subsection (1), between lines 41 and 42, to insert the following new subparagraph: "(i) to implement a service statement,". This amendment relates to section 22 which deals with the enforcement of determinations, etc. The amendment seeks to insert a new subparagraph which would provide for a remedy for the enforcement of a service statement. It may seem...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I do not understand the essential point made by the Minister of State. I do not know why he cannot respond further.