Results 3,421-3,440 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Choice of Court (Hague Convention) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The effect of the amendment will be to remove the need for a commencement order so that the Bill will enter into force immediately upon enactment.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (24 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am informed that, further to discussions between the Deputy and the relevant Division of my Department, I have not received a request for funding from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. Any funding requested that is received would be carefully considered in the light of the priorities in the Traveller and Roma policy area and the funds available.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (24 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Deputy for his question and note that I have met the organisation to which he refers on a number of occasions. The organisation referred to by the Deputy submitted a proposal to Dublin North East Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force earlier this year for a Family Support Programme to provide a specific service for at risk families in the Task Force area. On the basis of the...

Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I acknowledge the presence in the Gallery of the great campaigners of Yes Equality, the marriage equality group and GLEN. I acknowledge the ICCL also played a huge role in that campaign. It is a proud day today for our Republic to have this Bill before the House. I recall the day the marriage equality referendum was passed and the sense of us actually reclaiming our republic. I pay...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave Policy (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Under the Maternity Protection Acts, a mother of a newborn child is entitled to 26 weeks maternity leave, and a benefit is payable under the Social Welfare Acts in respect of that period of leave. A further, optional, period of unpaid leave is also available. Similar arrangements apply in the case of adoption. Under the Parental Leave Act 1998 (as amended) both parents are entitled to 18...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Disability Services Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The existing Disability Strategy Implementation Plan covers the period up to end-2015 and we have commenced a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders with a view to putting a revised National Disability Inclusion Strategy in place as from early 2016. This is a 3 phase consultation process. Phase 1 - which focussed on identification of key themes - has recently been completed and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The existing Disability Strategy Implementation Plan covers the period up to end-2015 and we have commenced a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders with a view to putting a revised National Disability Inclusion Strategy in place as from early 2016. This is a 3 phase consultation process. Phase 1 - which focussed on identification of key themes - has recently been completed and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave Policy (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Under the Parental Leave Act 1998 (as amended) both parents are entitled to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave on the birth or adoption of a child. Such leave may be taken until the child has reached the age of eight years with certain extensions allowed in the case of adoptees and children with a disability or long-term illness.The leave may be taken as a continuous block of 18 weeks, or, if the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Equality legislation is kept under continuous review. Amendments to this body of legislation are currently being progressed in the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 which has passed all stages in the Seanad and is awaiting debate in the Dáil with a view to its early enactment. The Bill proposes to amend section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998 - in line with a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Income Inequality (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Figures published by Eurostat indicate that the gender pay gap (defined as the difference between the average gross hourly earnings of male and female paid employees as a percentage of average gross hourly earnings of male paid employees) in Ireland was 14.4% in 2012, below the EU average of 16.4%. This is the most recent data available on the gender pay gap in Ireland. The gender pay gap...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am advised by the Health Service Executive that at the end of July 2015 there were 77 people in receipt of buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) for opioid dependence. Suboxone is being provided to this cohort under an initial feasibility study to evaluate the use of Suboxone in Ireland. I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly in relation to the comparative costs and risk...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Deputy’s question refers to the use of cannabis plants for medical treatment. Under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 to 2015 and the Regulations made thereunder, the manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and possession of cannabis is currently unlawful except for the purposes of research. My Department is aware that cannabis for medicinal use has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Expenditure (22 Sep 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I have no plans to fund whole plant medical cannabis.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Senator Darragh O'Brien. Section 1(4) applies with equal force to all four Houses of the Oireachtas officer posts under consideration in the Bill. In taking this approach the Government has in mind that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, under the chairmanship of the Ceann Comhairle, would have the latitude in the future to take decisions on the tenure of the relevant...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Senators for their contributions. I appreciate where people are coming from in respect of this. Senator O'Brien mentioned the Ceann Comhairle. The Ceann Comhairle is the chairman of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, not just the Dáil, and the commission is representative of parliamentarians. This Government and the previous one are anxious to give the commission...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would like to respond to the reasonable questions that have been asked about the office of the Clerk of the Seanad. Under this Bill, there are positions in the Oireachtas office to which the Clerk of the Seanad could be transferred. While I appreciate that the Opposition amendment is intended to be constructive, its effect would be to leave officers in office for life without that type of...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is my understanding, based on the advice we have been given, that it is not unusual for principal officers in the public service to have fixed terms.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I reiterate that it is the intention to fill the posts from within the Oireachtas. The main reason I do not propose to accept the amendment is that the proposal, if implemented, would leave officers in situfor life.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Senator and I will not agree on this issue. To be constructive, I will repeat the advice available to me. The current arrangement under the 1959 Act is left in place, which means the Clerk of the Seanad can remain until the age of 65 years.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Senator O'Brien and the Leader of the House for coming to an accommodation on the previous amendment. I remind Senators that it is always a benefit to everyone if the hyperbole is kept to a minimum. To suggest this will rock the very foundations of the entire public service is a bit of a stretch seeing as this legislation only affects the Oireachtas. On the matter raised by...