Results 3,521-3,540 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (7 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 to 408, inclusive, together. Government policy in relation to drugs emphasises the importance of providing the opportunities for people to move on from illicit drug use, through drug treatment and rehabilitation, to a drug-free life where that is achievable. The provision of harm reduction measures, such as needle and syringe programmes and methadone...

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Deputy should not go there. He is on very shaky ground. Sinn Féin made it happen. Is the Deputy paying his bin charges?

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In fairness to the Deputy, he did not write the speech.

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I was not listening to you so I was not frowning at what you were saying.

Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is a very therapeutic session.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Auctioneering Licences (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, I thank the Senator for raising this matter. As the Senator is aware, the Property Services Regulatory Authority, PSRA, was established on a statutory basis in 2012, in accordance with the provisions of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The authority is independent in the performance of its functions. A key role of the authority...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am very pleased to be here today on the resumption of Committee Stage of this important Bill. To respond to Senator Power, it is my intention and my hope that I will be the final Minister to deal with it. Senators will be well aware of my strong opinions on the need to amend the current section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and that I, together with Senators Ivana Bacik and...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is my intention, and the individual discussions can then take place on Report Stage.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: He reminds me of a good friend of mine, a committed Dublin supporter, who once had to do teaching practice in Meath and had to convince all the children of the merits of supporting the Meath football team, which really went against his ethics. Not to belittle the point that has been made, the difficulty we have here is a procedural one because it has been two years since we had this...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Procedurally, again, my response is the same as to all these amendments. Report Stage would be a better context in which to debate them.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are trying to achieve this together. In the Dáil three weeks ago, a Bill was tabled by three Deputies from the Anti-Austerity Alliance and the Government did not oppose the Bill because it accepted its spirit, despite the fact that a Bill was already working its way through the process. I hope Senators will accept my bona fides. We are trying to ensure we have full context to what...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Again, in the absence of Government amendments, the same point is being made and I will repeat my remarks. The Government amendments will oblige relevant employers in religious-run schools and hospitals to show that favourable treatment of an employee, or prospective employee, is limited to the religion ground. The religion ground shall not be regarded as justified unless it is the...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate what has been said. However, most European countries have a section 37(1) or their own version of section 37(1). The difficulty in Ireland is that the vast majority of schools, particularly national schools, are under religious patronage whereas in other European countries that is not the case. In every other European country that I am aware of, a version of section 37(1) is...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would-----

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The essence of the amendments is to provide a clear definition of what "conduct" means. My nervousness is that because it took so long to get it to this stage, if we start giving specific examples of the meaning of "conduct", it could take a lot longer before the Bill is enacted. I take on board what the Senator said that perhaps we need to do some work on language and perhaps we can do...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (2 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 to 157, inclusive, together. As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (1 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I intend to bring forward a Bill by the end of the year to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act so as to allow the Government to declare substances to be controlled, thereby meeting our EU and international obligations to control substances that are dangerous and have the potential for abuse. Furthermore, the Bill will clarify the provisions under which Ministerial orders and regulations are made....

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (1 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 190, 191 and 194 together. As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (1 Jul 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that methadone is the most commonly prescribed substitution treatment for problem opiate use in Europe. In conjunction with other services and supports, methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that provides a pathway to recovery for the...