Results 3,541-3,560 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I was not in this job five years ago. When I started to try to ratify the UN convention two years ago, it was a slow debate. In the end, we had to keep on pushing the issue forward. I accept the Deputy's point on frustration. However, the fact we ratified the UN convention on 19 April will, hopefully, speed up the process. If it were not ratified, we would be in a weak position. There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I will take the whole lot together. I thank the Senator for all his work. The Oireachtas disability group is a valuable tool and Deputy Ó Caoláin is the vice-chairman. It is important we have multiple voices. On the Senator's initial points I have not seen the Inclusion Ireland document yet but I meet the organisation regularly and work closely with it. I am on the issue and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: -----I will appreciate any help. Last year, I went in looking for an extra €100 million and I ended up with €92 million. Some people would say that is not bad going in negotiations. That was in respect of the social care plan. Senator Dolan is correct, however, and Deputy Jack Chambers mentioned this as well. We can talk about resources but we have to make sure that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for his comments. I take his point with regard to Senator Dolan's comment about which committee is responsible. As far as I am concerned, disability and inclusion are contemplated as part of the broader issue of equality. That is a very relevant aspect. On the comprehensive employment strategy, the Department of Justice and Equality is leading on its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: Which ones?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: What aspect of the wage subsidy scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: Yes, absolutely. With regard to social protection, I mentioned the Intreo offices. There are approximately 5,000 to 6,000 people in the scheme now. That figure might not have changed recently but the answer is "Yes". We have to ensure positive discrimination in regard to the employment issue. There are a couple of thousand people on the scheme and we need to develop it. We need to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: According to my briefing, that convention is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan. The existing legislation does not provide procedural safeguards to ensure individuals are not unlawfully deprived of their liberty. The draft legislative proposals that I published for public consultation last December are designed to address this gap by providing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Deputy. I know that, like the Chair, he is a strong advocate for people with disabilities. I agree that we need to have a broader view, as the Deputy said earlier when he spoke about the optional protocol. Of course, I will have discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality in respect of this issue. It is unacceptable that there are polling stations which are not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: Yes, the best cigars in the world. There are disabilities in Cuba, which is a country that has been hammered by an embargo. It has been hammered by its next-door neighbour - America - for 60 years. When I met the Cuban Minister who deals with disabilities, she brought me around. It is interesting that there were no people on trolleys in this supposedly poor country. They had a plan of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: Give me another two years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I welcome the Deputy and I will facilitate a meeting with his colleagues from Cork. We will see if we can be supportive of parents and children in that school. We must see what is the problem or the delay. I agree with that. The Deputy is 100% right about polling stations and accessibility is important. Even in smaller locations with polling stations, it is easy to adapt and provide...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I thought there might still be some on some island communities that I have missed. There should be access and services should be provided in that respect. We will examine the home care package question. We have tried out for the past 12 months the idea of home support service hours. For example, last year there were 2.75 million home support hours. Instead of people going into respite...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I will look closely at this in the context of my pre-budget submission. I have met some of the groups that are pushing this agenda. I am glad the Chairman recognises that the €200 million is not just for me and it is a broader Cabinet issue. I have made it a priority, however. All Departments have to reflect the needs and rights of all people with disabilities. The Chairman said...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I thank colleagues for their views. I will give serious consideration to every idea put forward. I hope we can progress and develop services for all people with disabilities, but above all ensure that the UN convention becomes a reality for all people.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Transport Support Scheme (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: The Deputy will be familiar with the background to the closure of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant schemes in February 2013. Since the closure of the Mobility Allowance, the Government has directed that the Health Service Executive should continue to pay an equivalent monthly payment of up to €208.50 per month to the 4,046 people in receipt of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services Provision (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: I have received the Report of the Task Force on Personalised Budgets and am currently considering its recommendations. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: As the deputy will be aware, Ireland recently ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which came into force for Ireland on 19 April this year. The Convention, in Article 19, calls upon State parties to recognise the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective and appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (27 Jun 2018)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...