Results 3,601-3,620 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (9 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Employment Equality (Amendment) (No.2) Bill currently before the Seanad at Committee Stage proposes to amend, rather than repeal, section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998. I would draw the Deputy's attention to the Supreme Court judgment in the Article 26 referral of the Employment Equality Bill 1996, in which the court found that the provision - which later became section 37 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Funding (9 Jun 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 the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Places (9 Jun 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (28 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Government's response to the problem of drug misuse in our society is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. I am aware that in recent years, the nature and scale of drug misuse has changed, with an increased prevalence of polydrug use, as well as use of benzodiazepines, and other prescription or non-prescription tablets. Treatment figures indicate an increase in the number...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (28 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 is a cross cutting area of public policy and service delivery. A core objective of the National Drugs Strategy is the development of a national integrated treatment and rehabilitation service that provides drug free and harm reduction approaches for problem substance users. The National Drug Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (NDRIC) is chaired...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Rights (28 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Under existing Irish law and EU Directives, maternity leave is only available to a mother who gives birth to a child. This position has been supported by Judgment C-363/12 of the European Court of Justice delivered in March 2014. Eligibility for parental leave is wider. Parental leave may be available to persons who are the natural parents, adoptive parents, adopting parents or acting in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Disability Support Services (27 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The consultation event to which the Deputy refers was undertaken by the National Disability Authority (NDA) in January 2014. Information about the event and the final consultation report are available on the NDA's website. Based on the outcomes of this event and further consultation with Government Departments and disability stakeholders in the interim, a draft Programme of Actions, for...

Criminal Justice (Terrorism Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am pleased to take Report Stage of this important Bill on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who regrets that she cannot be here because she has to attend the Cabinet meeting which is currently taking place. I propose to deal with the amendments tabled by Deputies Clare Daly and Mick Wallace together as they all relate to the offence of "public provocation to commit a...

Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I apologise for the delay as I was responding to a debate in the Dáil. I am pleased to address Members of the Seanad on my new role within the Department of Health, aligned to my responsibilities in the Departments of Justice and Equality and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in regard to the national drugs strategy. I wish to update the House on my priorities in...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Is it naloxone?

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is called Suboxone.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Members for their good wishes and the constructive comments most Senators made. My commitment was questioned, however, and the manner of my delivery was criticised. I promise to work on that in future. I always know when somebody has very little to say about a topic; they tend to focus on the Minister’s delivery. Unfortunately, it is not just outside the school gates that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Community (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: At my request - and following an earlier round of consultations with other Departments and the Traveller community on this issue - my Department has continued its discussions with Traveller interests with a view to developing a precise understanding of the legal implications, if any, of the recognition that the Traveller community is seeking. To facilitate a focussed discussion, 4...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011 and the Equal Status Acts 2000 - 2012 prohibit discrimination on nine grounds including sexual orientation in the areas of employment and access to goods and services. The adequacy of the legislation is kept under regular review by my Department and amended as necessary in the light of experience with its operation, case law and requirements arising...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Government has given a firm commitment to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and intends to proceed to ratification as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are met. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has a dualist legal system and therefore does not become party...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Government has given a firm commitment to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and intends to proceed to ratification as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are met. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has a dualist legal system and therefore does not become party...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Programme for Government committed to publishing, "following wide consultation, a realistic implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy, including sectoral plans with achievable time scales and targets within available resources and ensuring whole-of-government involvement and monitoring of the Strategy, in partnership with the disability sector". I am pleased to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Issues (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Declaration to which the Deputy refers is a Declaration of the European Parliament rather than an instrument which requires signature or other approval by Member States.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff Training (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The National Disability Authority (NDA) is the independent state body providing expert advice on disability policy and practice to the government and the public sector. The Authority has developed an on-line training module for public sector staff to help them deal with customers with disabilities effectively. While this module is aimed at public sector staff it is available to any service...