Results 361-380 of 1,035,526 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:John Carty OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman OR speaker:Robert Troy)

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: With respect, I am setting out the process that works in our Department and every single Department.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We received advice from the legal advisers within our own Department.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We did not make a specific request to the Office of the Attorney General for advice from that office. We received legal advice from the legal advisers within our own Department.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We did not make a specific request to the Office of the Attorney General-----

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: -----for legal advice nor did we receive specific------

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We did not seek specific legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General on this piece of legislation. We received legal advice from the advisers within our own Department.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am setting out the process that was under way.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As I say, when the drafting of this piece of legislation was requested by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the priority was placed on the drafting of the maternity protection section. The section dealing with NDAs, in particular, was not regarded as ready for inclusion in the stamped draft and that is why it did not come through to the committee. That is also why we informed the...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Again, all of this was taking place in a tight timeframe. As I said, we put in the request for the drafting of this legislation in late July. We are talking about a meeting that was taking place in early September. We had indicated priority for the maternity protection section. We initiated this piece of legislation in order to advance that because of the importance that I place on the...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. Yes, it is a drafting issue. That is the fairest way to characterise it. We are seeking to legislate against the inappropriate use of NDAs in the way set out in head 8, which builds on the Private Members' Bill that Senator Ruane and other Senators put forward. I recognise that head 8 is not identical to Senator Ruane's Bill but it covers most of the elements contained...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Once we have the draft amendments, I will be happy to act in that way and to circulate them so people can see what we are proposing and have an opportunity to put to me any concerns they may have.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputy Sherlock. I welcome and fully accept his statement to the committee that there is no attempt to delay this legislation. I hope he accepts my statement that neither I nor the Department is looking to depart from the policy objective regarding NDAs as set out in section 8. Deputy Sherlock asked what the issue is. It is one primarily of time and resources to get a fully...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The broad policy intent of head 8 will be reflected in the amendment. I cannot say nothing will change. The Deputy probably understands that. To give an example, in Senator Ruane's original Bill, it was provided for that the new prohibition on NDAs in the context of the various elements the Senator set out would apply retrospectively. That is not repeated in head 8 because the advice we...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Yes.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will move heaven and earth to make sure that this provision on NDAs is included in the Bill. As the Senator knows, if an election comes in advance of that-----

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Yes, but I will move heaven and earth to make sure this provision is included. I thank the Senator for her recognition but it is important to say that, on foot of my recognition of the importance of the NDA issue, I asked my Department to undertake a separate piece of research on it, which I financed. It is important to set out our bona fides as regards supporting the Senator in her...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the challenge that scheduling poses for the Senator and her issue in this area. We are at a time of year for the Houses when there is a huge flurry of legislative activity in a normal context, and very large Bills the Government has made a commitment to getting through are also moving through the Houses. Our engagement with the Whip's office is that in order to allow this...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is a fair but complex question and I could not answer it with sufficient detail at this point. Drafters work within the wider Office of the Attorney General and the Government outlines priority Bills for drafting. It has been my experience that every Bill that comes through the Government is for priority drafting, which obviously puts pressure on drafters in respect of the allocation...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials are engaging with the drafters on this legislation-----

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: -----on a daily basis in order to ensure that this legislation and all its elements are ready.