Results 4,421-4,440 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Bríd Smith will be aware that the Minister for Health is very alert to the situation facing the family and that he has met with them. The Minister has commissioned a report on the issue, the timeframe for completion of which is, I understand, January.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will no doubt agree that it is reasonable that the Department of Health would have an opportunity to analyse the various issues which will be applicable to the family concerned and to others. The Minister has indicated that he needs sight of this report before he can advance the legislation.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy referenced the Abhaile service which was put in place a couple of months ago. Many families have been availing of its services. In fact the data, in terms of the number of families availing of the voucher scheme through which they obtain legal and other supports to help them address the situations in which they find themselves in terms of their homes, is very encouraging. Many...
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will probably be aware that the heads of that Bill have been agreed. Drafting of the legislation is ongoing. It is likely it will not be introduced until next term.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that extra money was provided in the budget for services for children under 5 years so that they can access assessments more quickly. More money has been made available to the health budget this year. The allocation for 2017 is substantial. It is the largest health budget ever. I would expect that this will ensure reduced waiting times for assessments of the type...
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: I would expect there to be a full criminal investigation into the case outlined by the Deputy. I hope that the young girl in question and her family are aware of all of the support services available in this country to help them. The sexual offences legislation is currently in Committee. The definition of "consent" is an issue which I have no doubt the committee will examine during the...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have made sure that if allegations arrive on my desk they are appropriately handled. I want to ensure that whistleblowers feel a confidence in coming forward and every action I have taken has been targeted at ensuring that whistleblowers in An Garda Síochána are dealt with appropriately and properly. The actions of the Garda Commissioner in working with Transparency Ireland and...
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Catherine Byrne, is doing a lot of work on this issue and it is expected that the legislation will be available this term.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: Can the Deputy clarify about which report he is talking? Is it the Low Pay-----
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will correspond with the Deputy on the matter. The Low Pay Commission has published a report.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Labour Court recommendation addressed the issue of access to the Workplace Relations Commission for gardaí and it suggested a timetable in which it would be completed during 2017. I have referred this issue to the Horgan review. I asked Mr. Horgan and the associations to work together to discuss what they would like to see in the legislation and the best way to approach it. I...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy said, the American people have spoken and democratically elected Donald Trump to be their next President. Deputy Brendan Howlin raised, in particular, the issue of immigration reform which, as he said, had featured so prominently in the debate. I confirm to the House that, of course, securing relief for the undocumented Irish in the United States remains an absolute priority...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: Of course, this is the reality every country has to face. I have had meetings with the Migrant Rights Council of Ireland and intend to have further discussions. Of course, what, in the first instance, we encourage everyone to do is make contact with official sources and regularise his or her position. As the Deputy knows, every few months in this country there are citizenship ceremonies...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: I would have thought the Court of Appeal's ruling today would have been an intense reminder to Members that we should take stock and reflect before making allegations in the House. The good name and reputation of all individuals deserve respect and fair procedures. The Deputy is making various points about a report a judge is currently conducting and which is due next week. She has stated...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has announced a whole series of actions that we believe will, in the coming period, deal with the situation Deputy Ó Broin outlined. With regard to this massive issue, we recognise it is a hugely significant challenge, brought about by a series of events such as the economic collapse and the particular attitude taken to housing at a particular time, as the Deputy has...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: -----and information before changes were made so they could have more certainty. The HAP will be introduced in Dublin this year to help families and, as I have already said to Deputy Curran, the various other initiatives which the Minister, Deputy Coveney, announced this morning with regard to pillar three of the housing strategy, to make sure that this issue is dealt with.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: Of course there are short-term and immediate issues for families but there are also medium-term and the long-term ones. We want to do everything possible to make sure families, who are in the situation described by Deputy Ó Broin, have as much certainty as possible. We have already outlined in the budget a range of ways for more accommodation to become available, whether it is through...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: We are certainly not doing that, and it is disgraceful of the Deputy to say that. Deputy Ó Broin has no monopoly on caring about people who are homeless.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: Every single Member of this House cares about the homeless situation.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: That is why this is a priority for us.