Results 4,801-4,820 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Senator Warfield may be there as well. Or Senator Dolan.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Amendment No. 2 is a technical one, which moves a section to the end of the Bill. Once we have agreed the suite of amendments before us we will have a much shorter Bill with just one part. The convention in respect of short Bills is that the commencement provision comes at the end. Then we have two variations, in that the Government's amendment is for a standard commencement provision,...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: We want to ensure public bodies only use the services of interpreters who are competent and whose competence has been verified by accreditation under the new scheme to be put in place by the SLIS, for which funding via the CIB has been agreed. In response to the issues raised by the deaf community, the commitments to ISL in the national disability inclusion strategy have also been...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: My objective in amendment No. 10 is to replace the existing section 1 with a text that strengthens the recognition of Irish Sign Language and links it explicitly to the duty on public bodies to provide users of Irish Sign Language with free interpretation when availing of, or seeking access to, statutory entitlements and services. One key provision of the Bill will be of critical importance...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I accept what Senator Daly has said. It may be that in the future we will facilitate a motion in the Dáil and Seanad as that would be a very important statement. I will absolutely take the views of Senator Higgins on board. I take the point about participation in culture. Not to be excluded but rather to be actively involved is very important. A few months ago, we had a statement of...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: We propose to change the section to more closely follow the format of the Official Languages Act 2003. This section along with section 4 captures the full range of courts and public bodies, including the Workplace Relations Commission, which adjudicates complaints under employment, equality and equal status legislation. I commend the amendment to the House.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Senators Daly and Clifford-Lee make very important points. Recent court cases have demonstrated the practical consequences on people's lives. I feel very strongly about the provisions on legal proceedings. Senator Daly referred to a lack of understanding. We need huge cultural and attitudinal change in the broader society. I have seen some of the research carried out by the National...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I am delighted to have achieved agreement on how this section should be amended. Mr. Andrew Geary and officials in the Department of Education and Skills have put a great deal of work into this. This amendment takes a practical approach to meeting the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children within the education system, including supports in classrooms. Interpretation centres and other...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I take everyone's points, especially as they relate to education for deaf children. People who are now in their 50s and 60s tell of being sent off to Dublin from Kerry, Galway, Cork or somewhere else as very young kids. That was the thinking at the time. It shows that we need to change the thinking, so I welcome this amendment.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I note that Senator Mark Daly had proposed to replace section 7, which specifies the number of hours of interpretation that the State is to provide for users of ISL for social, cultural and other purposes, including GP visits, with a simpler section that provides for funding for such purposes. This annual quantum of hours for the provision of services will be in addition to the provision of...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Amendment No. 15 is on the duty of public bodies and amendments Nos. 19, 21 to 39, inclusive, and 46 will be taken with it. This is one of the key sections of the Bill. We are creating an obligation on public bodies to provide free services to Irish Sign Language, ISL, users when users are accessing public services and entitlements. This is a very important part. Given the real...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: When legislation such as the Bill proposed by Senator Mark Daly is before the House, I examine its strengths. As I stated at the beginning of this process, I have an open mind and am open to persuasion. Having listened to the comments of Senators Warfield and Mark Daly, I am fully persuaded of the merits of this amendment and I propose to accept it.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I am pleased that we have been able to reach agreement on the amendment to this section. As we have seen in recent days, television broadcasting services are a vital aspect of life in terms of access to information, recreation and education. It is especially important to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Ensuring access to television services for people with disabilities contributes...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I endorse the comments of Senator Mark Daly. Television broadcasting services are a vital aspect of modern life. It is wrong that thousands of people would not be directly involved. It is important to note that action was taken when this issue was highlighted. However, I accept the point that it should not have to reach that stage. I reiterate that we are discussing equality, dignity and...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Amendment No. 40 proposes to delete section 30, whereas Senator Mark Daly's amendment proposes to retain and amend it to specify issues in respect of education which should be reported on in the reviews and to provide that each subsequent review should take place at five-year intervals. I will not oppose this amendment in the interest of agreeing a Bill by consensus. I am happy to listen to...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank all our colleagues for their comments. Education is an important part of Irish life and an important issue for me about which I speak regularly. This legislation is about funding and resources for members of the deaf community and we have been negotiating funding over recent months. Having the funding for the services is key. I would be interested to hear a little more about the...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank everyone here and especially thank and commend my colleague, Senator Mark Daly, on having done fantastic work over recent months and on having fought on the issue for a number of years. I also thank Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee for the outstanding work she did with Senator Daly on this. I thank all Senators here, my Independent colleagues and members of the Government, Sinn...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Ireland signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and since then, successive Governments have emphasised Ireland’s strong commitment 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. This Government remains committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (17 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Ireland signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and since then, successive Governments have emphasised Ireland’s strong commitment 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. This Government remains committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (17 Oct 2017)

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...