Results 5,301-5,320 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 9 May 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Following a successful appeal, the information available to the deciding officer is that this gentleman’s family would be financially better off if he included his wife as a qualified adult on his disability allowance claim. His wife is currently in receipt of another social welfare payment at a lower rate than the qualified adult rate. For this reason, an option letter to include...

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Due process.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Yes, thank you a Leas-Chathaoirligh. In speaking to amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, and 13 taken together, if you do not mind, regrettably----

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Section 1, okay, fair enough.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I am grateful for the opportunity to deal with the Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016. I am disappointed that despite the best efforts of my advisors and officials, consensus could not be reached on the amendments necessary to ensure that the Bill is practical and reasonable on the one hand, and delivers something of real value to the deaf community on the...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: That is a misrepresentation.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I did not put forward any amendments because I wanted to achieve consensus first. Senator Daly took some of my draft amendments on which we were consulting and tabled them as his own. I find that odd. It is not the way to do business. We deliberately did not circulate the amendments because we had been consulting Senator Daly and the deaf community. We then delivered a shared copy of the...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I do not do stunts or misrepresentation. In regard to the amendments, amendment No. 2 is one of my own amendments-----

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: -----that was shared with the Senator. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I cannot logically oppose it-----

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: -----but I am opposed to the Bill being handled in this way. I also reject some of the criticism regarding the civil rights issue. I am a strong supporter of civil rights, whether they be disability rights, the rights of the minority in Northern Ireland or international rights. Amendment No. 3 is again one of my own amendments that we shared with the Senator and which I cannot oppose.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: However, I notice that the text used in the amendment is an early draft in which we spotted a mistake, that being the inclusion of the words "following consultation with the Commission". That error was subsequently corrected. The "Commission" is the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC. The definition is taken from its Act and the IHREC does not need to be referred to here....

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I wish to challenge some of the views presented. There is no difference between us in the context of recognising Irish Sign Language. The slight divergence is on how we are to get there. I support the principle of the issue. I did not withdraw the amendments. I say to Senator Mark Daly that the Bills Office does its own job and there was no Government or ministerial involvement with that...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I would like to address the issue of political cynicism. I am disappointed by Senator Mark Daly. I wanted to introduce this amendment and to achieve consensus. I wanted a wording that we all could agree. Personally, I think-----

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Could I make my point?

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: It is shameful that the Bill is being progressed in this way by Senator Mark Daly. I am disappointed and annoyed that he is making a party political issue out of it. Do not ever judge me on my support for the rights of all people with disabilities, including the deaf community. I will stand with them, but I am trying to get a Bill through the House and deliver on it. Regardless of what...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Senator Mullen asked what were the issues on which I wanted consensus. For reasons that I have outlined, I wanted to hammer out agreement on a number of issues - the establishment of a scheme to provide for ISL classes, the provision by the State of an annual number of hours of interpretation services, the drafting by all public bodies of individual ISL action plans every three years, the...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: I did not circulate the amendments because I was attempting to be respectful, get consensus and have agreement. Amendment No. 5 deals with one of the three key elements of the Bill, that I consider needed to be retained, as I said earlier. It ensures the important recognition by the State of Irish Sign Language. The amendment states that a person may use Irish Sign Language in, or in any...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Amendment No. 7 proposes to insert a new section that relates to the use of Irish Sign Language in legal proceedings. There is a reference to a presiding officer in this provision. It is not clear who this is in relation to in legal proceedings. Subject to legal advice, this provision does not appear to be necessary. Subsections (1) to (4) are enough to put the right person to use Irish...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Finian McGrath: Section 6 is one of the sections that I propose to be deleted. My opening statement applies to this. I note that amendment No. 7 refers to the wrong Minister. The reference should be to the Minister for Education and Skills. I may, but only if we are able to achieve consensus and not otherwise, look at this section again on Report Stage. I have indicated to the deaf community...