Results 6,641-6,660 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: The Government has told us for the last four years that it is about reform of this and that. A reform of politics that would make a most significant difference to how we do our business would be to listen and have a dialogue with our citizens, especially those who are affected directly by what we do in these Houses. Yesterday, I published findings from a civic forum that I held in Leinster...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister of State. It is great to have him here to take this Bill. I understand this is his first time to take Committee Stage of the legislation, this being our third session on this Stage of the Bill. We are all aware that the Government will bring forward its own amendments on Report Stage. These amendments were prepared almost two years ago and I offer the rationale that...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: It is terrific to have the Minister of State’s response, which I appreciate. Is the procedure for me to respond to what the Minister of State has just said or to respond generally?

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate what Senator Power had to say. It is an unusual circumstance in which we find ourselves. I would like to comment on what the Minister of State has said. I have the freedom to do that, as my colleague has done. Senator Power asked several questions which are related to the Minister of State’s proposals for Report Stage.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: Let me try it this way. The Minister of State indicated that one of the primary changes will be the replacement of the proposed power of both Ministers in a later section. Does that mean that the section that I am trying to amend is actually going to stay the same?

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: Is the Minister of State accepting the amendment? I did not hear whether he was accepting it or not.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, line 5, after “paragraph (a)” to insert “and the institutions named therein”.It seeks to change the notion that the additional restrictions that are offered in this subsection refer to religious institutions per seas well as educational or medical institutions that are mentioned in paragraph (a). I think that follows logically...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, to delete lines 30 to 33 and substitute the following:“(c) The Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Education and Skills, and the Minister for Health, will issue guidelines to the institutions identified within this Act, to define and publish their ethos, and may issue further directions or guidelines for the purpose of giving effect to...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: No.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: I support these amendments in the spirit in which they were written. They really push so clearly that issue of unequivocal guarantee about which Senator Power has spoken at length. If we are not deleting the section, then we need to provide as tight a guarantee as we can for employees to be protected. This effort by employers that may have some justification, in terms of discriminatory...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Charities Regulatory Authority: Chairman-Designate (1 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: From my experience, there are different structures involved. Some charities can be non-incorporated while others can be established as companies, making them subject to the rules set down by the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Other charities have been established as trusts. As a member of the CRA's board, has Mr. Hopkins encountered any obstacles or does he foresee any when...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Charities Regulatory Authority: Chairman-Designate (1 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: That is great and helpful to know. Will Mr. Hopkins expand a little on his statement about engagement with stakeholders? Has the board had any engagement with stakeholders? If so, have any procedural or policy issues been identified in light of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Charities Regulatory Authority: Chairman-Designate (1 Jul 2015)

Katherine Zappone: This committee has a sub-committee on human rights that has been taking a look at the possible inclusion of human rights organisations in the definition of a charitable organisation. Does Mr. Hopkins have any comment to make about that?

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Joint Sub-Committee on Human Rights relative to Justice and Equality Matters: Charities Act 2009 and Advancement of Human Rights: Discussion (24 Jun 2015)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the witnesses for their terrific presentations, which are very helpful to us. In light of what Dr. Breen has said, am I correct in understanding that in order to ensure the full, positive impact of including human rights organisations as charitable bodies in terms of the law, it would also be useful to consider changing that section relating to the Revenue Commission? Would she...

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Joint Sub-Committee on Human Rights relative to Justice and Equality Matters: Charities Act 2009 and Advancement of Human Rights: Discussion (24 Jun 2015)

Katherine Zappone: I understand that the issues pertaining to the Revenue Commissioners were contained or referenced in the Charities Act 2009. Is that correct? Would those issues would need to be addressed in the relevant tax legislation or could they be addressed by amending the Act?

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Joint Sub-Committee on Human Rights relative to Justice and Equality Matters: Charities Act 2009 and Advancement of Human Rights: Discussion (24 Jun 2015)

Katherine Zappone: If we recommended the inclusion of human rights organisations in the definition of "charitable" would anything else need to be changed in the Act to make it consonant with that new definition?

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Joint Sub-Committee on Human Rights relative to Justice and Equality Matters: Charities Act 2009 and Advancement of Human Rights: Discussion (24 Jun 2015)

Katherine Zappone: Amnesty was the first organisation to take up the case. Is that organisation recognised as a charity under the law as it stands?

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Joint Sub-Committee on Human Rights relative to Justice and Equality Matters: Charities Act 2009 and Advancement of Human Rights: Discussion (24 Jun 2015)

Katherine Zappone: It established independent legal entities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Global Resettlement Needs and Related Matters: UNHCR (24 Jun 2015)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Ms Magennis for her presentation. I have looked forward to her attendance as she has always helped the committee a lot to reflect on these matters. Her presentation and paper has conveyed good news about progress, particularly on the way Ireland has responded as well as what is going on in Europe. As Ms Magennis said, such developments are to be commended and marked. Clearly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Global Resettlement Needs and Related Matters: UNHCR (24 Jun 2015)

Katherine Zappone: Is that okay?