Results 6,921-6,940 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I second the amendment. I support the group of amendments and Senator Hayes's comments. There would be more faith in the outcome of the commissions of investigation if they had a mandate from both sides of the House not just through adopting resolutions put by the Government, but by having an input into the terms of reference and the setting up of the commissions.

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 8: In page 12, line 34, after "evidence" to insert "and, where evidence adverse to the good name of such a person is disclosed under subsection (1), the commission shall not rely on or disclose such evidence in a report unless the person concerned has had an opportunity to challenge such evidence by cross-examination and by presenting contrary evidence whether written or...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 16: In page 25, to delete lines 31 to 36 and substitute the following: "(a) inform the person that it intends to amend the report, including by omitting any part of the report based on evidence received without observing fair procedures, and give the person an opportunity, if desired, to apply to the Court pursuant to subsection (1)(b), (b) apply to the Court for...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for dealing with the legislation. It introduces an important measure. I ask the Government to be open to amending the legislation, if necessary, if we find there are problems regarding its implementation down the line.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: We have co-sponsored the amendments, although Senator O'Toole is more proficient than me in the Irish language. The purpose of amendment No. 16 is to ensure the necessary resources are more likely to be provided if they are identified.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 17: In page 10, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following subsection: "(7) Where an assessment carried out in accordance with this section establishes that the child concerned has an educational disability, the Health Board or Council as the case may be shall, within one month from the preparation of the assessment, cause a plan to be prepared for the appropriate...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: The Minister of State's reply relates to time but I do not see anything in the section requiring the education plan itself to be carried out. Perhaps I am mistaken but I have read through this and it does not appear to be a requirement in the same way as in section 3(5).

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 18: In page 10, subsection (1), lines 32 and 33, after "persons" to insert "shall include the parents of the child and an independent advocate for the child and". This amendment is similar to others we have tabled. It seeks to ensure that the parents are involved at all stages and that there should be an independent advocacy service for children with educational...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 21: In page 12, subsection (1), line 9, after "education" to insert "within one month from the assessment". The amendment provides for a time limit for the provision of services after the assessment. That is not in the section as it stands and we feel it is important that services are provided within a timely period, which is why we suggest one month from the assessment.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 22: I leathanach 12, idir línte 20 and 21, an fo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach: "(4) In the case of a child whose home language is not English, the Council shall ensure that services will be provided in the home language of that child and account shall be taken of the child's cultural background.". This amendment is similar to the amendments that have already been...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 23: In page 13, subsection (1), lines 1 and 2, to delete all words from and including "The" in line 1 down to and including "school" in line 2 and substitute "Where an assessment is prepared in relation to a child, the person causing the assessment to be prepared, shall inform the Council of the preparation of the assessment, and upon the Council being informed". The...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 6: In page 7, subsection (2), line 36, after "concerned" to insert ", unless he or she is of the opinion that measures open to him or her are unlikely to meet the educational needs of the child, in which case the principal shall request the Council to prepare an education plan under section 7 in respect of the child". The way in which the Bill is worded at present means...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: What is the position when parents do not request the council to prepare the plan? Section 3(1)(a) refers to parents notifying the principal; however, section 3(1)(b) states that the principal can form an opinion in respect of a student. What is the position in this case? Irrespective of what the parents decide to do, surely the principal should be able to make a decision, as is the case under...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: It still seems that the principal has to go through the motions because he or she knows it will not have any effect. He or she must still implement subsection (3) before seeking an assessment. That is my understanding of the section as it is worded.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I support Senator Burke's amendments. While the Minister of State has argued they are not required, they would add to the legislation and make it clear that what we are talking about is a plan for the individual's needs. The inclusion of these amendments would underpin the intention of the legislation and reinforce the idea of individual rights as regards the educational needs of a child.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Section 4(6) refers to an assessment for the purposes of this section and goes on to explain it while section 3(3) refers to the principal arranging for an assessment but it does not link the two. I thought that, perhaps, it was contained in the definitions but it is not. Senator Burke is concerned with continuity in the legislation. While "assessment" is defined in section 4(6), the...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 10: In page 8, subsection (9)(a), line 31, to delete "child," and substitute "child are involved in the preparation of the plan in a spirit of partnership and". The purpose of this amendment is to change the role of parents from being that of persons who are simply consulted to persons centrally involved in the preparation of a plan in a spirit of partnership. As...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: The way the legislation is worded gives rights to parents but they are limited rights. Parents can request an assessment or there are certain decisions they can appeal when an education plan is drawn up. I will deal with this point later, but parents cannot appeal in regard to the contents of an education plan in terms of what is required by the student, although they can appeal in regard to...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 13: In page 10, subsection (5), lines 7 to 9, to delete paragraph (a). This amendment is to strengthen the parents' role by reducing the power to refuse an assessment. I would like to hear the Minister's comments on it.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 14: In page 10, subsection (6), line 13, to delete "section" and substitute "Act". This amendment is related to the point I raised earlier. It is incorrect for subsection (6), as it is now worded, to read "An assessment for the purposes of this section...". It should read "An assessment for the purposes of this Act...". Alternatively, "assessment" should have been defined...