Results 7,121-7,140 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: There will be those over 70 years in paid employment who are tax contributors and who will be treated differently from those under 70 on the basis of gross rather than net income. I heard this referenced in the consideration of the Bill on Second Stage. I listened carefully to the Minister's reply on that occasion. It is a question of understanding why the Minister lowered the qualifying...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: A Chathaoirligh, make no mistake, it will have such an effect.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: No, that is not the case.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I am speaking on the Bill. Make no mistake about it, a Chathaoirligh.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Chairman, you cannot just pick what you like about what I have to say, although I am sure that is damn little in terms of what I have put on the record so far, but the fact of the matter is-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: -----I would far prefer, as I have indicated to the Minister already on the floor of the Dáil, that I would be able to say that I welcome such a step, proposal or measure. I have shown and demonstrated time after time that I am an Opposition Deputy willing and prepared to do that when it is merited. That is what disappoints me most of all. I would like to be in that situation. The...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I oppose not only this section but each of the two subsequent sections. I am absolutely opposed to the legislation in its entirety. It is not amendable in any shape or form. It was a great disappointment to me because I was very happy to record my support for the provision of free GP care for all children aged five and under as announced in the recent budget. This was something I...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: One could pick any of the other functions set out in the Bill and say "that is implicit". For whom is the message designed? Is it really designed for the board of the new agency? Is it designed for those who will be working at the helm or the coalface in terms of the agency's 4,000 employees on its establishment? It is definitely also designed for public reassurance. There can be no...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It must be evident to the Minister and to all concerned that the legislation to which she refers has been in place yet some of the instances of inequality and discrimination are more contemporary than the legislation's passage. It has not actually made the critical difference. It is important that in the functions of this new agency we emphasise and lay down a clear marker and indicator...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister refers to local variation and need. High standards of consistency, which would be required if the subsection were amended, do not disallow flexibility in response to given circumstances which can and will present. The Minister's comments suggest, for the first time, that inconsistency is what she wishes to provide for. The only logical conclusion one can draw from her...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 6:In page 13, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:“(6) In the performance of its functions, the Agency shall have regard to the principles of equality and non-discrimination.”.The amendment proposes to insert a new subsection in the section setting out the functions of the new agency. The principles of equality and non-discrimination must be...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: If I could make one comment-----

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: If ensuring the prevention of harm to a child is deemed to represent a potential charge on the Exchequer, shame on all of us.

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 5:In page 13, line 10, to delete "and accountability" and substitute ", accountability and consistency".The intent behind this amendment is to change section 8(5) which relates to the functions of the agency and currently reads, "The Agency shall, in the performance of its functions, demonstrate high standards of performance, transparency and accountability". I want to...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I absolutely disagree. It certainly does need to be explicitly stated in the legislation. The Minister used the word "consistent" not only in reference to the amendment, as presented, but also with regard to her expectations in terms of the agency's performance. Consistency flowed out naturally, yet it is not stated in the text as a requirement. Inconsistency in the approach to children...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 3:In page 12, line 15, to delete "families" and substitute the following:"all families and the role of parents or guardians therein as integral to the achievement of paragraph (b) above".I seek an amendment to section 8(1)(c), which reads "support and encourage the effective functioning of families". This is one of the specified functions of the new agency, but the...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We both cited the explanation of the term "family" from the opening pages of the Bill. The truth is that it is under the explanation of the word "couple" that we find a much more explicit reference to the understanding of family, in terms of a married couple; civil partners within the meaning of Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act; a man and woman who are...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We battled on this on Committee Stage and the Minister does not intend to change her view. I believe strongly that the National Education Welfare Board is an integral part - one of the three elements - of the new agency. The new agency brings together three different and separate entities. It is imperative that we reference educational welfare among the functions of the agency. It is not...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I have no issue with the Minister's amendment. She has explained it to me in some detail in recent days and I accept it.

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 2:In page 12, line 14, after “the” to insert “educational welfare,”.The Minister knows I believe it is very important that when the functions of the agency are specified regarding supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children, educational welfare be explicitly stated in the functions of the agency within the...