Results 7,121-7,140 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: It is being withdrawn, but I ask the Minister to look at it again.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 11: In page 19, before line 1, to insert the following: 26.—Section 69 of the Act of 1998 is amended by the addition of the following subsection after subsection (6)— '(6A) Where an employer fails to have an equality action plan (irrespective of whether he or she had been required pursuant to this section to have such a plan) it shall be presumed until the contrary is...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 12: In page 21, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: "(a) by the deletion of subsection (2),". This is a resubmission of an amendment tabled on Committee Stage. The amendment seeks to delete the provision that a discriminatory dismissal should go to the Labour Court rather than the equality tribunal. There is a large body of opinion that the equality tribunal...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 13: In page 21, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: "(b) by the insertion in subsection (3) after 'Equal Treatment Directive' of 'or any other Directive referred to in the Title to the Equality Act 2004, '. This amendment was tabled on Committee Stage. It is our contention that the Bill as phrased is contrary to EU law and does not take into account the...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 14: In page 29, lines 26 and 27, to delete "(other than a separate and self-contained part)". This amendment was tabled on Committee Stage. I argue that the Minister of State should agree to delete the phrase because it does not do what he intends it to do. It is an illogical part of the paragraph and does not need to be included. There are other ways of addressing the...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister of State for his comments. I welcome this legislation and the Minister of State's explanations regarding why he would not accept the amendments tabled by the Labour Party Senators. I ask him to consider some of them again in the Dáil. I thank the Minister of State for accepting my party's technical amendment. The Labour Party feels very strongly about this important area...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I extend my sympathies to those affected by the tragic accident at the weekend involving Dublin Bus, some of whom were from my area, and I welcome the investigation which CIE will hold. Without pre-empting that, however, we need to debate the issue of traffic and transport needs and what action is needed, particularly by the Minister for Transport. This involves several stakeholders, apart...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (19 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I will not say much about this issue as it is self-explanatory. It is of particular interest to Deputies and Senators because we can no longer make comments about planning issues at council meetings. We are now charged a fee for submissions made in respect of planning applications.

Seanad: Revenue Commissioners: Motion. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I wish to raise the issue of tax reliefs. The chairman of the Revenue Commissioners was quoted recently as saying that in extreme cases exploiting legal tax loopholes is not very different from a guilty man walking free because of a legal technicality. Despite those remarks, the recent Finance Bill introduced a number of new tax shelters and reliefs which will benefit the very wealthy. The...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 19: In page 18, before section 26, to insert the following new section: 26.—Section 69 of the Act of 1998 is amended by the addition of the following subsection after subsection (6)— '(6A) Where an employer fails to have an equality action plan (irrespective of whether he or she had been required pursuant to this section to have such a plan) it shall be presumed until...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I will not press it but I would like the Minister to consider the point I have raised in order that we might have some way of encouraging employers to have such measures in place to a greater degree than they are being encouraged to do so at present.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 21: In page 20, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following new paragraph: "(a) by the definition of subsection (2),". In this amendment we are deleting the provision that a discriminatory dismissal goes to the Labour Court and not the Equality Tribunal. There is a groundswell of opinion that the tribunal should have jurisdiction. I would like to hear the Minister of...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 22: In page 20, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following new paragraph: "(b) by the insertion in subsection (3) after 'Equal Treatment Directive' of 'or any other Directive referred to in the Title to the Equality Act 2004,'". The background to this Labour Party amendment is that EU law provides that where there is a breach of a directive, there must be a right to...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 24: In page 29, lines 10 and 11, to delete "(other than a separate and self-contained part)". This amendment seeks the deletion of the words "other than a separate and self-contained part". I wonder if that provision has been thought through. What does it mean? Does it, for example, relate to a granny flat or to a granny flat with a separate entrance? An extension to...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I am not happy with the Minister of State's response. He gave the example of bed and breakfast accommodation. Such a service could be provided in a house that is not self-contained. I am aware of situations where bed and breakfast is provided in a room of a house with the person sharing the bathroom with others. Such accommodation would not be covered by this provision. Does this provision...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I will withdraw the amendment and ask that the Minister of State look at it again.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 25: In page 29, line 11, after "home," to insert "or in the circumstances". The Minister responded to this amendment earlier. I am not sure its intention is as the Minister perceives it. Acceptance of the amendment would result in a better phrasing of the sentence. It is not our intention that the provision would apply outside the home. Our amendment tries to protect the...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I support Senator Henry in terms of what she is asking the Minister of State to do. I understand his explanation that we must differentiate and we already do so because we charge much higher fees to overseas students. It goes without saying that the process could not be open-ended. However, Senator Henry is correct. My county council allows people with certain residency requirements to go on...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 28: In page 30, lines 34 and 35, to delete "under the Aliens Order 1946 (S R & O No. 395 of 1946)" and substitute "or deemed to have been appointed under the Immigration Act 2004". The purpose of this amendment is obvious. We have just passed the Immigration Act 2004 and this Bill should reflect that fact.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 30: In page 5, lines 24 and 25, to delete "IN PART". This amendment is proposed because the 2001 regulations were repealed in their totality. To say that they were repealed in part is incorrect.