Results 881-900 of 1,150 for speaker:Frank Fahey

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: A total of €800 million has been invested over the past five years.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: The Senator has not succeeded yet.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: The evidence is people are taking unpaid parental leave.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: There has been a considerable increase in the numbers availing of the term time provision during the summer and so on.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: It is incorrect to state unpaid parental leave is a major disadvantage. This legislation is a step forward. It was negotiated with the social partners and I do not want it to be seen in the completely negative light it is being seen in the House. We should dwell on its positive aspects. The legislation meets a demand and many people are availing of parental leave. While we would all like...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: We have examined this amendment carefully and tried to establish exactly what Senator O'Toole has in mind. Now that he has spoken about it, I feel even more strongly that to amend the Bill as proposed would not be in its interest. Section 7(1)(b) already offers employers and employees a great deal of flexibility in how parental leave may be taken. This flexibility is enhanced by section...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: Before speaking on Senator White's amendment I would like to advise the House that it is intended to propose a Government amendment on Report Stage to section 2 of the Bill at page 4, line 3. An unintentional anomaly has just come to light in the case of the upper age limit for adopted children and this needs to be corrected. As regards Senator White's amendment, section 2(2)(c) of the Bill...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: I will check the matter out.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: Always act logically.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: The reality is that choices need to be made. Senators Norris and O'Toole mentioned force majeure leave and the need for parental leave when children are hurt in accidents or are ill. As I stated, the parent is entitled to take time off under the force majeure provisions of the principal Act. Both Senators Norris and O'Toole referred to force majeure leave for same-sex couples. The parental...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: No.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: I thank all the Senators who contributed to a very useful and interesting debate. I take on board all the points that have been made. All of us, particularly those who are parents, would have a natural inclination to have the maximum amount of parental leave paid at the highest possible rate. In reality we must strike a balance on the matter. The issue was debated at great length in the...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: It is fair to say that it is a question of resources and of agreement between the social partners. We have come quite a long way and I am the first to accept that we have a long way to go, but a balance must be struck. Senator Terry's proposal has significant cost implications. Everything goes when one is in Opposition, but if Fine Gael were in Government tomorrow, choices would have to be...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Frank Fahey: The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 amends the Parental Leave Act 1998 to implement a Government commitment in the Sustaining Progress social partnership agreement. This commitment is to strengthen the parental leave scheme in line with the agreed recommendations of the social partners arising from the working group on the review and improvement of the Parental Leave Act 1998. The...

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (27 Jan 2005)

Frank Fahey: I will come to Clare.

Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (26 Jan 2005)

Frank Fahey: An election would address it.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: With the good Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform currently in office, Senator Cummins can be assured that when the legislation is passed, he will not have to wait long for the Minister to implement the provisions of the Bill. With regard to Senator Tuffy's point on the indiscretion of personal searches, this is exactly what might happen to the Senator or I in any shopping centre in...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: They have powers to search and maintain levels of security in shopping centres. These powers are clearly set out.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: The question marks being placed by both Members over the security industry are unreasonable and unfair.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: We are lucky to have a significant private security industry employing thousands across the country. They do excellent work in guarding property, shopping centres, hospitals and public and private institutions. To reflect negatively on those companies, which are highly professional, in the way Members have is very unfair. Those companies will tender--——