Results 12,341-12,360 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea
- Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)
Willie O'Dea: I am happy to accept this amendment, which I believe improves the text of the Bill. I thank Senator Tuffy and her drafting advisers.
- Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)
Willie O'Dea: Frankly, I did not understand the thinking behind the amendment although the Senator has now explained it. I believe the situation she is worried about is addressed. I will give her the official response and we may discuss it further if she wishes. The purpose of this section of the Act is to make the employee's job secure while absent from work on adoptive or additional leave. This section...
- Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)
Willie O'Dea: They say that an open confession is good for the soul. I confess that we got it wrong and I accept both amendments. I thank Senator Tuffy.
- Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)
Willie O'Dea: When we try to process legislation and publish it as quickly as possible, I am told there are vacancies in the Parliamentary Counsel's office. Perhaps I could speak to Senator Tuffy afterwards about that because she has it right again and I accept the amendment.
- Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)
Willie O'Dea: I take Senator Tuffy's point in regard to amendment No. 15. The main objective of the legislation is to amend the Adoptive Leave Act. It has to amend the 1995 Act in any event. However, in the Long Title to a Bill we must describe accurately everything the Bill does, in so far as we can. The Bill before us amends the Unfair Dismissals Act and also the redundancy payments legislation....
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: The Government's commitment to producing a disability Bill was part of the programme agreed with the social partners in Sustaining Progress, and that commitment will be met. The concept of partnership which underpins various national agreements has also been a feature of the preparation of this Bill, which has as its focus the participation of people with disabilities in society. It was...
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: The personal advocate will assist, support and represent the person in applying for and obtaining a social service and will help pursue any right of review or appeal in connection with that service. It is intended that outline sectoral plans will be published at the same time as the disability Bill. As I mentioned, the plans are intended to set out a range of actions to make physical...
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: There has been much debate on the question of rights-based legislation, the complexities of which the Minister for Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, has already addressed. The Bill will establish entitlements to assessment of need, to services set out in a related service statement and to redress if the assessment or the services are not provided. The Bill cannot ignore the reality that funding...
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: The Government is committed to publishing a disability Bill at the earliest possible date.
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: I do not accept the allegations of a delay. There is no plot to delay the Bill. There is real work taking place across a range of Departments to deliver two Bills â the disability Bill and the Comhairle (amendment) Bill â and six draft sectoral plans. The issues involved are complex and cut across a broad range of policy areas. The Bill remains a Government priority and it will be...
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: What about the preceding five years, during which the Deputy's party was in power?
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: The Deputy's party was in power for five. The Deputy had his chance.
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: It cut funding for the disabled.
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: I hate listening to hypocrisy.
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: It is hypocrisy.
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: And the five years before them.
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: The same as Deputy Quinn.
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: What about Deputy Quinn?
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: You had five years.
- Rights of People with Disabilities: Motion. (18 May 2004)
Willie O'Dea: If the Deputy's party did as much as it did previously, they are better off.