Results 181-200 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: To respond to Senator Mullen's comments, I already have outlined earlier in the debate that I have some misgivings about donor-assisted human reproduction. However, I also accept it is a reality. I accept there now are many children who have been born through this process and who need to know who are the parents. Members cannot ignore this social reality and people deserve to have their...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: On a point of order, I think I did, to be fair.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I said I disagreed equally with both Members, with both perspectives.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I want to respond to the clarification that my Seanad colleague has just given. He said he has sympathy with those using the assisted procedure on the grounds of infertility. Perhaps he might clarify further. I think it is clear from the pretext. He said he would reserve the word "commodification" for others. By that he means he has no difficulty in terms of heterosexual couples who...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I am not happy with qualification.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: The Minister has given her response to amendment No. 22. I have not yet spoken to it. Earlier, I referred to the general issue of a donor-conceived person having access to as much information as possible on his or her genetic history. As the Minister stated, much of this information is already collected by the clinics. For that reason, I do not accept that it would deter donations....

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I raise an issue I have written to the Minister about previously. I am concerned about the fact that the Bill does nothing to assist those born prior to the legislation with known donor sperm or those conceived outside the State in foreign clinics when the procedure has been carried out outside the State. I wrote to the Minister about the concern but I have not yet received a response. I...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I would like to respond. I understand that an issue arises where there is a dispute. If there is a dispute about whether the donor is an intentional parent or is disputing the fact of being only a donor, this would be a difficulty for the courts to decide on. However, in situations where the known donor, albeit in an arrangements that preceded the act, donated with the intention of only...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 20: In page 24, after line 39, to insert the following:“(4) In proceedings related to this section, section 22 and any other proceedings in relation to parentage, the court may, by order, do either or both of the following:(a) give such directions as it thinks proper for the purpose of procuring from an expert a report in writing on any question affecting the...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 21: In page 27, line 17, to delete “The” where it firstly occurs and substitute the following: “In accordance with the ‘best interests’ principle as set out in Part V of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (as amended by this Act), the”.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 22: In page 27, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:(f) a photograph; (g) the contact details of a person who has consented to be contacted for family information in the event of the donor's death; (h) his or her occupation; (i) his or her education level and what was studied; (j) his or her hobbies and interests; (k) his or her parents' and...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 41: In page 35, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(5) In the case of children and adults born as a result of a DAHR procedure that was performed before the date on which this section comes into operation, the Minister shall—(a) permit persons who provided a gamete or embryo that was used in a DAHR procedure that resulted in the birth of...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I will reflect on it before Report Stage.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 47: In page 35, line 36, after “birth” to insert the following:“, medical history, including information in respect of any serious genetically-inherited illnesses that run in their family”.This amendment aims to ensure that medical information is available for donor-conceived children. It is important that people conceived through this...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister for removing the reference to "well-being". I had raised that matter directly with the Minister when she briefed me and Senator van Turnhout prior to the introduction of the legislation. I appreciate that and will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: No. I do not wish to withdraw amendment No. 47. I withdrew the earlier amendment on safety.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: Fianna Fáil strongly supports the legislation before the House today. We held a vote at our Ard-Fheis in 2012 where our members endorsed equal marriage for same-sex couples. They also voted in favour of equal adoption rights for same-sex couples. As a republican party, we believe in equality for all citizens, be they male or female, black or white, gay or straight. It is a core...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: -----regardless of whether it is reflective of where anyone stands on an issue. In spite of the fact that all political parties, major children's rights organisations, human rights organisations, trade unions, medical organisations and every type of civil society group are in favour, media debates look as though it is an issue on which people are equally divided. People constantly tell me...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: As things stand, gay people can adopt. As of today, they can only do so as individuals, which only penalises the children, because when a couple adopts and only one of the parents has a legal relationship with the child, that is damaging for the child because it does not give him or her a legal connection and support from the second parent. Under the family law Bill that is currently going...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Averil Power: Those judgments have done untold damage to us as a society. They have done untold damage to families in the past and they have done untold damage to children. It is time we put all of that prejudice behind us and ensured that all families, regardless of their shape, get equal support and recognition. I wish to deal with one other red herring, namely, assisted human reproduction, AHR....