Results 241-260 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: The Minister of State referred to what is in the best interests of the child. Both of our amendments are based on providing for what is in the best interests of the child. Amendment No. 25 makes it very clear that a court can only grant a gender recognition certificate to a person under the age of 16 if it is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the child. The parents will also...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: We need to have a system that can examine the individual needs and best interests of the child and consider what is best for them. Instead the Minister of State is bringing in a blanket ban on all children. He is saying that in no circumstances whatsoever can this be granted, no matter how sure the parents are, how sure the young person is or how satisfied the court is that this is the best...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Who commissioned the report that led to this Bill?

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: No, amendments Nos. 35 to 39 are grouped. Amendment No. 38 ensures schools will be told the young person should be supported in terms of how he or she is addressed and is entitled to use the preferred name and gender, that person will be permitted to wear the uniform or clothing appropriate to the preferred gender and entitled to use the facilities appropriate to the gender. This is...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I understand what the Minister of State is saying about introducing separate amendments to different Bills covering incitement to hatred legislation, education legislation and others. The unfortunate point then is that we will have to wait for separate Bills to come through. There is no reason it cannot be done here. Is the Minister of State saying that this cannot be included for legal...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Is that a political decision or legislative constraint?

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 36: In page 29, after line 28, to insert the following: “Amendment of Education Act 1998 38. The Education Act 1998 is amended by the insertion of the following after section 37:“37A. (1)In this section ‘a person to whom this section applies’ means a person whose preferred gender is different from the gender assigned to the person at birth,...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I refer to amendment No. 36. It is a Fianna Fáil amendment to amend the Education Act 1998. I also second the amendments proposed by Senators Craughwell, Zappone and van Turnhout concerning public facilities. It is important, regardless of whether people have a gender recognition certificate, that they have full access to public services and the support they need in education and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Syrian Conflict (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Although he said that Ireland and the EU have been pushing for an end to the violence and a transition to representative government, there is no sign of that getting anywhere. It is not something that has been getting any international attention. As a result, there is very little faith. I have met with Syrian representatives here in Ireland...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Syrian Conflict (10 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I am interested in hearing what Ireland and the EU are doing to help bring about an end to the conflict in Syria, to stop Assad's aerial bombardment of civilians, to ensure food aid is getting through and to assist refugees fleeing their homes in terror. I also take this opportunity to stress the need for the international community to help address the root causes of the conflict and secure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I apologise for not being present for the HEA's initial presentations although I caught some of them on the monitor upstairs. I have a few questions that have not yet been touched on. The witnesses might provide members with more detail in respect of the growing concern that there may be a shortage of places for the next third level year. The concern is that students will be either unable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I prefer to take notes. They are of more use to me later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: It is anticipated that 216,000 places are needed, but how many of those will be funded?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Is the funding the same as for the current year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: Is there any Government commitment on the funding?

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: If indeed there is going to be a requirement for medical evaluation, then I would support the amendments tabled by Senator Zappone that it should include the GP as the person who has the most regular contact with a young person. From a young person's viewpoint, it will also be a much more supportive environment if the GP is somebody with whom he or she has had a professional relationship...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I was also very disappointed by the Minister of State's response. I am also disappointed that we get the impression that there is unlikely to be any movement on the key issues we have identified - those of the age criteria, the medical criteria and the forced divorce requirement - where Members have issues with the Bill. That is unfortunate because on this Stage and on Second Stage voices...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I have raised this issue at length on Second Stage, so I will not repeat everything I said then. I share the concerns raised. Under the legislation, there is no system whatsoever or arrangement by which somebody under 16 can obtain a general recognition certificate. The process for those over 16 is incredibly cumbersome. It will be next to impossible for many young people to satisfy the...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I spoke at length on Second Stage so I will not repeat those points. There are many amendments to be discussed, and I will address the specific issues later in the debate. I support the amendment tabled by Senator Zappone for the reasons already outlined. We should examine this again two years hence, particularly the forced divorce criteria. I hope it will be revisited much earlier in...

Seanad: Universities (Development and Innovation) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: The higher education sector in Ireland is at a crossroads. In recent decades there has been a major increase in participation at third level. It is hugely positive that third level education is now within the reach of communities and families in a way that it was not before as a result of having extra places in third level colleges and new pathways other than the CAO, Central Applications...