Results 481-500 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Accreditation for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Facility in Bahrain: Discussion (27 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: Yes. Does Dr. Ó Cuinn want us to write to NUI as well? Does he suggest that we just write to the Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Accreditation for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Facility in Bahrain: Discussion (27 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: This is a very serious issue and the committee should be concerned about it. It not only affects the reputation of the RCSI in Bahrain and here, but also the reputation of Irish education. Education is something we are trying to market to other countries and its reputation should not be in doubt. The witness has made the main points. I was in Bahrain with an Irish delegation of doctors,...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Adult Education (20 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I strongly welcome the acknowledgement in the Minister's response of the need to adjust the general scheme of the Bill to ensure there are no unintended consequences for the plc courses. At least it shows there is an awareness in the Department that there are issues. I appreciate also his reassurance that those issues will be addressed before the legislation is finalised. I reiterate that...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Adult Education (20 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to take this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I have tabled the matter on behalf of the adult and further education committee of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, NAPD. The NAPD is concerned about the draft scheme of the education (admission to schools) Bill 2013 and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Back-to-School Costs and Schoolbook Rental Schemes: Discussion (13 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I will be brief. I wish to ask one question and make a comment. Much of the debate has been around a form of words which were used in a report. It is important that this is done in a collegiate way. It is fair to acknowledge that it is not the committee's job to fund schools but it is its job to give a balanced report of why schools are in the present situation. We need to work on...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: Fianna Fáil is strongly opposed to this section of the legislation. While I acknowledge changes were introduced under the previous Government for a reduced rate of payment for 18 and 19-year olds, there was a good rationale for that because it is not right that someone would go straight from school onto the dole. Unfortunately, there is a history in many areas of intergenerational...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: That is 1% of the cohort.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: Fianna Fáil is strongly opposed to section 5. For the second year in a row, working mothers have been targeted for huge cuts in maternity benefit. Last year, the payment was taxed for the first time with the result that many women lost an incredible €2,700 over the course of one maternity leave period of 26 weeks. In this Bill, the payment is being cut by €32 per week...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: If I may respond directly on that point before Senator Mooney asks about another issue, the crucial point is that the income will be subject to tax but the Minister is not providing for disregards from the PRSI liability in the way she does from income tax. That is the gap, and it is a huge gap because the reality is that somebody who does not pay any income tax on their rental property...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I wish to respond to the point made by the Minister that PAYE is paid on employment income. I agree but I still think that is quite different from somebody who makes a loss on a rental property. At least with employment every euro one gets is extra and there is no question of losing money. As I pointed out, what is being done in this provision is different from the existing code for income...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Averil Power: I support Senator Mooney's amendments. I want to speak about PRSI on rental income. The Bill as drafted would require people to pay PRSI on income and not profit. While capital expenditure, mortgage interest, etc. can be deducted for income tax purposes before paying the income tax aspect of it, I understand the PRSI will need to be paid on income. Let us not forget that the vast majority...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and the written submissions we read in advance of the meeting. A very strong case has been presented on the various issues, but especially on the fact that the forced divorce provisions are not only legally unnecessary but could be in breach of the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR. I read Dr. Fergus Ryan's paper in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: Perhaps I should have asked Dr. Ryan to elaborate on annulment as well because that is important. The issue arises that a person might not be able to get a divorce or an annulment.

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I welcome the opportunity to hear what Senator Conway had to say before rising to my feet. I thank Senators van Turnhout, Mac Conghail and Zappone for taking the initiative to table the motion during their Private Members' time. I also commend Senators van Turnhout and Ó Clochartaigh for their work on the issue for some time. The two Senators approached me and other Members a long...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: To pick up briefly on the issue, there is no prohibition on sharing the Attorney General's advice, although I know it is not standard practice. There is a massive gap between sharing the full advice and giving us one line indicating that there is a constitutional context which prevents something happening. As I initially outlined, there is strong legal opinion on the other side; this is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I thank all of our guests for their initial contributions. I welcome the Bill. I commend the Minister, Deputy Burton, on being the first Minister to introduce legislation in this area. It is important to acknowledge that before we begin to critique the Bill. I concur with the concern expressed by Deputy Ó Snodaigh about a number of provisions in the Bill. All transgender people...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: The Minister did not indicate when the legislation would come before the House.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: Does the Minister mean this winter session or this year?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: Does the Bill have to be enacted between now and the end of 2013?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (17 Oct 2013)

Averil Power: I appreciate that. The Leader indicated yesterday that the Bill would come before the House early next year but it will be before the end of December. That is helpful. I thank the Minister.