Results 161-180 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

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

Averil Power: I thank Senator van Turnhout for putting her comments on record. Like the Minister, I attended a recent conference on this Bill at which Dr. Geoffrey Shannon spoke. He was clear on the issue. He made the point that it was doubtful that the shape of families mattered and that what was important was the stability of the relationship. He stated that this was what the research said. He...

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

Averil Power: That is absolutely not what the Senator is doing. I would like to hear her opinion on amendment No. 112, which is important.

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

Averil Power: Yes. My only concern is that we address these issues discreetly. It is important that we hear the alternative opinions as we go through the amendments so that we can weigh them up and vote on them at the time.

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

Averil Power: I have some sympathy-----

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

Averil Power: I have some sympathy for where Senator Healy Eames is coming from on amendment No. 112-----

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

Averil Power: -----but it would be more appropriate to discuss the issue when we reach that amendment.

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

Averil Power: My concern is that people will be voting on amendment No. 112 who have not heard the remarks that have been made about it during our debate on amendment No. 2. On serious legislation like this Bill, it would be more appropriate and efficient were we to discuss the relevant issues as we go through the amendments. It will be confusing if we have general debates only to repeat the points on...

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

Averil Power: Yes.

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

Averil Power: As has been mentioned, we have assisted human reproduction, AHR, including donor-assisted human reproduction, DAHR. It is not regulated. I have concerns about DAHR in particular. I have tabled amendments on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group to ensure greater rights to identity for people conceived through that process, to try to improve the Bill as much as possible and to address the...

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

Averil Power: I just ask that Senators keep to the individual amendments so that we can hear their opinions at the relevant time, engage with the arguments and weigh them. I assure Senators that I will be open-minded when listening to what they have to say. It would be more constructive if we followed the procedures of the House and engaged with the appropriate issues instead of making general speeches...

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

Averil Power: The Chair has already stated that Members are entitled to express their views.

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

Averil Power: I wish to respond to Senator Walsh's suggestion that this Bill is being progressed for one reason only. The subtext to his contribution is that said reason relates to the marriage equality referendum. The legislation before the House has been in the offing for ten years. As previously stated, many children who have been born through assisted human reproduction - mainly to heterosexual...

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

Averil Power: If that is the Senator's only point, it is perfectly fine.

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

Averil Power: Senator Mullen was responding to me but I will address my comments through the Chair.

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

Averil Power: No. The point had been made several times but it had not been rebutted. I intervened because I wanted to rebut it. The legislation is being misrepresented not just in the House but also outside. Many people following the debate in the media in respect of it would be of the view that it is a same-sex adoption Bill or that it has something to do with same-sex relationships.The proportion of...

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

Averil Power: On the issue of anonymous donation, while I have great sympathy with the motivation behind the amendments, we need to strike a balance because people who are born through donor assisted human reproduction have an entitlement to their identity. The adoption laws have done untold damage to many Irish people because they have operated under a veil of secrecy that has resulted in people being...

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

Averil Power: I support this amendment, which is a good example of the benefit of the House having as a Member a doctor who is experienced in this area. It is a very sensible suggestion.

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

Averil Power: Will the Minister elaborate more on the directed donation? How would a situation of a relationship breakdown where one person out of spite would seek to influence this decision or where one person has passed away, as Senator Norris stated, be dealt with?

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

Averil Power: The purpose of the amendment is to deal with situations where there is not the consent of both. That is why I was wondering how the directed donation would get around that.

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

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 12: In page 16, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:“(iv) understands that the child will be contacted by the Minister upon reaching the age of 18 years to advise her/him of her/his rights under this legislation. (v) agrees to provide the information outlined in section 24 about the donor’s occupation, hobbies and interests throughout the...