Results 1-20 of 561 for speaker:John Dolan

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2016)

John Dolan: First, I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and the Leader of the House. I wish them both, as well as all Members, well. While they may have different views, they all are a family in respect of the work they are committed to doing as part of the Oireachtas. I wish to take a moment to remember a former member of this House with whom I became very friendly many years ago, namely, Joe Doyle, and...

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (16 Jun 2016)

John Dolan: I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his appointment yesterday. As the lone male member of the Civil Engagement group, I join with Senator Conway-Walsh in welcoming a female Minister to the House. At her opening words about "getting people back to work," my jaw dropped. The paragraph picked up at the end when she said "all people can participate ... to their full potential". The...

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (16 Jun 2016)

John Dolan: I am being asked to come to a-----

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (16 Jun 2016)

John Dolan: I am being asked to round it up in that sense and I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. A robust model of sustainable employment needs a few things. Ireland has a worldwide reputation and relationships, which is a soft but valuable asset. The ambition must be for employment for all. Dependable and comprehensive public services are also needed. I refer to the economic and the social and that...

Seanad: Health: Statements (21 Jun 2016)

John Dolan: The Government must adhere to the timeline for ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the end of this year. Work is being done on the legal and legislative changes required for ratification. In parallel, implementation planning is needed for the urgent restoration of practical measures such as home supports, personal assistance,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: UN Conventions Ratification (22 Jun 2016)

John Dolan: I am delighted to join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the Minister of State. I am particularly pleased that for the first time we have a Minister of State at the Cabinet table looking at the issue of inclusion for people with disabilities, which is a whole-of-government issue. It is a unique role and, in a sense, the Minister of State has in some way become the conscience of the Cabinet on...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: UN Conventions Ratification (22 Jun 2016)

John Dolan: I am relieved and delighted that work is under way, not just in the Department of Justice and Equality in particular but also in other Departments, on the legal aspects and that ratification will take place by the end of this year. The Minister of State also mentioned extra funding relating to congregated settings. That is important and should be noted, but I did not hear a response to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

John Dolan: I wish to raise a couple of matters. Much has been said about Console and I do not want to say anything that is unhelpful. People are quick to point to other people's behaviour. It is clear that wrong has been done in this instance and that there have been clear governance failures.At a macro level, our Oireachtas has to look at how difficult it was for us to get the Charities Act in place...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: I wish the Minister all the best in his new Department. It is a pivotal Department for those who have little room to manoeuvre and some who have no room to do so. The programme for a partnership Government stated that we support an increase in the disability benefit and allowance, the carer's benefit and allowance and the blind person's pension. A strong start needs to be made in the year...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: How much time do I have?

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: Do not tell me that; I might use it. I thank Senator Black for sharing her time. I thank Senator McDowell and everybody for a very decent and helpful debate. As a result of the referendum, and 100,000 reports in the past, this needs at least to go to Committee Stage and move on. We can start teasing out the tension between various ideas and worries that people have then. There is a...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: I move:That Seanad Éireann: accepting:- that the need for appropriate housing for persons with disabilities, as already recognised by the State is still outstanding:noting, in particular:- that the number of people with disabilities on the waiting list for social housing increased substantially to just under 4,000 in 2013; - that there are significant numbers of persons with...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: It is very difficult for me to honour the contributions, thoughtfulness, passion and interest of Members across the House over the past two hours. The Minister acknowledged the knowledge of this issue in the Seanad, among Senators who have participated in it at local authority level and those with personal experience. He talked about the launch of the action plan next Tuesday being a good...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (14 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: The Minister of State is very welcome back. I welcome the contributions of fellow Senators, who are making very important points that need to be made. As the saying goes, we are where we are. This Bill represents the prudent and logical approach. It is regrettable at another level that it was not possible to proceed more quickly. I wish to make a few points on regulation in general. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: As it does around this time every year, Social Justice Ireland launched its budget briefing document - Budget Choices 2017 - yesterday. I wish to draw attention to one particular matter relating to disability. Social Justice Ireland has a practical proposal in its document in respect of the cost of the disability allowance. It is a well-known fact that people with disabilities have extra...

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: We are into injury time. I welcome wholeheartedly the hope and solutions offered in this plan for so many people, young people and families. However, I must regretfully reject it because it is not worthy of an Ireland that has resolved to also solve the housing issues for people with disabilities. The Minister mentioned page 55, the section on disability. There are no statistics in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: I refer to the matter raised by Senator Frances Black on the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities. I have been involved in it for a number of years. The strategy should have been and was supposed to be launched in 2013. It was launched in the run-up to the last election and it was interesting that the only Department not present at the launch was the Department of...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2016)

John Dolan: There you go.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Charities Regulatory Authority (21 Sep 2016)

John Dolan: First I must declare an interest in that I am employed by a charity. I am chief executive of the Disability Federation of Ireland, which has over 100 organisations and charities affiliated to it. My first question centres on the issue of balance. There are ten or 11 statutory functions listed for the authority, of which regulation and compliance constitute one. The provision of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Charities Regulatory Authority (21 Sep 2016)

John Dolan: Activity reporting needs to be developed because there should be an activity report. That could be a bit like my first class composition, "I got up. I washed my face. I did this ...", but activity reporting where the governors make an honest effort to give a sense of the value for the funding and resources deployed could be a very potent instrument to get people and organisations to focus...