Results 1-20 of 671 for speaker:Tom Clonan

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister of State for coming along this afternoon for this Bill. I welcome my guests from all over Ireland - proud disabled citizens, parents and carers, all of us advocates for the fundamental human rights of disabled citizens. On section 1 of the Bill, before I start, I wish to say this is a deceptively short Bill. It may appear to be a small step but it is not. This...

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I want to speak to sections 2 and 3.

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I do not.

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I will explain when I address sections 2 and 3.

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I will also speak to section 3. I will have no more to say; I want to be brief. Section 2(1) to 2(6), inclusive, place disability rights on a legislative basis, therefore, making them fundamental human rights. That is consistent with the Government's campaign from last autumn and into the winter. Disability rights are human rights. I am mandated, under the UNCRPD, as a parent and...

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I think this goes back to a childhood fear I may have had.

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his flexibility in allowing me to speak again. I think this is a great moment. It brings us into line with the rest of the European Union and other states. We spend so much of our lives fighting. Apart from the fear, trauma and upset, so much time is spent fighting. In my case, I am dealing with my child's disease. In other people's cases, there is a huge...

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: The Minister of State mentioned the cultural change that is required. We are at a moment of cultural change. The narrative and our public discourse around disability is changing. Irish people now see it as a fundamental human rights issue. Everybody here in this Chamber - our guests, the Minister of State and her officials - has played a role in facilitating and accelerating the change....

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I move amendment No. 77: In page 30, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(2) Research and Innovation Ireland, shall, in so far as it is consistent with the proper performance of its functions under Head 9, and only to extent that these collaborations further support and fund competitive research and innovation, endeavour to secure administrative...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (1 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the witnesses for coming in. I was just reflecting on this. It is such a privilege to be on any of our joint committees because we get to meet and interact with people like the witnesses who are at a very high level throughout the public service. We have had people from the private sector as well. I wanted to thank the witnesses for their time and to apologise in advance because I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (1 May 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank my colleagues for allowing me to go. I thank the witnesses for all the work they do.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (30 Apr 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I wish to raise the issue of UN General Assembly Resolution 52/177 - death and disability benefits, and UN General Assembly Resolution 76/275 - post-traumatic stress disorder framework. These two schemes already exist. According to our information, Irish families and veterans are unable to access or have not been assisted in accessing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (30 Apr 2024)

Tom Clonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Our concern is that there does not appear to be any record of Ireland availing of either of these funds. I accept that many cases are litigated here, but that places of veterans under a very stressful situation where they have to go into an adversarial process. In addition, the State has very deep pockets to fight people who have PTSD or who...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Tom Clonan: I wish to raise the issue of a section 140 motion that was tabled at Dublin City Council yesterday evening. The motion, which sought to challenge the draft Dublin city transport plan, was brought by an Independent councillor, Damian O'Farrell. It is very commendable in that he pointed out that disabled persons' organisations, DPOs, had not been consulted regarding the Dublin transport plan....

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Tom Clonan: I move amendment No. 25: In page 11, to delete lines 16 and 17 and substitute the following: "(e) to promote parity of esteem and to advance equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion in research and innovation;".

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Tom Clonan: I move amendment No. 28: In page 11, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: "(f) to promote, develop and assist the carrying out of basic research in a range of areas, including strategic areas of endeavour that concerns the future societal development and competitiveness of the State;”.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Tom Clonan: I move amendment No. 32: In page 11, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: "(g) to preserve and promote the principles of academic freedom.". I spoke on this on Second Stage. The principle of academic freedom is very important. In the environment we are in, with a culture of cancellation, contested knowledge, disinformation and misinformation, it is very important we have...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Tom Clonan: If organisations do not get funding, the research does not happen. We have expressed concerns about this, where there are clear, explicit commitments to hierarchies of status within knowledge and so on. I believe the agency will effectively act as a gatekeeper in terms of what we investigate and do not investigate, by virtue of it awarding 75% of the research funding within the State. The...