Results 381-400 of 2,030 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (2 Dec 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 and 356 together. I understand that the organisation in question was established in 2009 as a result of the amalgamation of two other bodies. The only funding the organisation itself has received from my Department was a payment made in 2010 in respect of monies owed to one of the predecessor bodies. Details of payments to those bodies since 2005 and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (16 Dec 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I expect that funding from the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund will become available after approval by the European Commission of Ireland's national programme which should take place in the first half of next year. There will be a call for applications in respect of this. Meanwhile, consideration is being given to extending current projects under the European Refugee and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Disability Services Provision (14 Jan 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government continues to prioritise the needs of people with disabilities. Responsibility for coordinating policy on disability lies with my Department. However, the implementation of sectoral policy is a matter for a number of Government Departments, with responsibility for provision of services resting mainly with the Department of Health....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (27 Jan 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As already announced, the Government has approved drafting of a Family Leave Bill which will consolidate into one piece of legislation the current provisions regarding maternity, adoptive, parental and carer’s leave. The Deputy will also be aware that in 2013 the Government agreed not to oppose a Private Members’ Bill introduced in Seanad Éireann by Senator Mary White,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (12 Feb 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Section 27 of the Disability Act 2005 creates an obligation on public bodies generally to ensure that the services they provide to the general public are accessible to people with disabilities, where practicable and appropriate. The head of each public body is responsible for meeting this obligation in so far as the services of his or her organisation is concerned. Section 34 of this Act...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (18 Feb 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I have no plans to amend the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011 to provide for the additional ground mentioned by the Deputy. The matter of providing for non-disclosure by persons with convictions for certain past offences is being dealt with in the Spent Convictions Bill. I believe this Bill, rather than equality legislation, is the appropriate vehicle to deal with the complex issues...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (19 Feb 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Equal Status Acts 2000-2012 outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods and services on nine specified grounds. These grounds do not include income source. While I do from time to time receive correspondence relating to this matter and while the general issues so raised may come to inform policy and legislative change, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate it would not appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (3 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Government has given a firm commitment to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and intends to proceed to ratification as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are met. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has a dualist legal system and therefore does not become party...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Rights (5 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on the specific circular, which I understand from media reports has been withdrawn. However, I can inform the House that the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011 prohibit both direct and indirect discrimination in employment (including access to employment and promotion) on nine grounds including gender. Cases brought under the legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (10 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 302 together. Equality legislation prohibits discrimination in the provision of goods and services on nine grounds, including race. Persons who consider they have been discriminated against can bring a complaint to the Equality Tribunal for adjudication and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission can provide advice and assistance to persons...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Migrant Integration (10 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to promote policies which integrate minority ethnic groups in Ireland, and which promote social inclusion, equality, diversity and the participation of immigrants in the economic, social, political and cultural life of their communities. A significant level of activity is taking place in pursuit of this commitment. The Office for the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies Establishment (11 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Culture Ireland Division of my Department promotes Irish arts worldwide, creating and supporting opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. In line with the Critical Review of Culture Ireland undertaken as part of the Public Service Reform Plan in 2012, the functions of Culture Ireland were fully merged...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Services for People with Disabilities (24 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to "examine different mechanisms to promote the recognition of Irish sign language" and this process is ongoing. It is not the case that there has been no follow up and in fact the National Disability Authority (NDA) facilitated consultations with the Deaf Community in Ireland at my Department's request in relation to actions that could make...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Paternal Leave Costs (25 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Paternity leave is generally a short period of leave specifically for the father taken around the time of the birth of the child. Currently there is no statutory provision for paternity leave however a number of employers, including the public service, provide a small numbers of days leave usually 3/5 days. There are two aspects to the question of costing paternity leave. The first is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (25 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As part of the PolskaÉire Festival, a grant of up to €20,000 has been approved for the FAI for a project on integration through football and a grant of €2,350 has been awarded to Enigma Theatre for an intercultural theatre project.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (31 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The current statutory provision with regard to parental leave provides for a parent to take such leave in respect to a child up to the age of 8 years old. If the child was adopted between the age of 6 and 8, leave in respect to that child may be taken up to 2 years after the adoption order. In the case of a child with a disability or a long term illness, leave may be taken up to 16 years of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (31 Mar 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Family Leave Bill will be published in 2015 and as previously announced, this Bill will provide for the consolidation into one piece of legislation of the current provisions regarding maternity, adoptive, parental and carer's leave. This will also provide an opportunity to consider other issues with regard to the operation of such leaves, including the question raised by the Deputy. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Programme for Government committed to publishing, "following wide consultation, a realistic implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy, including sectoral plans with achievable time scales and targets within available resources and ensuring whole-of-government involvement and monitoring of the Strategy, in partnership with the disability sector". I am pleased to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Women's Strategy (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The implementation of the National Women's Strategy 2007 – 2016 relies upon the efforts of a wide range of Government Departments and Agencies. Insofar as the financial resources being provided by my Department to support the implementation of the Strategy are concerned, the following is the position. The Equality for Women Measure, co-financed by the ESF, has made funding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (2 Apr 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As previously announced the Government has decided in principle to amend the Equal Status Acts to prohibit discrimination in relation to residential tenants, or prospective tenants, on the basis that they receive assistance with their rent through rent supplement or social welfare payments. The necessary legislative amendments are being prepared by my Department in consultation with the...