Results 501-520 of 2,030 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (5 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 157 together. I should explain that section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 generally prohibits discrimination in relation to the admission policy operated by an educational establishment except where it is a primary or post-primary school operating in an environment which promotes certain religious values. In such circumstances, the school, under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Community (5 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: At my request - and following an earlier round of consultations with other Departments and the Traveller community on this issue - my Department has continued its discussions with Traveller interests with a view to developing a precise understanding of the legal implications, if any, of the recognition that the Traveller community is seeking. To facilitate a focussed discussion, 4...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (5 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: With the exception of Part 2 of the Act, which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Health, and which has been commenced in respect of children under five years of age only, all provisions of the Disability Act 2005 have been commenced and are in force.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (5 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 generally prohibits discrimination in relation to the admission policy operated by an educational establishment except where it is a primary or post-primary school operating in an environment which promotes certain religious values. In such circumstances, the school, under subsection 7(3)(c), may favour the enrolment of students of a particular...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (10 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 406 together. As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Crime (11 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: A Bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act so as to allow the Government to declare substances to be controlled and to clarify the provisions under which Ministerial orders and regulations are made is currently being drafted and is listed in the Government Legislative Programme for publication in 2016. This will once again allow regulations to be made and, if necessary and appropriate, bring...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (12 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Ireland signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2007 and is one of three EU member states yet to ratify. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is a dualist State, Article 29.6 of the Constitution providing that international agreements have the force of law to the extent determined by the Oireachtas. It is essential therefore that the State...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Disability Support Services Provision (12 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I understand that the National Disability Authority (NDA) engaged with the employer umbrella groups, Chambers Ireland, IBEC and ISME and invited them to prepare a joint proposal in relation to the provision of an Employer Helpline, as recommended in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities which I published in October this year. The specification for the project...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Community (12 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Deputy will be aware that there is a consultation process underway led by my Department to develop a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. Phase 1 (identification of key themes for the new Strategy) has been completed, and Phase 2 (identification and agreement of high-level objectives under each agreed theme) will commence shortly. The final Phase, Phase 3 (identification...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Care Costs (18 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Family Leave Act 1998 (amended) entitles both parents to eighteen weeks unpaid parental leave on the birth or adoption of a child. The leave may be taken until the child has reached the age of eight years with certain extensions permitted beyond that for adoptees and children with a disability or long-term illness. Parental leave is unpaid and unlike maternity leave does not attract a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (18 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem. Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Migrant Integration (19 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The proposal referred to is a follow up to a project supported by the European Integration Fund which is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. I intend to have a call for applications for national funding for measures to promote the integration of migrants and combat racism and xenophobia shortly and the proposal can be considered in that context.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Community (24 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Deputy will be aware that there is a consultation process underway led by my Department to develop a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. Phase 1 (identification of key themes for the new Strategy) has been completed, and Phase 2 (identification and agreement of high-level objectives under each agreed theme) will commence shortly. The final Phase, Phase 3 (identification...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (24 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Roadmap to Ratification sets out the substantial legislative agenda required for ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The deadline of end-2016 for completion of the legislative agenda, as set out in the Roadmap to Ratification, is clear and unambiguous. As previously indicated, Minister Fitzgerald and I approved the drafting of an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions (24 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Article 27(1) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities prohibits: "...discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, continuance of employment, career advancement and safe and healthy working conditions;”. Article 27 of the Convention is not...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (24 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362, 363 and 405 together. Following a Court of Appeal decision on 10 March which declared unconstitutional the section of the Misuse of Drugs Act empowering the Government to declare substances to be controlled under the Act, the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015 was urgently enacted to recontrol all substances which had previously been declared...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Migrant Integration (25 Nov 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 Justice and Equality: Employment Rights (25 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Article 27(1) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities prohibits:“...discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, continuance of employment, career advancement and safe and healthy working conditions;”. Article 27 of the Convention is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (26 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The basis for the current age limit is contained in Council Directive 2010/18/EU giving effect to the revised Parental Leave Framework Agreement negotiated by the European social partners in 2009. The essential point is that the upper age limit was negotiated and agreed by employers and Trade Union representatives at EU level and their agreement was then given force of law by the Directive....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Legislation (26 Nov 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 generally prohibits discrimination in relation to the admission policy operated by an educational establishment except where it is a primary or post-primary school operating in an environment which promotes certain religious values. In such circumstances, the establishment, under subsection 7 (3) (c), may favour the enrolment of students of a particular...