Connor, John

Thursday, 13 April 2000

Seanad Eireann Debate
Vol. 162 No. 25

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Equal Status Bill, 1999: Committee Stage (Resumed).

I move amendment No. 43: In page 14, subsection (2)(b), between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following new paragraph: “(iii)refusing or failing to do all that is reasonable to prevent sexual harassm...More Button

I will not press the issue. It is amazing the Minister should say there is a legal difficulty in inserting this amendment given that the section contains certain rules. All I am seeking is the inserti...More Button

I move amendment No. 44: In page 14, subsection (2)(b), between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following new paragraph: “(iii)refusing or failing to do all that is reasonable to prevent indirect discr...More Button

I move amendment No. 47: In page 15, subsection (5), line 7, after “club” to insert “at its registered or head office”. This provides greater certainty of the address of a club against which a complai...More Button

I move amendment No. 50: In page 15, between lines 43 and 44, to insert the following new subsection: “(11)A discriminating club shall not be entitled to grants from public funds or use of public faci...More Button

Would it not be scandalous if a club which has been found to be practising discrimination and has lost its drinks licence received national lottery or other public funds and continued to receive those...More Button

I support everything Senator O'Meara said. I appreciate the Minister of State is trying to come to an administrative arrangement whereby the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation which has respo...More Button

It would be much easier to insert the amendment to ensure certainty and protect public funds. I do not accept the advice the Minister of State has received. Her heart is in the right place on this iss...More Button

It would be risky according to the Attorney General who has been guilty of giving faulty advice in the past. The Minister of State should therefore err on our side.More Button

Can the Minister be more specific on the advice she was given?More Button

I move amendment No. 58:More Button

Informing me that local authorities issue these licences and that this matter comes under the broad remit of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is hardly an acceptable answer. That ...More Button

I move amendment No. 65: In page 21, subsection (2), line 4, after “complainant” to insert “or some other person (including the Authority) on his or her behalf”. This amendment relates to a person mak...More Button

I accept that, but what difficulty has the Minister of State in allowing the complainant to ask another person to make their case or complaint for them?More Button

Or fear of intimidation.More Button

I move amendment No. 66: In page 21, subsection (2)(a), line 5, to delete “2” and substitute “6”. This amendment proposes to extend the time limit. Section 21(1) states that a “person who claims that ...More Button

I accept that. Section 21(2)(a) states: “shall, within 2 months after the prohibited conduct is alleged to have occurred, or, where more than one incident of prohibited conduct is alleged to have occu...More Button

I move amendment No. 71: In page 24, subsection (1), line 14, after “heard.” to insert “Provision shall be made for representations to be made on behalf of the complainant by a representative to the D...More Button

Or a professional person.More Button

What is the Minister's decision on the amendment?More Button

It is a pity it is not in the law which would ensure it would always be practised. However, I will not press the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Section 25 agreed to. Sections 26 and 27 agr...More Button

I move amendment No. 73: In page 25, subsection (1), lines 24 and 25, to delete paragraphs (a) and (b). This relates to appeals against decisions of the director, the form and contents of a decision b...More Button

Equal Status Bill, 1999: Report and Final Stages.

I second this amendment. There is little I can add. If, for example, a group of Travellers are refused service in a licensed premises, it is the group which is being refused and not an individual memb...More Button

I appreciate that the Minister has met my concerns. The wording is not quite the same, the Minister used “ceasing to provide” where I used “depriving”, but I am quite satisfied. Amendment agreed to. G...More Button

I welcome the passage of the Bill. It is very important legislation which establishes basic human rights. Along with its sister legislation, the Employment Equality Act, it addresses many instances wh...More Button

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