Results 61-80 of 243 for going forward speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: .... At the same time, however, when issues are in as much a crisis as we have now, we must look at all elements, especially in terms of the provision of assessments to get that element done. We are going to have to talk about that element of assessment. As we know, the court case last year had a very significant impact. A new standard operating procedure is being brought forward at the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of the end of 2022 approximately 89% of children in care were being cared for by foster carers. While this record compares favorably internationally, I am aware that there is an ongoing difficulty in maintaining the number of foster carers in Ireland in line with demand for these placements. I am aware that while the overall number of children in care has decreased by 621, or by 9.7%...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...a report on the recent public consultation on the policy framework, which allowed children and young people, parents, professionals working in this sector and others to have their say on what is going well and not well for children and young people, as well as identify priorities for the new framework. In 2021 my Department carried out an extensive consultation with children and young...

Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: From the Seanad (29 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to note the proposals we are bringing forward and, it is hoped, will be passed into legislation after today's debate, have been welcomed. They have been welcomed by NGOs and organisations working in this sector and by the trade unions, some of which have campaigned for this for a long time. Thus, there is a strong welcome for the proposals. A number of the Deputies have...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues: Discussion (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...for children and young people, will form part of Tusla’s overall alternative care strategy across the continuum of care. I also know that the final part of the three plans Tusla is bringing forward, that in respect of aftercare, is due for completion shortly. Looking at the strategic plan for foster care, it is important to note Tusla is going to hire a national lead for...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues: Discussion (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...I recognised that there was real disappointment that there was not an increase to the weekly rate and that rests with me, as Minister. I was not able to secure that. It was part of our budget negotiations. As members know, in one particular area in the budget my Department did very well and was able to secure significant funds in terms of sheer scale and investment in childcare, but we...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues: Discussion (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will respond to the Chair's last point first. As she knows, Tusla are bringing forward three strategies in alternative care. The first is for residential care, the second for foster care, and the third one is for aftercare. That last one should be coming out in the next number of months. It might be useful for us, and maybe even someone from Tusla could come for a session with the...

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...a whole new range of avenues of attack. It opens female politicians and female leaders to that avenue of attack as well. We talked about those in the context of the developing world. Ireland hosted a good side meeting where an MP from Tanzania spoke about the sustained, personalised and sexualised attacks that she had faced. A colleague from the Belgian Government, the state secretary...

Employment Equality (Pay Transparency) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I apologise that I was not in the Chamber when discussions commenced. I thank both Deputies for bringing forward this Private Member's Bill, which the Government will not be opposing on Second Stage. As the Deputies said, discrimination at any stage of employment is unacceptable and the proposed amendment today to the Employment Equality Act would prohibit advertising a position without...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...some of the GDPR provisions. I reflected on the points made by Senator Higgins. I was unable to accept her amendments then and I am not in a position to accept the amendments she will be putting forward today. However, I have tried to go some way in addressing some of the GDPR issues she raised, particularly issues pertaining to the retention of information. Section 15 of the Bill...

Seanad: Remuneration Information and Pay Transparency Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators Ardagh and Crowe for bringing forward this Private Members’ Bill, which the Government will not be opposing today, thus allowing it to go on to Committee Stage. We all agree discrimination at any stage in employment is unacceptable, and the proposed amendments brought forward here today both to the Employment Equality Act 1998 and of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act...

Seanad: Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Statements (22 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...is reducing. In addition, we are facing the loss of some hotel beds across the system. However, I cannot accept a situation, whatever the context, where international protection applicants are going without accommodation. We and the State have to do more to make sure that is not happening. My Department can and will do more to develop further accommodation options, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...to the introduction of new funding arrangements for the work undertaken by National Voluntary Childcare Organisations. My Department is currently considering the mechanism for allocating funding going forward. Childminders are also supported by the City and County Childcare Committees. As a result of additional funding secured in Budget 2023, my Department is now providing for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I know that the Deputy has advocated very strongly on these issues. I am looking forward, from 1 March, to taking on the responsibility for delivery of disability services for children and adults. The Deputy is absolutely right about the crucial issue of the assessment of needs. He knows the history of this. He knows that a new process had been adopted over a number of years. That was...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are planning to bring forward proposals for changes to the Child Care Act 1991 to Cabinet by the end of quarter 1. Those will be quite substantial and will include revising the law in the area of the taking of children into care because the 1991 legislation needs to be changed. Tusla's powers of inspection for centre-based childcare will also be included within that legislation. We will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...the end of 2022, contained an important cross-Government action to review transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities and to advance proposals for the enhancement of these supports going forward. The Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress in this regard. I chaired meetings of the Transport Working Group from January 2022, from which...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...targeted stream for the disadvantaged, that is something my Department is very clear it wants to advance. That is not provided for in this year's Estimate so it is something we will look to bring forward in budget 2024. There is a piece of work being undertaken by my Department to ascertain how exactly it will operate, what will it look like, and how we assess and support disadvantage in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...it doesn’t resolve in the next 4 weeks is issued. If the under-attendance occurs over a consecutive 12-week period, the subsidised hours will be adjusted to reflect the average hours of actual attendance going forward. However, if the child attends for their agreed hours for a full week after this warning is issued no further action is taken. 3. The Scheme also provides for...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am happy to be able to introduce this Bill. It is one of Ireland's most ambitious Bills dedicated solely to improving work–life balance. I look forward to the detailed discussion we are going to have. Not only will the Bill transpose EU law on work–life balance for parents and carers but it will also implement some important programme for Government commitments. It...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to state that the issue is not about whether to provide domestic leave but about the issue of the rate. That was misstated earlier. The introduction of new leave is negotiated with the social partners with whom the Government engages. As part of that engagement, some small employer groups raised real and genuine concerns, considering their circumstances, about the...