Results 6,481-6,500 of 11,745 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators for facilitating the issue with voting today and I gather it may need to be facilitated again later this evening. I thank the Senators for putting forth this set of amendments. I know we discussed similar amendments in the Seanad on Committee Stage here and in the Dáil, and I am not going to be in a position to accept these amendments. Amendments Nos. 1 to 4,...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am not in a position to accept this amendment that seeks to remove the very important concept of safeguarding the public interest from consideration within this legislation. The excavation and recovery of human remains is a complex and sensitive intervention. In making a decision to undertake this, the Government must strike a balance between the need to intervene with the need to respect...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am not in a position to support these amendments that seek to amend the criteria under which the Government cannot make an order. The criteria set out are all important factors that need to be considered in decisions on whether an order should be made. There is a strong rationale for excluding official burial grounds, ensuring that appropriately buried human remains are not disturbed...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I appreciate the sincere intent that lies behind amendments Nos. 9 and 10, I am not in a position to support them. As outlined previously, it is vital to recognise excavation is not a desired option in every circumstance. From my discussions with families and survivors, I am aware that for some family members, these sites are the graves of their loved ones and they do not want them to...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I cannot support the amendments, which would change the membership of the advisory board. The Bill provides for an advisory board that will be established to guide and support the director of an intervention. It will include scientific experts and former residents, family members of the deceased or both, and consultation with the advisory board will be required at regular intervals,...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I hear the Senator's concern and I hope I can reassure her. I am not in a position to accept the amendment because I do not feel it is necessary. I believe there is a protection there and, as we discussed on Committee Stage, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 protects the rights of those making a protected disclosure under that Act. This Bill does not in any way prejudice the rights of...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I believe we cover all of what the Senator seeks to achieve in the existing provisions on reporting, so I am not in a position to accept the amendment. Section 35 provides for a director to prepare a report following post-recovery analysis, and this report must document the circumstances of the discovery of human remains, the forensic excavation and recovery and the outcomes of activities...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: What happened in Tuam represents a stain on our national conscience. This Bill will allow us at last to offer the children interred at that site in Tuam a dignified and respectful burial. The Government is committed to a full-scale forensic excavation of the site and this legislation is essential to deliver that. My sincere hope is this will finally bring some form of solace and closure to...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Ruane for bringing forward this Bill, which highlights the importance of transparency in addressing discrimination and ensuring cases of harassment and sexual harassment do not remain concealed, thereby protecting and providing cover to those who commit these acts. The Government indicated on Second Stage it would not oppose this Bill but would instead conduct its own...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I support the principles behind the Bill, as it is currently drafted, it may not capture the broad nature and use of non-disclosure agreements that has come to light in the research carried out by my Department. The proposals, as drafted, may limit the ability of an employee to negotiate a settlement where sexual harassment or discrimination has occurred. For this reason, I will...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will propose the deletion of section 3(2), as the commencements of any new provisions need to be considered in the context of operational or other considerations.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Public Sector Staff (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are currently three former County Managers and CEOs of Local Authorities assisting my Department, on an advisory basis on the Ukraine crisis. The bodies under the aegis of my Department will respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to achieving its vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland where people are supported to flourish and to live inclusive, healthy and fulfilling lives, whatever their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. Ireland’s first National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022, published in November 2019, is the primary policy...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. There are two types of subsidies available under the NCS: The Universal Subsidyis currently available to all families with children under 3 years old and will extended to all families with children under 15 in September 2022. This subsidy is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Through the National Childcare Scheme and a range of other measures, I am committed to changing Ireland’s childcare system from one of the most expensive in the world to one of the very best. In designing the National Childcare Scheme, extensive research and consultations have been carried out to ensure that this goal is achieved and that the Scheme can help as many families as...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking temporary protection in Ireland. To date approximately 29,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection who have arrived in Ireland have sought accommodation. The Department is contracting emergency and short-term accommodation across the country in order to accommodate...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Proposed Legislation (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 21 April the Government gave its approval for the drafting of a Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, the main purpose of which is to transpose elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide new rights to parents and carers in order to support a better work life balance. The General Scheme of the proposed Bill is published on my Department's website. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Appointments to State Boards (5 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are six bodies under the aegis of my Department that have a board.  They are the Adoption Authority of Ireland, Tusla (The Child and Family Agency), Oberstown Children Detention Campus, the National Disability Authority, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and Gaisce (The President’s Award). My response to your question pertaining to each individual body can...