Results 7,901-7,920 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank all Deputies for their very detailed and serious consideration of this legislation, which deals with potentially one of the most difficult matters we will see in this session of the Oireachtas. As the Deputies have said, the legislation is technical and detailed, but when we get back to the essence of what we are doing, it is law that provides for the removal of the remains of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Russian military onslaught against the government and people of Ukraine is an international outrage. Our response must be to aid the Ukrainian people in any way we can during this time of utmost need for them.  My Department has begun planning to enable a quick and effective response in the event that Ukrainian nationals come to Ireland seeking international protection. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The centre to which the Deputy refers was used to provide quarantine facilities for residents who left their allocated accommodation to live temporarily with family or friends and who wished to re-enter International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation at a later date. IPAS adopted this policy in 2020 following consultations with public health officials in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Employers in the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) sector have been entitled to access the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) since August 2020, with an exemption from the requirement to demonstrate the 30% drop in turnover that applies to other sectors. Between October 2020 and November 2021, the enhanced rate of EWSS equalled approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (3 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.  Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school...

Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Second Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It’s all set out in the legislation.

Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Second Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: A fund is available for such projects and the Deputy is welcome to discuss it with me.

Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Second Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". I am pleased to bring the Institutional Burials Bill 2022 before the House. This legislation will provide us with a legal basis to finally exhume the remains of children so tragically interred at the site in Tuam, reunite them with their loved ones and afford them a dignified burial. What happened at Tuam is a stain on our national...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-Agency issue coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides supports for victims of domestic violence primarily through funded NGO service providers. I have been previously informed by Tusla that support for victims of DSGBV in County Offaly is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Firstly, I would like to assure you that I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in the Ukraine. We are monitoring the situation closely and my Department has begun planning to enable a quick and effective response to support Ukrainian nationals who come to Ireland seeking international protection. I will liaise with the Cabinet and my EU colleagues to ensure an effective humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, I can confirm that there are two pre-reception centres in Dublin 9 - the Holiday Inn Express, Dublin Airport and the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport. I can also confirm that there is one reception centre in Dublin 11, the National Reception Centre (NRC), Balseskin.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Programme (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I intend to bring forward legislative proposals in the coming weeks to to extend the current entitlement to paid breastfeeding/lactation breaks for breastfeeding mothers in the workforce from 26 to 104 weeks under the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Acts in line with commitments in FIRST 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Office (IPO) collate the requested figures regarding the first two parts of your question. I suggest that you request this information from the IPO via my colleague, the Minister for Justice, namely: a) the average time for persons in Emergency Accommodation to be issued an appointment with the IPO, and b) the number of persons in Emergency Accommodation and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have not met the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) specifically on the Birth Information and Tracing Bill though I listened carefully to their submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process. I am satisfied that, where possible, matters raised by IHREC will be provided for in the legislation or through...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Does the Vice Chairman wish me to speak to all the amendments in this group or will I just speak to amendment No. 1? I think Deputy Funchion covered most of the amendments in her contribution.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputies for their amendments, which I will address. My understanding of the intention of amendment No. 1, combined with amendment No. 90, is to include administrative records in the definition of relevant records so that such records can be safeguarded. This is something we have given significant consideration to and there was reference to it in the pre-legislative report. It is...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I do not think it is a real risk. We believe everything that is listed in this amendment is already covered within the definition of relevant records. We do not see where the gaps are. I do not feel there is a real risk but we have that catch-all provision there, if necessary. In response to Deputy Funchion, we do not see that there are gaps here. We are willing to go away, have a look...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I do not see the benefit of referencing the same thing twice.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My understanding is that if legislation addresses an issue, to put in another piece that addresses the same issue just because it is no harm is not how we draft legislation. Many people have raised the issue of the complexity of the legislation in this area. If we are double referencing certain areas, that will only add to the complexity.