Results 9,181-9,200 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ombudsman for Children (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Ombudsman for Children Office, I have referred the question to that Office for a direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: State Bodies (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), set up by the Department of Health and independent in its functions, was established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. In relation to my Department, HIQA is authorised, under Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991, as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very concerned to hear of providers proposing to increase charges to parents at a time when the Government continues to support early learning and childcare providers very significantly. In view of the extent of State support, increases are not justified at this time. The Government has been strongly supportive of the sector, particularly since the onset of Covid-19. We have provided...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Anti-Racism Measures (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you Deputy for your question, and drawing my attention to the work of Bray for Love of which I was aware. I wish to commend Bray for Love on the work they are carrying out, and I would be delighted to meet with them. As the Deputy is aware, I published the Interim Report of the Anti-Racism Committee back in April. The Anti-Racism Committee is an independent Committee...

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: From the Seanad (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to state that the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill passed all Stages in Seanad Éireann, with Report and Final Stages completed on Monday last. I acknowledge the support it received from the various parties and, in particular, the work Deputy Stanton did when he was Minister of State with responsibility in this regard. We are here to take note of two Government amendments...

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: From the Seanad (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a purely technical amendment. Section 85C was originally section 85D. With the deletion of the original section 85B, it has become renumbered. Section 85C allows for an employee to make a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, of non-compliance with reporting regulations by his or her employer. The director general of the WRC or an adjudication officer will...

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: From the Seanad (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I indicated that I might make a brief comment at this point if that is all right.

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: From the Seanad (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge the significance of this legislation as it passes its final Stage in the Dáil. It will be sent to the President for signature. Pay transparency on its own will not end the pay disparity between men and women but it is an important further step on the road to equality. This Bill will provide transparency and accountability for employees. It will demand of employers real...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Arts Funding (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on this matter. Government funding for the arts including literature is channelled through the Arts Council which is independent from Government in its funding decisions.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Funding for the provision of targeted youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Funding is allocated following applications to the UBU Your Place Your Spacescheme. This operates generally on a 3-year cycle with an annual renewal process. This is the first full year of the scheme. I have provided an additional €1 million...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: First 5commits to at least doubling investment in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) between 2018 and 2028 and a new funding model will be a key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State. An Expert Group was established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC. The Expert...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has engaged with the Department of An Taoiseach on the Economic Recovery Plan, particularly in respect of content about early learning and care and school age childcare (ELC/SAC) set out under Pillar 2, "Helping people back into work". The Economic Recovery Plan notes that Government has set out ambitious commitments to deliver on the needs of children and their parents...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children's Services (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am informed by Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) that while the recent public consultation has been completed there is ongoing consultation with HIQA's Advisory Board to the development of the draft standards. When this process is completed, HIQA will present the draft National Standards for Children’s Social Services for consideration and approval by the Minister for...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (6 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his support for the process. In respect of the White Paper, we are currently setting out the transition team and the programme board. They will set out a clear set of goals as to what we expect to achieve in 2022, 2023 and by the end of 2024. A procurement process is about to be commenced right now in order that we can move away from those 24 emergency direct...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Protection (6 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic presented challenges to maintaining the health and safety of residents living in accommodation within the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, as it did for the country as a whole. In order to safeguard our residents, specific measures were put in place by IPAS in close collaboration with the HSE from the outset of the pandemic. These...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Protection (6 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I am not saying that they are not the responsibility of my Department. They continue to be IPAS applicants and their IPAS space within the direct provision centre is reserved. What I am saying is that in order to take up this particular scheme, it is the HSE which supplies and oversees it and in particular, the HSE oversees the accommodation that is provided. If the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Adoption Services (6 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I was speaking in the context of the GDPR rights of the mother in circumstances where she is still alive. Where there is a mother, a child and a sibling of that child, the GDPR rights of the mother also have to be taken into account. A mother has a right to access her own file under GDPR. That is often the file the adopted person is also seeking to access. For the mother, the file is her...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Adoption Services (6 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The information session we have provided for is in no way meant to be condescending towards adopted people. It is described as an information session; it is not described as a counselling session, as it is in other jurisdictions. The session is modelled upon the social worker-led approach adopted in other jurisdictions but the key reason the session is included is to provide for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (6 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for the question. As of Sunday, 27 June 2021, there were 6,465 persons accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, of my Department across 70 accommodation centres. Of this number, 71%, or 4,564, are being accommodated in centres that provide independent living facilities that include cooking facilities at least. A majority of these enjoy...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (6 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy touched on an important point in that the success of the Government's White Paper is predicated on the ability to process claims for international protection in a far more speedy manner than is currently the case. There is a commitment in this regard by the Department of Justice in terms of its response to the report of Dr. Catherine Day. It is a matter on which I have engaged...