Results 11,381-11,400 of 11,817 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Advisers (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. It should be notedthat the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines, although the appointments are also subject...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and care and school-age childcare services are reporting staffing and recruitment challenges, with increased pressures as a result of Covid-19. There is no official data on the extent of such shortages. However, officials in my Department have been actively monitoring the issue and have sought data and evidence-based proposals from sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department and a response will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 639, 647 and 651 together. As the Deputy will know, the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 has lapsed and I am currently considering the complex matters involved before deciding on how best to legislate in this important area. In that context, I am aware of the Report of the Collaborative Forum and the views expressed regarding Tusla being tasked...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The rationale for specifying Tusla as the recipient of the database is that the Agency already has statutory responsibility for adoption tracing services under the Adoption Act 2010. In addition, it currently holds the originals of many of the relevant institutional records. As such, the database will provide the agency with an organised, digital system for the records it already holds,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The details supplied by the Deputy include an article which refers to correspondence with the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. In accordance with section 9 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is independent in the performance of its functions. It must operate within its terms of reference and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Protection (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 to 645, inclusive, together. These questions relate to specific provisions of the GDPR, the interpretation of that legislation and the Nowak judgement from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Data protection responsibilities fall on the relevant data controller, and it is the data controller who is obliged to interpret and implement data...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 646 and 653 together. I know that access to personal information is a recurring and priority concern for those directly involved and personally affected by mother and baby homes and related institutions. It is Government policy that persons should have access to such information insofar as is legally and constitutionally possible. I acknowledge that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The distinction between access to personal data and contact with natural family is a point made by adoption stakeholder groups and I understand that, while a lot of adoptees would like access to family of origin details, it often does not necessarily follow that they want contact or to build a relationship with that family. As I have noted in previous responses to legislative proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 649 and 650 together. In considering the natural mother’s expectation of privacy in the adoption process, it is important to take account of the context in which adoption took place in the past. While adoption today is a child focused service, aimed at providing a family for a child where their own parents are unable to care for them, in the past, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: When the Government decided to establish an inquiry into mother and baby homes, the model of investigation that it chose was a commission of investigation under the Commissions of Investigation Act of 2004. That decision by Government, and the subsequent establishment, under the law, of the Commission, had indelible consequences for the format of the investigation that was to be conducted,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Archives (29 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 654 together. The arrangements for preserving the records compiled by a Commission of Investigation in the course of its work are prescribed in the Commissions of Investigation Act, 2004. Section 43(2) of the Act directs that, on submission of its final report, the Commission will stand dissolved, and, prior to its dissolution, it must deposit all...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (24 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator for raising this very important matter and for speaking with such passion on it. Before I address her, I want to say that it is an honour to be speaking to this House for the first time. I look forward to working with Members here. I know many Members of this House have a very personal and deep interest in the issues that fall within my Department. We have a lot of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (24 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator for her offer of support. If she could send those letters I would appreciate it. I am very happy for the Department to take responsibility but I need additional resources. If they can be achieved it will make a huge difference. I had thought about the point the Senator made about our fostering campaign and we will have a general national fostering campaign. I have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (24 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator. I am glad to have this opportunity to discuss the future of early learning and care and school-age childcare in the country, particularly the role of the city and county childcare committees. I appreciate the Senator pushing back this Commencement matter by a week to allow me address the matter directly. The 20 city and county childcare committees, CCCs, which operate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (24 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Absolutely nothing has been prejudiced by me. I am listening very carefully. Over the past 12 weeks, since I have taken on this role, I have met a large number of providers in the sector. I am meeting representatives from Childcare Committees Ireland next week and we will discuss its valuable role in this process. In any public engagement I have had, and in every opportunity I have had...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ECCE programme provides universal free pre-school for all children. The ECCE programme rules specify the age which a child must reach before starting ECCE, which is 2 years and 8 months on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date. Age limits have been used to determine eligibility since the inception of the Early Childhood Care and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (24 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Pobal is responsible for the administration of the various early learning and care and school aged childcare schemes provided by my Department. Pobal has informed my Department that the registration process has been completed for the child referred to by the Deputy. An official from my Department has contacted the service provider to inform them that this matter has been resolved.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (23 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: All young persons under the age of 18 sentenced to a period of remand or detention by the Courts are detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The operational costs for the day to day running of Oberstown Children Detention Campus (excluding pension and capital costs) in 2019 was €19.77 million. The Certificate issued by the Minister under Sections 195 and 196 of the...