Results 2,081-2,100 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act, 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — National Recreation Policy: National Recreation Policy (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy might wish to note that the national recreation policy for young people has not yet been published but I expect that it will be published during 2007. The Steering Group overseeing the development of the national recreation policy completed its work last June. Since then, considerable work has been undertaken by my Office in finalising the policy in consultation with relevant...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. However, it should be...

Written Answers — Child Homelessness: Child Homelessness (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Youth Homelessness Strategy was published on 31st October 2001. The Strategy provides a strategic framework for youth homelessness to be tackled on a national basis. The goal of the Strategy is "to reduce and if possible eliminate youth homelessness through preventative strategies and where a child becomes homeless to ensure that he/she benefits from a comprehensive range of services...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Senators will recall that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003 provided for the establishment of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to administer the running of the Dáil and Seanad. The commission came into being on 1 January 2004 and was provided with the funds it needed to carry out its functions for three years from that date. That initial three year period will expire...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——as these will place extra financial burdens on the commission, the funding allocation provided for in the Bill will cater for them too. I can confirm to the Senator that there will be a general election in 2007. It is not the intention of the Government to amend the Electoral Act to extend the duration of the current Dáil by another two years, something that is permissible under the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is a very generous gesture of the part of the Taoiseach and the Government. One item to note in the Bill is in section 3, which provides that as well as providing for the running of the Houses of the Oireachtas and having charge of the Office of the Houses, the provision of translation services in respect of Acts of the Oireachtas is also a function of the commission. It is appropriate...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Senators for the broad welcome they extended to the Bill. Senator Ulick Burke outlined the work of the commission, and he stressed the importance of securing value for money in its operation. This highlights that the commission is, in substance, a board of directors for the Houses of the Oireachtas. Members of the commission, while they reflect the party balance in each House and...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Senator O'Toole outlined the volume of work members of the commission undertook. I was struck by his intervention in that regard. As the Government nominee on the commission it strikes me how often we hold meetings to address practical problems which arise. It illustrates how the commission has been of benefit. When members of Oireachtas staff had to deal directly with the Department of...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The wider questions raised by Senator White on the participation of women in politics and the hours worked by politicians are not questions for only the Committee of Procedure and Privileges in terms of how we organise our sittings. The questions must be also asked of the electorate and the constitutional order it ordained. We have a system of election by——

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Excuse me Senator, I am trying to respond to the point raised because it is serious and worthy of being addressed.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In the Constitution the people ordained the principal electoral mode for most elections is single transferable vote in multi-seat constituencies. Whether we like it or not, it entails an elected public representative maintains close and intimate contact with his or her electorate. The increasing proportion of the electorate in the workforce means of necessity a public representative must...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It does not arise. I apologise for trespassing. I stand corrected. Senator John Paul Phelan referred to funding allocated by the commission and acknowledged the progress it made. I was glad to hear Senator Phelan state this because this is his first term in the Houses of the Oireachtas. He is fortunate because examining previous dispensations under which Senators and Deputies had to...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006:Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Senators for the expeditious way in which they dealt with the legislation. I join in the tributes that have been paid to the staff. The Clerk of the Dáil, the Clerk of the Seanad and the other staff at every level do so much to allow us to carry out our business in an efficient way and it is appropriate at this time for us to thank them for this and enact this legislation which...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 606, 607 and 736 together. In 2006 I announced the Government's commitment to co-fund an innovative programme of prevention and early intervention for children. The Programme will run for a five-year period and has a fund amounting to €36 million in total, half of which will be provided by Government and half by The Atlantic Philanthropies. The Programme is...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 792 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Community based/not for profit groups who applied for staffing grant assistance...

Written Answers — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 referred to in...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Many women in immediate post-partum will experience emotional changes sometimes described as the baby blues. While distressing, this is usually transitory and responds well to family support and encouragement. In a small number of cases, a more sustained and significant psychiatric disorder can be expected, two thirds of which can be described as affective (mood) disorder with significant...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I take it the question refers to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention is the most widely ratified of the six core United Nations human rights treaties and the global support for it is a compelling demonstration of the international commitment of governments to the promotion and protection of children's rights. Ireland ratified the...