Results 2,161-2,180 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

European Globalisation Fund (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coghlan. I am aware of the redundancies last year and this year at the Alienware company which is located in Athlone. I understand that this company, which is an Irish limited company, is a subsidiary of the Dell Corporation, as Deputy O'Rourke has pointed out. The...

School Accommodation (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coughlan. I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position on Herbertstown national school. Modernising facilities in the existing building stock...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: Regions from within more than a dozen countries, including Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom and France were recently "blacklisted" by the Russian Ministry of Education, thus suspending referrals for adoption. The issue as it pertains to Ireland relates to the provision of Post Placement Reports by adoptive parents. When adopting from Russia, adoptive parents agree to complete a...

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have read and noted the contents of the newspaper report referred to by the Deputy. The provision of foster care is central to child welfare and protection. In the course of an inspection last year, HIQA identified serious issues in the HSE Local Health Offices of Dublin North West and Dublin North Central. Key concerns included gaps in the assessment of foster carers, a lack of contact...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is at an advanced stage of drafting the Heads for the National Vetting Bureau Bill with a view to submitting Heads of Bill to Government shortly. Consultations have taken place with the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and colleagues in other...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: Regions from within more than a dozen countries, including Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom and France were recently "blacklisted" by the Russian Ministry of Education, thus suspending referrals for adoption. The issue as it pertains to Ireland relates to the provision of Post Placement Reports by adoptive parents. When adopting from Russia, adoptive parents agree to complete a...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementing the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which was introduced in January of this year. Children will qualify for a free pre-school year place when they are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September each year. This means that children born between 2 February 2005 and 30 June 2006...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have responsibility for a broad range of policies and services which impact directly on children and young people's well being. In this context, I recently launched the research report by One Family on the Need for Child Contact Centres in Ireland. I understand that One Family was supported in carrying out this research with funding from the...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Government recently published the third report of Mr. Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection. Mr. Shannon was appointed in the aftermath of the 'CC case' (sometimes referred to as the 'A Case') and was required to review and audit national and international legislative developments for the protection of children, and to prepare, annually from 2007 to 2009, a report...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, my Office had responsibility for the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) which was administered on its behalf by the then Department of Social and Family Affairs. The ECS was replaced from January of this year by the new free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is also implemented by my Office. The ECCE scheme provides for free...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is drafting the Heads for the National Vetting Bureau Bill with a view to submitting Heads of Bill to Government shortly. Consultations have taken place with the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and colleagues in other Departments. My Department has...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 127 and 128 together. The HSE seeks to implement an equity of care policy in relation to all service provision to ensure that all children and young people receive the same level of care as that afforded to children who are citizens of this country. Appropriate care services at local and national level are being developed, working in partnership with...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill 2009 is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs presented a copy of the third and final report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children to Cabinet in early March. The Cabinet decided that in view of the complex nature of the issues involved, all Ministers and Government Departments should consider the report and...

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the recent publication of the report of the Ombudsman for Children entitled, Investigation into the Implementation of Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which guidelines were first published in September 1999. They are the over-arching national guidelines that apply to all individuals and agencies which come...

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: That is dangerous nonsense.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I will give the Senator an explanation.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: It is reckless.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: No, the Senator is extrapolating or inferring something theological.