Results 2,421-2,440 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: This matter was also raised in the Dáil. The Attorney General was firm that the Interpretation Act 2005 permits the understanding of plural when a word is given as singular. It is a pedantic point but he is convinced that "person" is satisfactory to capture the Senator's intention.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: There was no intention to amend the law on publication. The same principles that apply prior to the enactment of this legislation regarding the ability of the HSE to publish will still apply to the Minister. The Bill is about creating a safe channel of communication to get the files from the executive to the Minister, who, in turn, can furnish them to persons appointed to investigate an...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: Amendment No. 7 seeks to amend the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 while amendment No. 6 appears to seek to give the independent review group power conferred by section 16 of that Act in regard to compelling witnesses. This Bill is not concerned with that Act. There are 51 closely interrelated sections in that Act concerned with establishing and operating a specific structure for...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Senator has the right to do as he wishes. The difficulty with this is that if one compels attendance and creates an inquisitorial situation, a person will present his evidence and, naturally, that evidence will most likely be adverse to somebody else. That person would then have to be asked about his position. Inevitably, lawyers will become involved and whatever is found by the review...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank Senators for their contributions. It is clear from Senator Cannon's contribution and the amendments tabled by him, as well as the debate in the Dáil and the Seanad, that all Deputies and Senators share our desire to have the Bill passed as quickly as possible. I thank, in particular, the Office of the Attorney General for the speed and efficiency with which it turned around the...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The question raised by the Deputy concerns an application for capital grant funding under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which is implemented by my Office. I understand that Pobal, who manage the day to day operation of the programme, are continuing to work with the applicant in question in regard to this funding request and will report to my Office when they...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (6 Jul 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 — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (6 Jul 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 and which provides a free pre-school year to eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. The table below sets out the number of pre-school services participating in the ECCE scheme, and the number of children...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (6 Jul 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 (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: In the process of re-negotiating a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption with Vietnam serious issues came to light in relation to the Vietnamese adoption process. The issues were contained in the report on intercountry adoption commissioned by UNICEF and the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and carried out by International Social Services (ISS). An earlier report published last August...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. In April 2009, An Garda Síochána and the HSE signed a joint protocol which sets out the roles and responsibilities of both agencies in relation to Children Missing from Care. The joint aim of both organisations is to reduce the incidence of Children Missing from Care placements, including migrant children, to prevent those children from...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementing the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial child care providers for the development of child care facilities. In March 2007, the company in question was approved capital grant funding under the NCIP of up to €1 million to develop a child care facility. I...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: Section 33 of the Adoption Bill, 2009 provides for a minimum age of 21 at which an adoption order may be made or recognition given to an intercountry adoption effected outside the State. There is no upper age limit for eligibility to be assessed for inter-country adoption. However, prospective adoptive parents are assessed for eligibility and suitability to adopt a child. All applications...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have discussed the proposal to put in place a hotline for missing children that is operational in some EU Member States with members of charitable organisations and non-governmental organisations with a view to providing some level of service. I will keep the Deputy informed of developments in this regard.

Written Answers — Young Carers: Young Carers (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The report on the Study of Young Carers in the Irish Population was published in May, 2010. As I indicated at the time, the study is preliminary and exploratory in nature. It is clear from the study that the identification of and reaching young carers is, in itself, challenging. In that respect the report highlights the importance of creating a better understanding of children as carers in...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The provision of an additional Early Start unit for Traveller children would be contrary to the recommendations set out in the 2006 Traveller Education Strategy. This strategy built on earlier reports, including the 1995 Task Force on the Travelling Community which specifically recommended the end of segregated provision at all levels of the Education system. This includes the pre-school...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. This Bill is obviously a matter of serious concern to them. One thing which came across strongly from the comments was the strong ethos of care. Some of the phrases used were that it is "a gem", "an oasis" and that St. Luke's has provided a wonderful service to people over the years. The challenge for the HSE is to ensure the service is...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am glad he is still hale and hearty after so many years. The Senator can send him my personal best wishes. It is important to remember the transition will last five years until 2014 and perhaps 2015. There are considerable safeguards and reassurances. The Minister heeded the concerns raised by Deputies and Senators and it is a tribute to the staff of the hospital that they will be...