Results 2,821-2,840 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Foreign Adoptions (18 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Deputy Breen for raising this matter, which is of great interest to many Members of this House. I commend him on the important work he has done as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on behalf of my Department during his recent visit to Vietnam. The Hague Convention on lntercountry Adoption will enter into force in Vietnam on 1 February 2012. This is a...
- Foreign Adoptions (18 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Since taking office, I have been trying to bring clarity to the area of inter-country adoption. That applies to Vietnam, Russia and Ethiopia - whichever countries we are talking about. For adoptions to take place between two countries, ideally both countries will have signed the Hague Convention; if not, there should be a bilateral agreement. Many Irish parents have already adopted from a...
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. Adoptions from Ethiopia, effected under the transitional arrangements provided for in the Adoption Act 2010, are ongoing and are currently being examined, and recognised, by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI). These transitional arrangements may lead to adoptions from Ethiopia taking place up to the end of October 2013. Adoptions...
- Written Answers — UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (18 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that Ireland is to present a report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child later this year. Ireland has already submitted two reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1998 and 2005/6 respectively. The report to be submitted this year will be Ireland's combined 3rd & 4th reports to the CRC covering the period from 2006-2011 (inclusive). The...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (18 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. All young people who have had a care history with the HSE, be it foster care, residential care, high support,...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (18 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Health Service Executive to update the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (18 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Health Service Executive to update the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
- Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Under the provisions of the Adoption Act, 2010, the only persons who can jointly adopt are married couples. There are currently no proposals to change the legislation in this regard.
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Following a request to the US Central Authority a delegation from the AAI travelled to Washington on 17th November 2011 to meet with representatives of the State Department (the Central Authority for the USA under the Hague Convention) to discuss certain issues which have arisen concerning adoptions from Florida. The AAI inform me that these discussions are ongoing and will be addressed...
- Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: With effect from 1 November 2010, intercountry adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention or with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. 57 countries have ratified the Hague Convention and Ireland currently has no bilateral agreements in respect of intercountry adoption. As the Hague Convention is designed to ensure a minimum set of standards in...
- Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the HSE that the Office of the National Director, Children and Family Services does not routinely collect data regarding discharges from care. However the HSE is currently looking at collecting this information with effect from January 2012. I have requested that the HSE provide me with information on how many children were discharged from the care of the State on...
- Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Health Service Executive to update the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
- Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Health Service Executive to update the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Health Service Executive to update the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Health Service Executive to update the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
- Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (19 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Officials from my Department have been in contact with the Embassy in Ethiopia requesting an update to the detailed assessment of intercountry adoption procedures, which was provided by the Embassy in June 2010. This update is expected shortly. In addition, I have given the AAI approval for the commencement of the process of examining the feasibility of a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia....
- Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware a number of children focused services from various sectors, including the National Educational Welfare Board, have been brought together under my responsibility since June 2011 so as to facilitate Government's objective to deliver an integrated and consistent approach in the development of policy and services aimed at children. The NEWB was established under the...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (24 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 567 to 572, inclusive, together. As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.