Results 2,821-2,840 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: EU Directives (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The date for transposition of Directive 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers is 2 August 2022. The Directive, at Article 20 provides a two-year extension, up to 2 August 2024 for Member States to implement the final two weeks of paid parental leave (parent's benefit). While many of the provisions of the Directive are already...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: State investment in ELC and SAC has increased by an unprecedented 141% since 2015. This funding has been used to remove barriers to access so that children can enrol and meaningfully participate in high-quality ELC and SAC.  As the Deputy is aware, First 5, the whole-of Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, commits to at least doubling investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I meet with representatives of the early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sector on a regular basis, and I have had a number of meetings in relation to the Big Start campaign. On working conditions and staffing, the campaign highlights the low wages of those who work in ELC and SAC services. I firmly believe that their level of pay does not reflect the value of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In July I met with some of those involved in writing the report, and I welcome the report's findings and proposals. On working conditions and staffing, the report highlights the low wages of those who work in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. I firmly believe that their level of pay does not reflect the value of the work practitioners do for children,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Separately, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has responsibility in terms of capital provision for the development of new refuges. The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the introduction of the ECCE pre-school programme in 2010, a higher rate of capitation has been applicable to services that meet higher qualification requirements for staff delivering the programme. The primary requirement is that room leaders in the ECCE programme should have a relevant Bachelor’s degree (level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications). A Focused...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Special funding allocation for Clare Haven for programme year 2020-2021 was an increase on their Special funding allocation of the previous year. As outlined in correspondence to the service on the 1st September, the Sustainability and Case Management team in the Early Years Division’s Finance, Governance and Reform unit (EYFGR) are reviewing the process for Special Service CCSP...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that this question has been referred to Tusla for direct reply to him.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Ryan Report Implementation Plan, action 65, states that ‘the HSE will, with their consent, conduct a longitudinal study to follow young people who leave care for 10 years, to map their transition to adulthood. A feasibility study carried out by Dr Carmel Devaney and Dr Cliona Rooney; The Feasibility of Conducting a Longitudinal Study on Children in Care or...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. An extensive amount of work has been done on this issue by my Department with the Departments of Health and Justice. The line Ministers have met on three occasions in regard to this specific legislation and how to advance the issue. The special rapporteur for child protection, Professor Conor O'Mahony, provided a detailed report on options in regard to providing full...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the committee for this opportunity to talk to it about the general scheme of the birth information and tracing Bill. I am grateful that the committee has prioritised this legislation in its programme of work. I think we all share a wish to urgently address this issue, and it is my hope that we can all work together to achieve that in the interests of the people affected. I thank...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I have met a wide range of groups and individuals in advance of the publication of the heads of the Bill and particularly since they were published. I have met a number of the campaigning groups in this area. I have met the Adoption Rights Alliance, Aitheantas, Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland. Last month, I visited Tuam, where I met four of the groups...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will do my best. I will come back to some of the questions afterwards because some of them were really important. The first point the Senator raised was a really difficult one. Inasmuch as she has spoken to mothers who very much see themselves as "birth mothers", I have engaged with mothers who feel the term "birth mother" reduces them simply to individuals who gave birth, the...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will come back to the issues of the information session, the specialised registry and the supports for the illegal birth registrations group. Maybe Senator McGreehan can ask me about them later.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to remember that the central purpose of the information meeting is to ensure that the constitutional privacy rights of a parent or a mother who indicated a no-contact preference are respected. It only applies to that group who have clearly indicated a no-contact preference. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that the no-contact preference is respectfully conveyed to the...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his questions. As I said, the final draft of the Bill will be different. These are the heads of the Bill and there will be improvements. The final draft of the Bill will provide for the provision of counselling supports for those who were adopted, those subjected to illegal birth registration and those mothers and parents who seek to use the processes provided for in...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: There has been much criticism of Tusla in the past. Part of that was because Tusla was operating under the existing law, which is not suitable and does not allow the agency to provide much information. There have been problems regarding how Tusla's social workers have engaged, particularly with adopted people and survivors of mother and baby homes. That was discussed in the context of...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the Deputy's first question, I have tried to use the term "mother" in this engagement and in all my recent engagements on this matter. That is a useful suggestion. I refer to the issue of GDPR restriction. The reason we propose to restrict certain parts of GDPR under this legislation is to guarantee full and unrestricted right of access to the adopted person. If we do not provide some...