Results 3,201-3,220 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (17 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 (CES), a cross-government strategy to address the barriers and challenges to employment for people with disabilities, a public awareness campaign has been planned to raise awareness among employers of the benefits of employing people with disabilities. This campaign had been due to take place in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (17 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, the Employment Equality Acts prohibit discrimination, including in relation to disability, and require organisations to make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities in employment. I have launched a review of the equality legislation, which will be completed next year. The review will consider whether or not the equality legislation is effectively...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (17 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 (CES) is the primary disability employment policy initiative in Ireland. It contains six strategic priorities, including the provision of bridges and supports into work, making work pay, promoting job retention and re-entry to work, and engaging employers, all of which aim to support and encourage companies to employ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (17 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome the joint communique from the UNHR Office of the High Commissioner in relation to Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. Both the joint communique and an initial response from Ireland were published on the UN website on 10 November. The Government is committed to addressing the legacy of Mother and Baby institutions in a transparent and survivor-centred manner. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Following intense deliberations over the past months, on Tuesday the Government approved an action plan for mother and baby institution survivors and a mother and baby institutions payment scheme. This payments scheme goes significantly beyond both the recommendations of the commission of investigation and those of the interdepartmental group that was established to bring proposals to me....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I absolutely agree with the Deputy that every person who spent any amount of time in these institutions was impacted, although I am not sure I agree that every person was impacted the exact same. Certainly my engagements with survivors would suggest that people have different responses and reactions to the time spent in the institutions but I agree with Deputy Browne that everyone was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Section 3 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory responsibility on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. Tusla has a statutory duty to respond to reports of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. Tusla assesses the information received and the child and family’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (18 Nov 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 (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his question relating to the very serious and sensitive matter of interim care orders being sought for newborn babies. As 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: Domestic Violence (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Overall policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth does not provide dedicated funding to support local authorities in hosting fireworks displays at Halloween and on New Year’s Eve.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Overall policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Having regard to the need to support often vulnerable young people during the pandemic, the Guidance for Exchequer /DCEDIY funded Youth Work Organisations was recently updated to allow for pods of up to 15 young people of mixed vaccination status to be allowed for indoor youth service provision. The guidance provides for larger numbers where all participants are fully vaccinated and also...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to advancing the legislation that is required to support intervention at the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam. The General Scheme of a Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill was developed to provide the required legal basis for exhumation, identification and dignified reburial of the infants at the Tuam site and other...

Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome the opportunity to address the issues raised in this motion. We are all united in our belief that the State must take responsibility for the indisputable wrongs that were visited on women and children who spent time in these institutions. As the Taoiseach stated in his apology earlier this year, "The State failed you - the mothers and children in these homes." It would be...

Seanad: Children in Care and Children Leaving Care: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Ruane for raising this important matter and for her ongoing work in this really significant area. It is valuable that Members of the Seanad should have the opportunity to express their views on issues concerning vulnerable children and young people in or leaving State care. We all share an ambition for children in care to thrive. This requires all forms of alternative care...

Seanad: Children in Care and Children Leaving Care: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I must leave as I have to speak on a Private Members' motion in the Dáil. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will take over for me. I thank the Senators for their contributions and I am sorry I cannot respond directly. However, many of the issues raised are issues we are engaging with, as Senator Ruane and I discussed yesterday. We will continue to engage on those issues and I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Capital investment in early learning and childcare will be delivered through the National Development Plan (NDP) during 2021-2030. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars : Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during the lifetime of the NDP as follows: (1) Modernisation: Much of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Therefore, I am not in a position to comment on individual cases. I can confirm that this matter has been referred to Tusla, for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: National action in respect of autism is a firm commitment in the Programme for Government. Earlier this year, Minister Rabbitte announced an intention to develop an Autism Innovation Strategy with the aim of launching it in 2022. In Budget 2022, Minister Rabbitte and I secured €100,000 for the design and implementation of the Autism Innovation Strategy, and for awareness raising around...