Results 3,981-4,000 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Youth Health Issues (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will engage in consultation with the Ministers, but I have just received this report within the past couple of weeks. I work with both Departments on cross-departmental issues and this report will certainly be on our agenda. It is obviously linked with the report of the working group on obesity also, on which there is cross-departmental work on health education.

Other Questions: Youth Health Issues (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is an area we are just beginning to research and this is one of the first reports we have received. Significant work has been done in Australia on the issue of body image and young people's view of it and how it impacts on them. The initiatives on bullying are an important way of dealing with this issue and that of mental health. Equally, the SPHE programme in schools, changes to the...

Other Questions: Youth Health Issues (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take Deputy Wallace's point in regard to teachers. I take this opportunity to praise the dedication of teachers who give such so much time outside school hours to support young people who participate in all sorts of sporting activities and school events. That is a very important aspect of the work of teachers in dealing with the kind of issues we are talking about today. Teachers help...

Other Questions: Retail Guidelines (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I addressed this issue to some extent in response to Question No. 5, in the name of Deputy Wallace. Other Departments and bodies are involved in the regulation of advertising in broadcast and other media. Inappropriate marketing and, particularly, the sexualisation of children in advertising, which we have already discussed, are important issues for those of us concerned with the welfare of...

Other Questions: Retail Guidelines (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have given the details of the number of retailers that have signed up to the guidelines. That information can be considered as part of the reply to this question. In August 2011, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland issued a consultation document on a children's commercial communications code and launched a related public consultation process on how food and drink should be commercially...

Other Questions: Retail Guidelines (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is clearly a complex issue. No particular authority in Ireland governs the broadcasting of the programmes mentioned by the Deputy. Clearly, there is scope for the best practice with regard to these issues to be examined at EU level. I am not sure how effective that would be, however. It is hard to know what impact it would have. I will make inquiries for the Deputy and revert to him...

Other Questions: Retail Guidelines (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Evidence is emerging to suggest that online gambling by young people is a serious issue. It is of more concern in some circumstances than in others. I would be happy to examine the initiatives that are being taken at EU level. Clearly, the issue of the regulation of the Internet, which has proved to be extremely difficult, transcends national and geographical boundaries. As in the case of...

Other Questions: Retail Guidelines (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The best response in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy is to continue to educate our young people. That is why I welcome reports like the body image survey and the work on the retail guidelines. Education and self-awareness are needed. We have to give young people an opportunity to discuss these issues in places where they are supported. Many of them are involved in activities like...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The purpose of the proposed constitutional amendment is to recognise children in their own right in the Constitution and to acknowledge that each child enjoys rights and deserves certain protections from the State by virtue of the fact that, as a child, he or she is vulnerable. The referendum will not address all wider issues that impact on children. It is the fundamental backdrop to the...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is fine.

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage people to vote on 10 November next. It is a Saturday, which should facilitate people. It is important for people to come out to vote and to give a strong endorsement to this amendment. The information is out there. It is available to the public. People always ask for more information. Two booklets are being delivered to every home....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Unemployment (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The European Commission’s draft EU Youth Report on the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (EU Youth Strategy 2012-2018) looks at the situation of young people in the European Union and evaluates the progress made in achieving the overall objectives of the Commission’s EU Youth Strategy during its first three-year cycle (2010-2012). It also serves as a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 18 and 28 together. The Adoption (Information and Tracing ) Bill continues to be a priority of mine. While the drafting of the Heads of Bill is at an advanced stage in my Department and consideration of the policy issues in relation to all aspects of the proposed Bill is ongoing, it is intended that the proposed legislation will provide for a structured...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Children's Strategy (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Children’s Strategy was published in November 2000. The three national goals of the strategy are that: 1) Children have a voice in matters which affect them; 2) Children's lives be better understood; and 3) Children receive quality supports and services. The National Children’s Strategy has had considerable impact and has informed the development of a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The recent publication of the HSE’s diocesan audit report represented the culmination of a long process of engagement between the HSE and the diocesan authorities, to establish the position with regard to the Catholic Church, in terms of the safeguarding of children and on responding to allegations of child sexual abuse against members of the clergy. The Audit highlights recent...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I indicated recently in my written response to the Joint Committee for Health and Children, the audit report is being submitted this week to the HSE’s National Director for Children and Family Services, Mr. Gordon Jeyes. It is planned to publish the report by the end of the year. There is no delay in publishing the report, which is a composite work covering three audits in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Play Facilities (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The development of play and recreation policy is an important objective for my Department because of the positive social and developmental impact of play in the lives of children and young people and its significance in promoting active healthy lifestyles. As the Deputy is awareReady, Steady, Play: A National Play Policy, published in 2004, provides a framework for the development of public...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 39 together. Last week, I described the findings of the recent report by the Inspector of Prisons as shocking and unacceptable. I have discussed the content of the report in detail with Mr Shatter, Minister for Justice and Equality and Government colleagues and I have been assured that the action plan which has been drawn up by the Irish Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The policy of the HSE is to place children in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. There were 6,258 children in the care of the state in July 2012, the vast majority of whom were in...