Results 3,981-4,000 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy noted, for decades, we have not provided the rights to adopted people and we are doing so with this legislation because in the context-----

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to move amendments Nos. 128 to 130, inclusive. In response to Deputy Pringle, the line that amendment No. 127 seeks to delete gives the body to which these applications will be made the ability to construct the form through which the applications will be made. If that body will not set the application form, I do not know who will. As this amendment seeks to take out the most...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move amendment No. 128: In page 18, line 13, to delete “specify,” and substitute “specify, and”.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move amendment No. 129: In page 18, line 16, to delete “this Part, and” and substitute “this Part.”.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move amendment No. 130: In page 18, to delete lines 17 to 19.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This amendment seeks the deletion of section 9(6), which empowers a relevant body to release the birth information to the relevant person immediately in all situations where an information session is not required. This amendment is undoing what the Bill is all about, which is the immediate release of information, so I oppose it.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is about the process that a relevant body should follow when an information session is required. In our view it is essential to the functioning of the legislation in providing for the balancing mechanism. We have to oppose the amendment.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I absolutely understand with regard to the delayed vote earlier and the importance of the debate in the Dáil. It is unfortunate and I understand it. It is not my preference either that I am speaking to people as they are running out the door. It is important that I flag this as I was directly name-checking the Deputy.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It would not have been nice for Deputy Bacik to have had to run and then for me to have made the point. If we accept there is a need for the balancing of constitutional rights, the question then is what is the best way to do this. I have set forward the reasons I believe, and more importantly why others believe, the information session and the provision of the conveying of the preference...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We do trust people. We trust adopted people. That is why they are being provided access to all information. Nothing is held back any more. We trust them with the name of their mother, and of their father if it is on record, and the names of all their relatives. In the past they were not trusted with that. We trust them and this legislation provides access to that information. They do...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I did not get to speak to amendments Nos. 200 and 201 in terms of the back and forth. I wanted to let Deputy Bacik in. When we come back, will I be able to speak to amendments Nos. 200 and 201? I proposed them but I have not had the opportunity to speak to them yet. I believe I have moved them.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Yes. I will bring forward these amendments to change the text in respect of the information session. Currently, the three points of which the designated official will inform the adopted person in the information session are: (a) the entitlement of the relevant person to obtain, in accordance with this Act, his or her birth certificate, or birth information relating to him or her, as the...

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators for inviting me here today to talk about my Department's response to the continuing crisis in Ukraine. Like the Senators, I am gravely concerned by the ongoing situation. I am sure they will all join me in condemning in the strongest possible terms the illegal actions of Russia, whose military strategy at this stage appears to be one designed to cause the maximum...

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank all Senators for their contributions. The generosity expressed in this room is reciprocated all over the country. I know it is appreciated. I know that from Ukrainians who just turned up at my Department in the early days of the crisis because that is where they were directed to. I had a chance to meet and have a brief conversation with them and I also met Ukrainians in my...

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is a very specific question and I do not have the answer for the Senator today. I can follow-up with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fleming, if that is all right.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you for your question, Deputy. As this is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs I would suggest that you contact my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, directly in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with the commitments in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, my Department continues to work on the mapping of LGBTI+ community services. In November 2021, 42 projects around the country received funding to a total amount of €1.5 million under the 2021 LGBTI+ Communities Services Fund. The fund comprises two schemes – one dealing with community services, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 652, 657, 671, 680, 681 and 682 together. My Department is providing accommodation to Ukrainian refugees who seek such accommodation. It is currently sourcing accommodation from hotels and guesthouses. It has also engaged with the Association of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland, the Defence Forces, the Health Services Executive (HSE) and higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) and An Garda Síochána (AGS) travel to Lebanon and Jordan to interview refugees who have been pre –screened by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). IRPP staff conduct interviews relating to integration while AGS conduct security interviews. Following discussions between IRPP and AGS refugees are invited to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing challenges, as a result of difficulties in both recruitment and retention of staff. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover, compounded more recently by high numbers of COVID-19 cases. Recruitment and...