Results 4,201-4,220 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (31 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has met with members of the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) and the Irish Red Cross to set up the necessary procedures to enable a vetting process. This will involve the vetting of host families, i.e. hosts and their family members over 16 years of age, who have pledged their homes to be shared with Ukrainian families with children or with those considered vulnerable...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Fire Safety (31 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the supporting documentation required as part of the re-registration process for early years services, which, for most services, was due to take place at the end of 2019. Services were required to provide Fire Safety Certificates as part of the re-registration process. Many services have already re-registered and submitted a Fire Safety...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Chairman and members for the invitation to join them to discuss the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality. At the outset, I want to recognise the fantastic work done by the Citizens' Assembly and the determination of the Deputies and Senators who make up this committee to see that its work is vindicated. It is an objective that I, as Minister, and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I suppose one of the key measures we took - it was a decision taken following on from both the programme for Government but also recognising that the need to central equality had enhanced following the publication of the report - is the review of the equality legislation that my Department initiated. It is a recognition that when, 20 years ago, we brought in the equal treatment Act and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that when that legislation was passed there was a requirement for a review of it to take place within three years. That review is under way at present. Shortly after I was elected, I certainly made submissions to the then Minister for Justice on the terms of reference of that review, and particularly that the views of sex workers would be considered and all impacts, positive or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Currently, my Department is working in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a new equality data strategy. That is important for ensuring that we have data that allows us to do deep dives on particular minority communities where, within the wider disaggregated data, particular issues affecting them might not be picked up. That data strategy should also address...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am clear that I want the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly to be implemented. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to do so. Some of them are constitutional recommendations and obviously will require a referendum. Until such time as we have a clear wording in front of us and the legislation is passed, any referendum is potential so we will just have to accept...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the Senator's initial point about the importance of this work, it is essential. When the Constitution does not reflect somebody's situation it is very frustrating. One of the arguments I made during the marriage referendum was that marriage is a constitutionally protected institution that I would have liked the opportunity to access at some time should I so choose. The fact that our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: What I am saying now is purely my own view. I would like to see a broad understanding of the family under Article 41. I think that is important. I also believe a recognition of care within the Constitution is important. I take on board the legitimate points that have been raised in terms of decision-making resting solely within the Constitution, particularly around the allocation of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Senator's last point is extremely valid. The work must be in tandem. A decision was made by the Oireachtas to convene this committee. If I just come in, slap down a document and say here is the wording, that would be very disrespectful to the work with which this committee is engaged. The Senator is correct; this has been glacially slow but much work has been taking place. The problem...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Senator knows, I originally proposed to bring paid domestic violence leave as a separate piece of legislation. As we were working through, we decided it would be more useful to incorporate it into the work-life balance directive Bill, which completes two final pieces of the work-life balance directive, that is, medical leave for carers and flexible working. We are also putting the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: That point is important, particularly in the discussion on the recommendations of Article 40.1 about what we elevate to a constitutional level. At the risk of slipping back into law lecturer mode again, the right to equal treatment between men and women under EU law was always within the treaties as a fundamental right while nearly all other fundamental rights were not included in them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Senator will be aware of the work being done through the Barnahus model, which is being operated in Galway initially. The hope is to roll it out to other parts of the country and bring together all of the services around children who have been the victims of sexual violence. Instead of having to go to Garda stations, hospitals and so on, it would all be done in a single setting. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I know Deputy Cronin has always spoken of the position of women in the social revolution. The two big social revolutions that have taken place in my lifetime are marriage equality and the repeal of the eighth amendment, and the role of women was key in both, both for the national campaigns and on the ground at people's doors, as I know from my own constituency. I cite those two because they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I agree that guidelines are important.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would need a clearer understanding of the committee's view on the way forward. Deputy Cronin has clearly illustrated her own view, which I accept. I would also have to engage with Government partners. It is easy for me to make a commitment, but I do not make them unless I know I can deliver on them. I would prefer to have an understanding of the committee's views and the wider views...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am open to informal engagement with the committee and with you, Chairman, on your interim recommendations on the constitutional point. That would be very useful. Regarding the mechanism for delivery of the narrowing and, it is to be hoped, eventual removal of the gender pay gap, the implementation of the legislation will be important in making clear what the issues are, what companies...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: First, the Deputy is correct that there is a need for an element of teasing it out. I am open to engaging either publicly or in private session, and I can make that commitment for officials in my Department. I cannot make a commitment for the Office of the Attorney General. It might be useful for the committee to write to that office and see if such a facility, in private session, would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I want to acknowledge that the mechanisms for the delivery of new refuge spaces is not working fast enough. Everybody recognises that. The review undertaken by Tusla is the clearest evidence of that. That review looked at two main metrics, namely population space per number of people in a particular area and access to refuge space by distance, in terms of a half hour journey. That showed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I cannot give a timeframe for the full 60 places but I understand that by the end of this year, 2022, the work in Louth, Laois and Dublin should be completed. I can double check that and come back on it. The focus of that report was on refuge space. Everyone accepts that more refuge space is needed. We also need to look at other housing options such as safe homes which are also very...