Results 4,421-4,440 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 9: In page 16, line 30, after "Convention" to insert the following: "and includes an adoption from a country other than one a party to the Hague Convention or a bilateral agreement if the Authority considers that the adoption can be effected from a third country in a manner compatible with this Act".

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: Amendment No. 25 states, "it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is shown that the welfare of the child is best promoted in the society of either or both of the child's natural parents, if either or both of them wish to exercise that role". There should be an assumption in the Bill that a child would be better off with his or her natural parents, unless there are reasons this should not...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: Several of these amendments are in my name. Amendment No. 17 proposes that the birth should be registered prior to placement for adoption. That is in some ways a separate issue to that addressed in the other amendments which deal with the father. It is an extraordinary omission that the birth does not have to be registered before the placement for adoption. Deputy Shatter's amendment...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not suggesting that a father has any particular rights in the case of rape or in the case where he went out of the mother's life the day after conception. The balance of the rights in this section and in later sections, to which my further amendments relate, treat a child's right to have a father as something trivial and that is not available to all children. That is fundamentally...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 17: In page 20, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: "(a) the birth of the child has been registered, and either the particulars of the father have been registered or the mother has sworn and furnished to the accredited body a statutory declaration that the father is unknown or missing, and cannot be traced using reasonable inquiries, unless the court permits...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 18: In page 20, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: 14.—Where a jurisdiction permits adoption otherwise than through the Central Authority of that jurisdiction, the adoptive parent or parents may arrange for the carrying out of the adoption without the restriction of obtaining a referral from a Central Authority in the originating state but subject to the...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 20: In page 21, to delete lines 6 to 15 and substitute the following: 16.—(1) A child shall not be placed for adoption, nor may an application be made by the mother or a relative of the child for an adoption order, without the consent of the father or the court where the father is a guardian or is named on the child's birth certificate. (2) Where subsection (1) does not...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 21: In page 23, line 2, before "it" to insert "the father has committed an offence such that".

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 25: In page 24, line 18, after "consideration" to insert the following: ", and it shall be presumed unless the contrary is shown that the welfare of the child is best promoted in the society of either or both of the child's natural parents, if either or both of them wish to exercise that role".

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 26: In page 24, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: "(2) In any matter, application or proceedings referred to in this section, such regard shall be had to the views, if any, of the child, as is appropriate having regard to the child's age and understanding.". This inserts a provision for the rights of the child. Section 24(2) refers to the child but it...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I disagree with the Minister of State. I know many children under seven years who are well able to express their views and opinions, and who have a right in this fundamental adoption issue to have their voice heard. I do not know why the arbitrary age of seven has been identified in the legislation. Some children are more mature than others at that age but children tend to be well able to...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: Lest there be any doubt, I am not proposing to delete anything from section 24. I am proposing the addition of something.

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not trying to reduce the rights of children over seven years of age in any way. Rather, I am trying to include the rights of children aged less than seven years. According to the Minister of State, the Bill is about the best interests of the child, but adults can sometimes believe they are acting in those interests without listening to the child. If the child has something to say, his...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 27: In page 24, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: "(2) In order to vindicate the welfare of the child referred to in this section, the State shall support the provision of comprehensive post adoption specialised services that respect the child's best interests.". My party and I feel strongly on this section and I will press the amendment to a vote. The...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am bewildered by that answer which does not provide clarification, particularly the last point. Let me first deal with a factual point. Amendment No. 86 is in this group of amendments. That amendment states: In page 65, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: "(e) promoting the development of services to assist persons who were adopted and persons who have placed children for...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will not waste any further time but will press the amendment.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (2 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 80: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will consider taking new recruits after leaving certificate and train them for six to eight weeks during the summer period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23358/10]

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I do not have a problem with the amendments being grouped.

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will begin my contribution now and continue when the debate resumes. Deputy Shatter's proposals are sensible, are in the interests of the child and address real issues, particularly the issue of natural mothers having to adopt their own children through the Adoption Board, which makes no sense whatsoever. In the short time remaining I propose to address the issue raised by Deputy Shatter...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2010)

Jan O'Sullivan: I hope I clarified that matter.