Results 4,481-4,500 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Quality and Capacity Building Initiative (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's sentiment and reasons. I understand exactly what she is saying coming from my own background and work over the years in my constituency. On the QCBI, it was an opportunity I saw to support organisations and communities in perhaps a new way and in addition to other investment going on. Part of the design was first of all to provide some moneys for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Quality and Capacity Building Initiative (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I agree with Deputy O'Sullivan. It is at times challenging to make decisions about investment given the parameters and contours of the existing schemes. I accept what she is saying and that is why there is an opportunity within the QCBI scheme to do something different and new to complement the investment that is going into communities. Deputy O'Sullivan indicated the family resource...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Adoption Registration (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Following the discovery of clear evidence of illegal birth registrations in the St. Patrick's Guild records, I directed that an analysis of adoption records be carried out to establish whether there is sufficient reliable evidence of the practice of illegal registration that can be extracted from the records of adoption agencies. The analysis of records is being carried out by Tusla and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Adoption Registration (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy asked many questions. I will start with her last one, with the preface that I am deeply concerned about the issue of illegal registrations. I am in regular communication and contact with those who are in the position of having been adopted and I listen to the concerns that they raise. I am in contact with advocates of those who are in that position and subsequent to authorising...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Adoption Registration (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The short answer to the Deputy's final question is "Yes". That will potentially be in the mix and I would not rule it out at this stage. At the same time, the first task that we are working on is to see if we have evidence of more illegal registrations. We need that evidence to go down the route the Deputy spoke about. To go back to one of the Deputy's earlier questions, we are looking at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 13 together. I thank Deputies Rabbitte and Maureen O'Sullivan for their questions. I know they are very interested in the work of the commission of investigation and supportive of former residents. Deputies will be aware that the commission of investigation is independent in the conduct of its statutory investigations. For this reason, I am not in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Counselling services for the survivors and families in respect of the Tuam and other mother and baby homes is a key concern for me. It is an issue that is being examined by one of the sub-committees established by the collaborative forum. I indicated at the end of my initial reply that I expect to receive a report from the representative stakeholders within six months. I have also told...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Am I correct that the Deputy's reference to a kick-to-touch exercise relates to the work of the collaborative forum?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As previously indicated, the selection of a representative group of people for the collaborative forum was a complex and difficult task and it took some time to complete. We wanted to ensure we have a representative group with the authority to identify what is needed. If the forum wants to come forward next week with recommendations as to what would work best I would welcome that. I do...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On other sites and the possibility of the remains of other children being buried etc., this is a matter for the commission. We are where we are in terms of Tuam because the commission did that investigation, produced its findings and brought them to Government. I have to respect the independence of the commission. As part of its terms of reference it is examining and investigating all...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I agree with the Deputy on this matter. As she knows, I have been to the site in Tuam many times. I have spoken to those affected both as a group and individually and I have met them at the site. Through these experiences I have come to a deeper understanding of the hurt and shame suffered as the years are passing, as Deputy Rabbitte so eloquently described. She has clearly also had that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Data Protection Regulation Implementation (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: When the national child care information system, NCCIS, was being developed, Tusla carried out a privacy impact assessment in 2013. This preceded the requirements of the general data protection regulation, GDPR, which came into effect in May of this year. The system was also the subject of design and security considerations prior to its national launch last July. Following the original...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Data Protection Regulation Implementation (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: To be clear, Tusla is not in breach of the GDPR in respect of the NCCIS. This system is fully compliant with the current legislation. The data protection impact assessment currently in progress was started in early 2018 and is due to finish by the end of this month. A total of 12.5 of the 17 Tusla areas were using the NCCIS system in advance of the GDPR coming into effect on 25 May 2018....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Data Protection Regulation Implementation (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy. I will put those questions to Tusla or my officials rather than say that I can confirm that now because it is important to be exact and accurate. With due respect, I asked the Deputy the question whether it would be placing the protection of children at risk because that is what he is asking me. In terms of the GDPR I am indicating that they are not in breach and that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Children who are homeless are entitled to have the same level of safeguarding as any other child. Child protection concerns will be dealt with by Tusla with the same degree of diligence, care and promptness for any child in need, regardless of whether they or their family are experiencing homelessness. While ultimate responsibility for managing homelessness rests with the Department of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for her question in terms of the research and the authors. I know the centre well and I have the highest regard for its work. We are certainly reviewing that piece of research to which I will pay careful attention. The new article within our Constitution was a driving factor for me to ensure that child protection measures, particularly those that are included in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have indicated that, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I felt that one of the key aspects was implementing mandatory reporting in the Children First Act 2015. I am as conscious as anyone of those statistics increasing and it would distress anyone. As I have indicated, in the context of my Ministry and with Tusla's support, we are focused on and we are committed to providing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Correspondence (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I used the opportunity presented by Pope Francis's recent visit to Ireland to raise directly with him the issue of mother and baby homes and more specifically the discovery of human remains in Tuam. I outlined the serious concerns that I and others had, particularly the concerns of people within the context of Tuam such as the survivors and their families. I told him that I would write to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Board of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, informed me on 30 August, 2018 of the decision of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fred McBride to resign from his position. The resignation is to take effect from 30 September 2018. Mr McBride has completed five years with Tusla, first as Chief Operations Officer and then as Chief Executive Officer, and has decided to leave the organisation at...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (20 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Government is committed to supporting parents in caring for young children at home in a range of ways. Within the remit of my Department, a number of schemes provide support to parents whether they work full time, part time, or look after their children at home. For example, from this month, all children will be entitled to access two years of free pre-school through the Early...