Results 4,501-4,520 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: My question is-------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like to clarify lest I be misunderstood that I was not referring to single parents through natural circumstances. I refer specifically to how we are enabling a single man or woman or same-sex couple through surrogacy or IVF, for example. My concern is about the right of a child to two parents.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am sorry-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish to stress that I am not speaking about children born to single parents through natural circumstances.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Yes, Chairman, but I regret that the word "twisting" was used, because it is a dangerous word in the context of this debate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is directed to Ms Griffith from Marriage Equality. The principle of consent of the birth mother is absolutely central to adoption. With regard to adoption by same-sex couples, does she support the principle of consent by the birth mother or birth parents, who would be asked whether they would wish to have their child or baby adopted by a heterosexual or a homosexual couple?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Let me follow up on that point. The principle of consent is paramount in adoption law in Ireland. It is in place in many countries that send children to Ireland. As we know, the majority of children adopted in Ireland are from abroad. The only country of which I am aware in which that is not the case is South Africa. I am an adoptive parent. Is it fair to a child who will some day ask...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Not necessarily.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish to follow up on this important issue in terms of the journey we are on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is important that the process of adoption is open and transparent. I wish to clarify again that while the principle of consent is about the parent consenting to adoption, there is also the more wholesome practice of the birth mother or birth parents, where both are involved, making their wishes known about how they would like the child to be reared. That was implicit in my question. My...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wanted to hear a little more about Ms Boteju's guidance on surrogacy and whether it was in the best interests of the child. Is surrogacy good for women?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: May I ask a follow-up question, if possible?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Of course. Is the approach taken by Germany and Austria better? They have outright bans on egg and sperm donations, except where used by married couples.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: About this time in Liverpool today there is a remembrance of the Hillsborough disaster. We all remember that and maybe we should bow our heads to remember that terrible, horrific tragedy. It was 25 years ago today. Some 20 years ago this past week was the genocide in Rwanda where innocents were slaughtered. Today I have a meeting with UNICEF about the education programme I was part of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: ----- even if it was to rent.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I realise that but I cannot state enough the trauma I experienced listening to these people.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I support Senator Jim Walsh's proposal for a Minister or a Minister of State solely responsible for pensions. This is a time bomb. We have some time, but we need to start to plan because the demographics speak for themselves, as the Senator said. The time bomb about which I wish to speak and which I mentioned yesterday is home repossessions. We know from the banks, the representatives of...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will be very brief. I regret not being able to be part of the debate either last Wednesday or today because on both occasions I had to prioritise committees. It is one of the faults of the system to have these matters running concurrently. This is interesting legislation. I have worked in schools as a teacher and a teacher educator and would not wish any teacher to feel discriminated...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister of State. I wish to outline the rationale for a credit union bond and to ask the Minister for Finance to initiate negotiations towards introducing one. I know this is also an area of interest for the Minister of State. I have visited many credit unions in Galway city and county, and in doing so have learned a considerable amount. I have come to the conclusion that...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: From what I have heard the Minister of State and the Department have an open mind on the issue. He has heard my story that the local credit unions are very keen to work with the Government on this matter but between the two views there is a hole or gap. What is not happening to make this happen?