Results 5,221-5,240 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking temporary protection in Ireland. To date approximately 29,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection who have arrived in Ireland have sought accommodation. The Department is contracting emergency and short-term accommodation across the country in order to accommodate...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Proposed Legislation (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 21 April the Government gave its approval for the drafting of a Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, the main purpose of which is to transpose elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide new rights to parents and carers in order to support a better work life balance. The General Scheme of the proposed Bill is published on my Department's website. The...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators for facilitating the issue with voting today and I gather it may need to be facilitated again later this evening. I thank the Senators for putting forth this set of amendments. I know we discussed similar amendments in the Seanad on Committee Stage here and in the Dáil, and I am not going to be in a position to accept these amendments. Amendments Nos. 1 to 4,...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am not in a position to accept this amendment that seeks to remove the very important concept of safeguarding the public interest from consideration within this legislation. The excavation and recovery of human remains is a complex and sensitive intervention. In making a decision to undertake this, the Government must strike a balance between the need to intervene with the need to respect...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am not in a position to support these amendments that seek to amend the criteria under which the Government cannot make an order. The criteria set out are all important factors that need to be considered in decisions on whether an order should be made. There is a strong rationale for excluding official burial grounds, ensuring that appropriately buried human remains are not disturbed...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I appreciate the sincere intent that lies behind amendments Nos. 9 and 10, I am not in a position to support them. As outlined previously, it is vital to recognise excavation is not a desired option in every circumstance. From my discussions with families and survivors, I am aware that for some family members, these sites are the graves of their loved ones and they do not want them to...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I cannot support the amendments, which would change the membership of the advisory board. The Bill provides for an advisory board that will be established to guide and support the director of an intervention. It will include scientific experts and former residents, family members of the deceased or both, and consultation with the advisory board will be required at regular intervals,...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I hear the Senator's concern and I hope I can reassure her. I am not in a position to accept the amendment because I do not feel it is necessary. I believe there is a protection there and, as we discussed on Committee Stage, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 protects the rights of those making a protected disclosure under that Act. This Bill does not in any way prejudice the rights of...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I believe we cover all of what the Senator seeks to achieve in the existing provisions on reporting, so I am not in a position to accept the amendment. Section 35 provides for a director to prepare a report following post-recovery analysis, and this report must document the circumstances of the discovery of human remains, the forensic excavation and recovery and the outcomes of activities...

Seanad: Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: What happened in Tuam represents a stain on our national conscience. This Bill will allow us at last to offer the children interred at that site in Tuam a dignified and respectful burial. The Government is committed to a full-scale forensic excavation of the site and this legislation is essential to deliver that. My sincere hope is this will finally bring some form of solace and closure to...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Ruane for bringing forward this Bill, which highlights the importance of transparency in addressing discrimination and ensuring cases of harassment and sexual harassment do not remain concealed, thereby protecting and providing cover to those who commit these acts. The Government indicated on Second Stage it would not oppose this Bill but would instead conduct its own...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I support the principles behind the Bill, as it is currently drafted, it may not capture the broad nature and use of non-disclosure agreements that has come to light in the research carried out by my Department. The proposals, as drafted, may limit the ability of an employee to negotiate a settlement where sexual harassment or discrimination has occurred. For this reason, I will...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will propose the deletion of section 3(2), as the commencements of any new provisions need to be considered in the context of operational or other considerations.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Appointments to State Boards (5 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are six bodies under the aegis of my Department that have a board.  They are the Adoption Authority of Ireland, Tusla (The Child and Family Agency), Oberstown Children Detention Campus, the National Disability Authority, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and Gaisce (The President’s Award). My response to your question pertaining to each individual body can...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Burial Grounds (5 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together. I am very conscious of the pain experienced by families in relation to the deaths of children at former Mother and Baby Homes, including Bessborough, and the uncertainty surrounding some of their burial locations.  The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes concluded that it is likely that some of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (5 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on meeting the immediate, temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict. My Department is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis. The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm to the Deputy that the total number of persons employed in the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) currently stands at 56. IPAS is responsible for the accommodation of international protection applicants only.