Results 6,161-6,180 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I am very grateful to the Minister of State for that.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: However, I am of the view that it would have been appropriate to accept the amendment in this House.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: Had it been accepted, it would have provided due recognition in respect of the Seanad's role regarding the introduction of the legislation.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I second the amendment, which represents a further stage of development on the position we considered in the context of the previous amendment. I am of the view that amendments Nos. 6 and 7 are closely related because we are moving on to deal not just with the birth parents but also with the adoptive parents, namely, those who are assuming responsibility for the child. This is an extremely...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: That is not correct.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: The word "report" is not contained in the amendment. Why is the Minister of State going on about it?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 8: In page 19, line 33, after "Executive" to insert "or of an accredited body". It is obvious from the debates on the earlier amendments that the Health Service Executive is in no position to provide all the supports necessary in this area. This amendment allows such supports to be provided by other accredited bodies, a perfectly proper and appropriate proposal. I hope...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: He neglected the actual substance of the amendment which referred to support.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I know that but it does not matter. I put my name to the amendment because I supported it and knew what it meant.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I did not want to venture into the byways. The Minister of State could easily have accepted it because it was directly analogous to the preceding amendment. If he accepts one, it is daft that he does not accept the other. They are bound by the idea that in this human situation both adoptive and adoptee families should be given as much support as possible. We are suggesting the addition of...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: Perhaps it is because we are on Report Stage that there are so many references to reports of various kinds. There was a reference to the absence of proper reports in the Russian situation and now we have mention of the Monageer report, which is not directly relevant but since it has been opened up by Senators and by the Minister of State, I will mention it. What concerns me principally about...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I sincerely hope he is right. Will he comment, as Minister with responsibility for children, on the article on the front page of The Irish Times about a report which states that thousands of children at risk of abuse have no social worker? How can that be explained if there is no embargo on the recruitment of social workers? Why is it not being done? One third of the 21,000 children who...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: Senator Fitzgerald may have heard that comment also. The Minister has not received legal advice-----

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: There is no legal advice in existence independent of this.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: Perhaps it was something different. The Minister will no doubt let us know if there is legal advice to the effect that there is a difficulty. I do not imagine that could possibly be the case but the Minister might be frank with us and acknowledge if it is the case and, if so, he might indicate what it is. It cannot be a financial difficulty because if it was a financial difficulty this...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: Yes, exactly. For those reasons I would like the Minister to tease out the matter first and address those questions. Admittedly, one of them deals with the Monageer report and the problem with the recommendations. They are the crucial issues. I welcome the Minister's statement that the appointment of social workers is not embargoed but, if not, why are thousands of children at risk? With...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: No. There are many other amendments to be discussed. It would be nice to have a vote but it would be a waste of time.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I support the Labour Party amendment. Amendments Nos. 15 and 30 are in my name. They are similarly worded. I am interested in hearing the Minister's response to them. It is a function of this House to tease out the implications of legislation not just in areas where we have direct concern ourselves but also on behalf of people who request that these matters be examined. I understand...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 13: In page 22, line 2, to delete "not being less than" and substitute "of". I wish to ask the Minister of State about the reference to the Hague Convention in Part 2. The placing of the explanatory report in the Oireachtas Library is completely superfluous. It does not mean anything. Perhaps I will speak to the Minister of State about that in private. I presume I...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

David Norris: That will mean we can hear the Minister of State's response.