Results 7,021-7,040 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Appointments to State Boards (22 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are six State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. 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 - the Ombudsman for Children’s Office. While Gaisce – The President’s Award - is an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Lobbying Reform (22 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised that one senior official in my Department is a member of the board of a registered body for lobbying purposes. OLH is a registered charity, no. 20001827. I consider that the manner in which Departmental officials on the boards of such bodies conduct themselves is addressed in SIPO’s Codes of Conduct, which can be found in the following document:...

Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I apologise to Deputies Andrews and Wynne for my not being here to hear their initial speeches. I was at a Cabinet committee meeting. I was delighted that the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O’Brien, was able to speak on the Government side. I know the issue is one that he, like me, feels passionately about. I thank the two Deputies for introducing this important legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (23 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since I took Office, the following is the monthly breakdown of staff who took sick leave including those cases where the reason for the leave was disclosed as stress leave. Month Number of staff on sick leave of which stress was disclosed leave June 2020 1 July 2020 4 August 2020 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has 64 live studies, reviews and research projects underway. 40 of these (approximately 60%) involve the commissioning of external experts. For full details please see the table below:

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better, the new funding model comprised of the Early...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mother and Baby Homes (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Boyhan for giving me an opportunity to speak about the Institutional Burials Act and the preparations under way for an intervention under the legislation at the site of the former mother and baby institution in Tuam, County Galway. The Institutional Burials Act 2022, which came into operation on 15 July 2022, provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mother and Baby Homes (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to say that we are setting up a separate agency that will undertake the work specifically at Tuam, and important that it is at a clear remove from Government. Obviously, it will be funded through my Vote but the director will take decisions independently. In order to support the director so it does not just become an entirely bureaucratic process, we have this advisory...

Seanad: Remuneration Information and Pay Transparency Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators Ardagh and Crowe for bringing forward this Private Members’ Bill, which the Government will not be opposing today, thus allowing it to go on to Committee Stage. We all agree discrimination at any stage in employment is unacceptable, and the proposed amendments brought forward here today both to the Employment Equality Act 1998 and of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the members of the committee and appreciate them making time to let me move and discuss this motion today. The proposal I am bringing forward for the committee's consideration is an order to extend the termination date of the financial contribution scheme for hosts of beneficiaries of temporary protection, BOTPs, from Ukraine, known as the accommodation recognition payment, ARP. The...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is absolutely right about the hosts and the significant personal sacrifices many households are making, particularly where a house is being shared, to ensure Ukrainians are welcome. It is important to say the origins of the 13,000 people who are being accommodated come through a variety of paths. Some come through the Red Cross pledge process and some come through the...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My understanding is local authority tenants can avail of this scheme and it will not result in a breach of their tenancy agreements. I think they have perhaps to notify the landlord or local authority that the arrangement is taking place, but once that has been done, they are able to provide the necessary accommodation and avail of the scheme.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In the situation of a HAP tenancy, there would be a requirement to engage with the landlord and to notify the local authority as well. We designed the scheme in response to an emergency situation and have asked for flexibility in the approach, especially from local authorities.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. The scorecard from the Children's Rights Alliance clearly indicates the real challenges we have faced in this area in the past year. The landscape has entirely changed from what it was in late 2021, for example, when we undertook the serious and still challenging task of ending direct provision by the end of 2024. We were dealing with accommodating and meeting the...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: A Government decision would be needed on whether the agency is the direction we go. If so, it will take some time. It is not something that can be brought about today or tomorrow, nor should it be. However, I believe that is the direction Government policy should go. It does not necessarily have to be this Government but whatever Government is in place could do it. Policy should be to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, the number of children currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation currently stands at 4,139 as of 19 February 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Abuse (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that neither this Department nor Tusla, the Child and Family agency has had sight of the Independent report by Dr. Shannon. St John Ambulance continues to complete its due diligence process. However, the organisation has stated that it intends notifying the victims/survivors of the report prior to its publication and to meet with the victims/ survivors to outline...