Results 7,641-7,660 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Higgins and the other Senators for their contributions on this group of amendments. Unfortunately I am not in a position to accept amendments Nos. 33 to 36, inclusive. As we know, these amendments require the preparation of reports on the adequacy of the health support payment and the potential to make supplementary payments in certain conditions. In dealing with the...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Senator Higgins during our previous session asked for clarification on the issue of the waiver, and I agreed to come back to her in writing on that. That clarification continues to be worked on. We will bring it to her. It is being given the consideration it deserves because it is an important issue. We will get that to her when it is ready, which will be soon, I believe. As for the...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: We could not move on to Report Stage without that information.

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am not in a position to accept the two amendments, which require the preparation of reports on the potential to extend eligibility for both the general and work-related payments. As I stated in response to discussion on previous, similar amendments, it is really important that the reviews of the operation of the scheme, as provided for in the legislation as it currently stands, are...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Chair and Senators. I will respond to both amendments Nos. 39 and 40. I am not in a position to accept these amendments, the first of which requires the preparation of reports on the potential to extend eligibility for payments and the enhanced medical card to persons who, as children of mixed race, were removed from an institution covered by this scheme and were placed in...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: This question is a difficult one. It depends. The key objective and reason we included section 50 was to recognise that evidence could come forth concerning an institution. We know a great deal about the operations of the mother and baby homes and the county home institutions because of the commission's report. There are other institutions that we may not know so much about. We spent a...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I disagree with Senator Gavan. I believe I have answered the question both yesterday and last week in respect of the distinction we have made concerning the multifaceted nature of the Government's response to those who were in mother and baby institutions. We recognise that different survivors have different priorities in the context of access to information, the treatment of remains,...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: No, I feel that I have answered the question.

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I did give an answer.

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator. Like Senator Higgins, I have met the Association of Mixed Race Irish and I have heard from them their experiences as former residents of mother and baby and county homes and other institutions, and the impact of the racism they have experienced in their lives. It is important to recognise that, following the publication of the commission of investigation's report, in...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am not in a position to engage on those points. The issues will have to be addressed and will be addressed. However, I am not in a position to go into the matter in detail today. I hope the Senator understands.

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The discussion here is similar to the one we have had on previous amendments in terms of proposed reports on the possibility of additional payments, and the concern at Government that the approach that has been adopted - the non-adversarial nature of the scheme, and a general payment covering the time spent, the harsh conditions, the emotional abuse and the stigma and mistreatment - is the...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: These are a set of technical amendments. These amendments all relate to the use of the term "relevant person" and the word "applicant" across a number of sections in the Bill. They are technical in nature and they are being made for clarity and for accuracy. Any person can make an application to the scheme if they believe themselves to be a relevant person, as per the definition provided...

Access to Autism and Disability Assessments and Supports: Motion [Private Members] (24 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputy Duncan Smith and his colleagues in the Labour Party for tabling the motion. I welcome the opportunity to restate the Government's commitment to children with disabilities and their families. We must face important and very real challenges if disability services are to meet the hopes, expectations and needs of those at their heart and enable them to optimise their potential in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (16 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Parental Leave Act 1998 (as amended), an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very conscious of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and childcare services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. As the State does not employ staff in ELC and school-age childcare (SAC) services, I cannot set wage levels or...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC). Early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders play a key role in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (16 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked extensively to accommodate over 81,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 60,000 have sought accommodation from this Department. Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (16 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Communities Integration Fund provides small grant funding to local community-based projects to support the integration of migrant and host communities. An annual funding call provides grants up to €5,000 which support local organisations in playing a role in welcoming and integrating migrants into Ireland. Please see a breakdown by year, county, and successful or unsuccessful...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (16 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Family Resource Centres are funded by Tusla, from the allocation secured for Tusla by my Department in the annual budget and estimates process. Potential changes in funding are considered and explored through the annual budgetary process. Tusla administers the Family Resource Centre Programme which provides funding support to 121 FRCs across the country. My Department allocates core...