Results 841-860 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: As I stated, no such inference was made by anyone in this House. However, I make the point that it is unfair to portray anyone who works as hard as my officials as having caused a delay or that delays are typical of Civil Service inertia or any suggestion of that nature. Such accusations are absolutely unfounded.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I listened to everything that was said in this debate. Senator Fitzgerald, for example, described what was taking place as "disgraceful".

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The record may show something different. Let us not get stuck on this issue. While I apologise if I have provoked Senators, I acknowledge the hard work being done in my office on this issue. We are determined to secure a bilateral agreement with Russia before the Bill is enacted. We cannot guarantee this outcome will be achieved and it would be dishonest of me to suggest we will do so...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It has not been sent.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: No.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I said it was to be sent this week.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: Yes, I hope. I will clarify this for the Senator's benefit.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: We have communicated this to the support groups and they are aware of the position. I hope to be able to send this proposed agreement through the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Vietnamese Government in the next day or two — certainly this week. It will then be up to the Government of Vietnam to decide whether it will sign up to that agreement. There may well be negotiations and...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: We will have to agree to differ. I do not think it is disgraceful.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I understand that because amendments Nos. 2, 14 and 50 are being taken together we should debate them together.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I do not mind addressing them again.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I will speak to that issue.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: For future reference, should we not debate amendments together?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: We have held wide-ranging discussions with the International Adoption Association on the grandfather clause and I have explained our reasons for not permitting it. The clause arises in this grouping of amendments for the simple reason that the arguments I made earlier apply in respect of it. We are introducing standard setting legislation and people have been crying out for us to sign up to...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I acknowledge that the Senator claims to possess research that would suggest otherwise but my information indicates that no such evidence exists. It boils down to the question of whether psychological ties are more easily formed between people from the same cultural backgrounds or if it is the common humanity among people from various ethnic backgrounds that determines whether such ties can...

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank Senators for their extensive contributions on these two amendments. Gay men and lesbians make very good parents. It must be made clear they always have and always will. We must also acknowledge that many same-sex couples foster children. They are entrusted to them by the State through the Health Service Executive proving the State does not have any set view on this matter. The...

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: There are circumstances in which older children, such as 16 and 17 year olds, are adopted, and whenever a child is over seven his or her own opinion is taken into account. If a child, particularly an older child, were to say he or she wanted to be adopted by the partner of his or her mother or father, that could not happen under the current legislation and our constitutional position....

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: Senator Bacik asked me about the statutory declaration procedure for guardianship. I understand the father must be named on the child's birth certificate in order to make such a declaration. Prior to the 1997 Act, one was required to apply to the High Court.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The statutory declaration is clearly unable to address the issues raised by Senator Bacik. I would not wish to make a commitment in this regard. The guardianship rights afforded to natural fathers in an unmarried situation are limited to those who are named on the birth certificate in respect of making a statutory declaration in the absence of applying to the courts.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: They can apply by way of statutory declaration.