Results 881-900 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (10 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 185, 187, 211, 221, 230 and 234 together. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, was published on 23rd January, 2009. A core principle of the Hague Convention is that intercountry adoption should be child centred, that is, in all...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (10 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010, under which the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) is being implemented. Services participating in the CCSS receive annual funding on the basis of the number of qualifying parents recorded as using the service in a particular reference week, generally set in late...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (10 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I understand that the youth project concerned is the Gweedore Youth Project, Co. Donegal. An application for funding was received by the Department of Education and Science, on behalf of this project in 2008 under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. This was one of 85 new applications received under the Scheme in 2008. The Department of Education and Science was not in a position to...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (10 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: In relation to the safety and security of children in the care of the State, I would like to give the Deputy a brief overview of the legislative, regulatory, policy and good practice measures that are currently in place in the child welfare and protection services. The Child Care Act, 1991 places a legal obligation on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to promote the welfare of children who...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Senators. I am opposing the amendment. It is my view that section 14 already provides that the accredited body shall provide the mother with a written statement explaining the effect of an adoption and the consent necessary, and requires the mother to sign a document stating she understands the import of the written statement. Furthermore, section 28 goes on to provide that the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The baby Ann case is a very unfortunate set of circumstances. Those types of cases are determined on the basis of the best interests of the child, as we all know. Even under the old regime prior to this adoption Bill, every effort is made to allow the mother realise the consequences of both the placing of a child for adoption and the adoption order itself. The best practice in this area...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: All the big cases in this area have featured the giving of full information by social workers to natural mothers and problems arise with a change of mind. Taking all the sections together, the statutory framework is correct. We must ensure practice reflects that, as it sometimes has not been of the first order in terms of what social workers do and how they work. I am satisfied the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: That issue is dealt with in later sections. That issue will be widely discussed when we come to deal with them.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It will be dealt in section 18.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am inclined to accept the principle behind the amendments in regard to the words "refuses to" because we can do something on that and it is probably worthwhile to do so. The only caveat and reason I would not accept the amendments today is that I am concerned there may be an unintended consequence that mothers may be less inclined to reveal the identity of fathers. There is a possibility...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The position in general terms in the Constitution is that it is presumed the best interests of children are served in the marital family. We can debate that presumption all day in the context of the marital family and natural parents but that is not really relevant to this matter. We are dealing with what considerations are to be taken into account during adoption proceedings. Naturally,...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is a very well-intentioned amendment. To identify genetic illnesses at the earliest possible time in a child's life can have an amazing impact on the treatment and even the life expectancy of a child — that goes without saying. However, I am not inclined to accept the amendment for two reasons. One is that the health information Bill will deal with some of the issues. There are...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I have indicated I am sympathetic to the change in language as proposed by Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: This amendment envisages a hybrid between fostering and adoption, a legislative halfway house. As Senator Bacik pointed out, previous Ministers of State with responsibility for children have, to an extent, investigated the matter. We may return to it but not in the context of adoption. Fostering arises out of child care concerns, as opposed to adoption, which is the creation of the same...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I was referring to full adoption.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: A national contact preference register was established in 2005 and this gives adopted children and natural parents an opportunity to put out feelers for contact. A court order is a dangerous precedent. There could be a frustrated father who objected to the placement or who challenged the consent being dispensed with in the High Court and who could be making applications for contact orders...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: We would not have moved forward if this provision had tried to protect one religion over another. It does not. It is simply a reflection that for many people, religion is very important. As a State, we accept that. I do not believe ethnicity is as important and it would be wrong for the State to support that. I do not believe one's race is as important and that the State should serve to...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: To distinguish the right of a person to practise his or her religion from the other points made on race, nationality and ethnicity, perhaps I misinterpreted what was said in that regard and if so, that was not my intention. Regarding what Senator Bacik said, the existing section states "the religion (if any) of the applicant or each of the applicants, if they are a married couple". It has...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I would have to see an amendment before I could comment on whether it would be accepted.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am not inclined to accept the amendment proposed by Senator Bacik.