Results 921-940 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

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

Barry Andrews: The amendment would provide for a four-year period until the expiration of a declaration. I consider this to be too long a period because in normal circumstances an extension is usually shorter than the original period rather than being exactly the same time. I believe 12 months is an appropriate period of extension. I am advised that difficulties may arise in other jurisdictions in...

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

Barry Andrews: I am informed that under the Interpretation Act 2005 an oath includes an affirmation or declaration.

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

Barry Andrews: I am informed that section 48, as drafted, provides that "The Authority may take evidence orally or on affidavit." If the authority takes evidence orally, it does not preclude it from taking it on affidavit also and vice versa. Therefore, the amendment is not necessary.

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

Barry Andrews: I do not have any particular insight to add. The Part is relevant in that it concerns adoption orders in exceptional cases and the role of the High Court. The section states: (1) In this Part, "parents"— (a) includes a surviving parent, and (b) in relation to a child in respect of whom an adoption order is in force or who is the subject of an intercountry adoption effected outside the...

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

Barry Andrews: This is a very complex area. The measure has been on our Statute Book since 1988 and this is simply a transposition of those provisions into the current Bill. It has been through the Supreme Court and the circumstances as set out in section 54(2)(b) reflect that, being the Supreme Court judgment on the section. I read all the arguments in respect of section 54(2)(b)( i)(I). The requirement...

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

Barry Andrews: I will definitely look at that section.

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

Barry Andrews: I am informed that the numbers are very low. This was discussed at the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. It is usually applied for when a child is in long term foster care and reaches the age of 16 or 17. The application is made and is usually successful but the numbers are quite small. I will undertake to provide the Senator with the information in due course.

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

Barry Andrews: I ask the Senator to explain further.

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

Barry Andrews: I will come back to the Senator on that point as I do not want to give a definitive answer now. We can discuss it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am taking the adjournment debate on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the position with regard to the proposed building project for Springdale national school, Raheny, Dublin 5. In September 2008, the Minister announced details of 25 major school...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: That seems to be evident from the response prepared by the Department. The reply notes that once it is established the documents are in order, the school will be authorised to progress to the invitation of tender. That seems to be the intention.

Seanad: Youth Services (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Minster for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has delegated to me, as Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with responsibility for children and youth affairs, the powers conferred on him under the Children Act 2001, as amended. The matter raised therefore falls under my responsibility. The National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010 sets out plans for...

Seanad: Youth Services (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: In response to Senator Doherty, I met some of the young people from Gweedore who came to Dáil na nÓg recently and I pay tribute to them. They came straight up to me to explain the circumstances and the shortcomings, and the fact that funding was stopped. I assure Senator Doherty that, thanks to them, I am fully aware of the problems in Gweedore. It is an area in which I wish to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The information requested is not readily available to my Department. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (24 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222, 223 and 444 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 Friday 23rd January. Under the new legislation, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries which have also ratified the Hague...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 -2010 is implemented by my Office with the assistance of Pobal, who manage the day to day operation of the programme. As the Deputy may be aware, applications for capital grant funding under the NCIP are processed, in the first instance, by the County Childcare Committee's (CCC's) and are then forwarded to Pobal. Final consideration of...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (24 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 244 and 253 to 255, inclusive, together. As the Deputies are aware, the youth sector has received considerable financial support over the past number of years. Funding expanded from €35.5m in 2004 to €52m in 2008. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector including the roll out of a number of sections of the Youth Work Act, 2001...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (24 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 284 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 stages of the process the...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 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 — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 -2010 is implemented by my Office with the assistance of Pobal, which manages the day-to-day operation of the programme. The group in question was approved capital funding of €1.2 million under the programme in May 2008. However, capital grant approvals under the programme are subject to satisfactory...