Results 9,501-9,520 of 11,817 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rights of the Child (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. In January of last year. I led a delegation to the a hearing of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva. The committee welcomed the progress Ireland has made to respect children’s rights, including the Children First Act 2015 and other legislative and policy measures. That Act operates side-by-side with the non-statutory obligations provided for in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rights of the Child (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is very much central to the child care (amendment) Bill 2023, which has undergone PLS. Deputy Funchion is present; her committee reviewed it. There is an extensive set of recommendations. One of the key elements is a recognition that for probably some of the children who are most vulnerable, the solution to their situation does not just rest with Tusla. It may rest with CAMHS also or...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy and the other local TDs for their ongoing engagement on this matter. Ireland is now accommodating more than 100,000 people, between those fleeing the war in Ukraine and international protection applicants. Our accommodation system is under real pressure now. With all the limited accommodation capacity in the International Protection Accommodation Services, IPAS, system...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy speaks of a cooling-off period as if these are easy decisions that our Department is taking in a normal time. Again, we are responding to a humanitarian crisis and imminent homelessness. We have already seen that we are unable to provide accommodation for more than 1,000 male applicants as of today. We are close to being in that situation with families and female applicants as...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We do not sign contracts without evidence of compliance with fire certification. On the final point, the Deputy spoke of 220 spaces that are available in Drogheda. Those are spaces that under Government decisions can only be used by beneficiaries of temporary protection by Ukrainians.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: With respect to the Deputy, that is true.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: They are not available for the use of international protection-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: They are not available for the use of international protection-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ------applicants.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the basis that they are within the refurbishment programme, they are only available to beneficiaries of temporary protection.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: International Protection (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is true.

Report of Joint Committee on Gender Equality: Motion (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I hope Deputy Cronin might extend an old cupán tae to me as well during the revolution, because I certainly would like to be a part of assisting it.

Report of Joint Committee on Gender Equality: Motion (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I want to begin by welcoming all present for our debate on the joint committee's report Unfinished Democracy: Achieving Gender Equality. As both Deputies have already described, the overarching goal of the report is to achieve gender equality within our society by means of a variety of targeted actions. That goal is also a key tenet of my Department's mission. This is outlined in our...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together. The Department is not in a position to comment on individual cases. The Deputy will be aware of the shortage of accommodation for single male applicants for international protection. IPAS is unable to offer transfers to alternative accommodation on request at this time, due to unprecedented pressure on the accommodation portfolio. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 451 together. I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I will do so within this quarter. I am also very conscious that many potential applicants to the Scheme are elderly, and in that regard I made provision in the underpinning legislation for the Scheme that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare. It is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending any participating Tusla registered childcare service, including any Tusla registered childminder. The success of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) in meeting families needs is evidenced...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it. To date, over 100,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and approximately 74,000 of those have been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.