Results 1,001-1,020 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: If a bilateral agreement were not concluded there would be a good reason. It would mean that after a negotiation process, we would have not been able to be satisfied that all child protection measures were in place and therefore there could be no agreement and no adoption. That is the way it works.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is the outer limit, which is reasonable given the long settling in process in terms of adoption of a child. In my view, it is fair.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank Senator White for proposing these amendments, which I have considered carefully. The Senator is proposing in amendment No. 51 that in certain circumstances, the authority, having considered the issues involved, should not have the discretion to limit the publication of certain information and restrict access to public inspection of such information. I am not sure what he is getting...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: Senator White makes a persuasive argument. The point I made initially — I cannot really elaborate on it — is that we are in consultation in terms of international adoption and the effect of tracing. Many of the young people who were adopted from overseas are coming of age. Those adopted from Romania, in that period in the early 1990s, are coming of age and we are beginning to learn a...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: As I mentioned, this is an area we have discussed previously. When a child is adopted he or she accrues all the same rights as an Irish citizen and enjoys the benefits of the Child Care Act. What is anticipated by the amendment is post-adoption services to do with psychological supports that would be individual to somebody who has been adopted. Such supports are available in the normal way...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: I understand it is to do with expenses. I wish to raise another matter on this section. I will be bringing forward an amendment to this section on Report Stage. This arises because the register of medical practitioners referred to in section 98(3)(d) which was established under section 26 of the Medical Practitioners Act 1978, has been replaced by a new register established under section 43...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: That would be to assume the various other appointments, specifically, a social worker with experience in adoption practice, a social worker with research expertise in child welfare and protection, a barrister and solicitor with experience of practice in the law relating to families and children, a medical practitioner and a person trained in psychology, would not have sufficient experience to...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: The point was made to me that in some jurisdictions adoption orders are made by courts and because of the quasi-judicial functions of the board, expertise is obviously required at that level. If we were to go down the road suggested by the Senator it would be wrong not to include a natural parent.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: It would be wrong not to include an adoptive parent and many others who are affected by adoption. However, the adoption authority is intended to be the body responsible for the making of adoption orders and the expertise required to carry out that quasi-judicial function would be of a high level. The interests of adopted persons and of other categories of person I have described will be and...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: I accept the amendment.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: Financial probity is one of the most important tenets in inter-country adoption. The measure contained in the Bill is intended to ensure there can be no question of funds of any kind being made available to accredited bodies in a manner that might give rise to questions about the management and execution of responsibilities in respect of making arrangements for adoption. This measure is...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: Although it indicates prior approval of the receipt of the gift of money, there is no bar on fund-raising and therefore if a person bids for an item at a fund-raising auction, there is no requirement to seek the prior approval of the authority before receiving the cheque. It is simply that when one fund-raises, one must notify the authority of any overall receipt. There is no bar on...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: The purpose of the section is not for the Minister to promote any activities on the part of accredited bodies but simply to regulate their activities and, as such, is a standard clause in this type of legislation.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: This is fairly esoteric. It is outstanding to spot that, whoever informed the Senator.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is the practice in Irish parliamentary drafting to use the word "signed" rather than "done", although the word "done" is used in the reference to the convention. I am advised this has been the practice, in the same way as Senator Hannigan has been advised to the contrary. That is the phrase used in parliamentary drafting.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank all the contributors. I agree with Senator Bacik. Committee Stage has been extremely valuable to me in developing a deeper understanding of the legislation, and I am honest enough to admit that. We have considered and will consider all points and everything is being debated in the right way in the democratic process. It underlines the value of having two Houses of the Oireachtas....

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for supervising the Bill.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (2 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I am pleased to have the opportunity, provided by Senator O'Reilly, to deal with the matter. The Senator will be well aware that allocations to schools typically increase or decrease depending on pupil enrolment. In the case of special classes for pupils with a mild...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (7 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: As part of its work programme for 2009, the National Youth Work Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the progress made on the implementation of the 2003-2007 Plan in the general context of youth work policy and practice in Ireland and the next steps which might be taken with regard to future planning development. When this work is completed, the Committee will submit its comments and...