Results 1,081-1,100 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 65: In page 57, line 14, after "child" to insert the following: "or have previously adopted a child from a non-contracting state".

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I second the amendment. This series of amendments puts tracing on a statutory basis. They are recommended by and have the support of people who are very experienced in this area. We want to promote the development of services that will assist people who were adopted and those who placed children for adoption to trace each other. A number of agencies have developed professional expertise...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 67: In page 61, after line 44, to insert the following: "(12) (a) An tArd-Chlaraitheoir shall keep an index to make traceable the connection between each entry in the Register of Foreign Adoptions and identifying information regarding the child's original identity, including country of birth. (b) The index kept under paragraph (a) shall not be open to public inspection,...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is it correct to say, therefore, that 5,770 people were unable to make contact?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is astounding that out of more than 6,000 people who wanted further details on their adoptions, 5,770 were unable to get this information. The information may be less accurate in respect of the cohort of older people but most of these cases would have involved Irish adoptions. These figures underscore the importance of a tracing mechanism. My amendment proposes the creation of an index...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State seems to suggest it is correct that the register is open to public inspection.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: That would be disturbing and we would not want that situation. The Minister of State also said the board is considering a similar register for inter-country adoptions because their numbers are on the increase and that will be necessary. It is important that the amendment is considered and accepted by him because the section is vague and we do not want to repeat the same mistakes with...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Leader has changed his mind about Tuesday sittings. However, this Bill is extremely important and I welcome the opportunity to debate it further next Tuesday.

Seanad: Pre-school Services (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the issue of the need for the Minister for Health and Children to outline to the House the details of the way the Government scheme to provide a child care place for three year old children will function, the payment methods, the number of available places and the level of uptake in the scheme he expects from child care providers. I welcome the...

Seanad: Pre-school Services (14 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I referred to the e-mail from a woman who runs a child care service. She says: I have worked really hard over the last nine years to build a successful service where parents can be proud to send their children. It is not just a three hour childminding service and it does not end when the children leave. She goes on to outline the types of services she provides. What is the Minister's...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last week I said we needed a debate on the scheduling of the work of this House for the remainder of the term. I called for a vote on the matter but, unfortunately, it was defeated. Today I shall move an amendment to the Order of Business proposing we have such a discussion. I raise this point because it is extremely important that we ask about the Government's approach to the Seanad. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I raise, first the disrespect shown to the House; second, the lack of information given to the House; and third, the problems this causes for the many people involved in these adoptions who are greatly concerned about the matter. If the Minister of State had brought that information to this House it would have been helpful and we might have discussed it. None of us wishes to exaggerate the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will the Leader raise that with the Minister and other Ministers when they come to the Seanad? They must take this House seriously, deal with the issues we raise and respond to the debates and points made on this side of the House. Some weeks ago we called for a debate on the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. Unfortunately, that vote was defeated and it would have been a worthwhile...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is quite clear there should have been a discussion in the House on NAMA. Many Members of the House have a great deal to say about it. Fine Gael has a position on the Government's recommendations in this area which we would welcome an opportunity to debate. That is a debate we need to have which would be very relevant and of enormous concern to many people who are seeking loans from...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: These are critical issues for the public, which we need an opportunity to debate so that we may talk in this House for the remainder of the term about the real issues such as unemployment and the health services.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Senator should talk to the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I second the amendment. I expect the Minister of State will take the opportunity to put on the record of this House what he told The Irish Times. The report by Carol Coulter is very good and I have no problem with it. However, I have difficulty with the fact that the Minister of State was asked in the House on quite a number of occasions whether there were particular difficulties. The...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I second the amendment and support it. I know the Minister of State was angry earlier, but it was patronising to say the contribution of Senator Healy Eames was hysterical. I do not believe it was. There is a long history of women being called hysterical when people do not like what they are saying.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is an important amendment. Currently, adoption agencies provide intermediary information and tracing services to birth parents, adopted adults and adoptive families. The legislation does not provide any legislative basis for this work. We have had a number of discussions about the changing face of adoption, open adoptions, ongoing contact etc. and the legislation will become out of...