Results 1,121-1,140 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank Senator Prendergast. This legislation is standard-setting and with respect to Russia, it is clear the Government will have learned a great deal from the Vietnamese experience. If the Government is successful, this will have been the first time a bilateral agreement will have been concluded under the terms of the new Adoption Bill and the new standards it has set for itself. At the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I echo Senator Mary White's comments to the effect the Government is committed to the civil partnership Bill. Everyone recognises the country has taken great steps forward in recent years. A number of surveys show the concept of same-sex marriage does not offend the majority of people. While it is fine for people to advocate the family model which includes a mother and father, there should...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The sooner we come to grips with that fact the better. As already stated, however, it would not be appropriate to accept the amendment at this point.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: On Committee Stage, I said this proposal was an intriguing solution to this issue. I also referred to the Adoption Act 1988, whereby an adoption order can be sought in respect of someone in long-term foster care provided tight criteria are met. That is transposed into this Bill. There is a constitutional requirement due to an Article 26 reference in the Bill. The position of foster...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (14 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister for Finance. The scheme, which is being introduced from January 2010, will be open to almost 5,000 private and voluntary pre-school services, including montessori schools. The...

Written Answers — Young Offenders: Young Offenders (14 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Irish Youth Justice Service is responsible for the provision of accommodation for young offenders detained by the courts in the 4 Children Detention Schools and I am satisfied that there is adequate provision to meet the demands of the courts in this regard. The National Youth Justice Strategy (2008-2010) was published in March 2008 and sets out a range of agreed objectives across a...

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

Barry Andrews: Section 14 provides for the mother or guardian placing a child for adoption to be supplied with a written statement explaining that the placement is the beginning of the adoption process, the effect of an adoption order and the consents necessary, and requires that the mother or guardian sign a document stating that he or she understands the import of the written statement. Mothers are...

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

Barry Andrews: This is the first occasion on which I have been charged with guiding substantive legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The process relating to Committee Stage in this House was absolutely excellent. The Bill was scoped out in a way which I did not anticipate and which was very useful. We are all on the same page in respect of the issue under discussion and I have accepted the...

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

Barry Andrews: We have done extensive work in finding out what the issue is with post-placement reports and the Russian authorities. In reply to a recent parliamentary question on the matter, I stated there are 34 missing post-placement reports out of a total of 450 from last year. The majority of the outstanding reports have been completed and are with adoptive parents for translation and notarisation....

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

Barry Andrews: The Health Service Executive completed over 450 reports last year in respect of children adopted from the Russian Federation. Pact, An Adoption Alliance, has not been blacklisted by the Russian authorities but it only completed seven last year.

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

Barry Andrews: The figure refers to reports for over one year. In any case, much progress has been made on this issue. It is an issue that we have in common with other countries, unfortunately. The Russian authorities, I believe, simply decided to put the foot down to ensure they had all materials contemporaneously and there would be no delays in the furnishing of these post-placement reports. It is a...

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

Barry Andrews: The protections afforded to non-adopted children are also afforded to adopted children under the Child Care Act. If the concern is related to post-placement reports, that is a separate issue. It is not an obligation of the Adoption Authority. There is also the constitutional issue of the right of any family to exclude a person from insisting on a post-placement report. Under the...

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

Barry Andrews: I answered the questions I was asked.

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

Barry Andrews: I was asked a question about Russia.

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

Barry Andrews: I am learning my lesson. I will not extemporise.

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

Barry Andrews: I refer to declarations of eligibility and suitability, about which I commented in the media. Section 37(3) states: (3) As soon as practicable after the Health Service Executive receives an application under subsection (1), the Health Service Executive shall take the following steps concerning the adoption proposed under the separate application referred to in subsection (2)(b) or arrange...

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

Barry Andrews: That again underlines the fact that we recognise this is an area of major priority. Having made the point about section 37 it might clarify the reason this part of the Bill, page 19, Part 3, concerns the placement for adoption. The section the Senator is attempting to amend, section 12, concerns the statutory authorities rather than any accredited body and allowing them permission to enter...

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

Barry Andrews: In the context of what?

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

Barry Andrews: I did not mention anything about legal advice, to the best of my recollection.

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

Barry Andrews: I did not say there was no legal objection, I am just saying I did not say anything about legal advice.