Results 1,201-1,220 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

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

Barry Andrews: It is open to people to raise this matter in the Dáil.

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

Barry Andrews: The proposed amendment would allow local authority members to be eligible for appointment as members of the authority or its committees. The authority is an expert board with quasi-judicial functions and, as such, it is not just local authority members who are excluded; members of the European Parliament and Oireachtas Members are also excluded, to ensure there is no political influence in a...

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

Barry Andrews: The amendment relates to section 151(1), which states, "Without prejudice to the generality of section 150, the Minister shall make such regulations as he or she thinks appropriate for the purpose of ensuring that the activities specified in sections 4 and 5 are carried on only by accredited bodies." We all recognise that accredited bodies play a vital role. We have all been under pressure...

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

Barry Andrews: I thank everybody for their contributions. Senator Wilson said that more amendments could have been accepted. It is my first time bringing substantial legislation through any House or committee. The Bill will certainly have the fingerprints of the Seanad on it, whether the amendments were accepted in this House or later. Senator Fitzgerald said it has taken a very long time to get this...

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

Barry Andrews: I thank Senator Prendergast and the Labour Party and I thank Senator Bacik for all she contributed to this. I thank Senator Mary White who contributed considerably on behalf of Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Hospital Services (19 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I take this opportunity to congratulate Councillor Cormac Devlin on the birth of his first daughter last Saturday. I believe the Senator was referring to Caoimhe Devlin. The Health Acts 1947 to 2008 set out the framework for the provision of public acute hospital services...

Seanad: Hospital Services (19 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Government has shown its commitment to the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar through a series of capital improvements in recent years. Stage one of the phase 2B capital development at Mullingar commenced in 2006 and is scheduled for completion shortly at a cost of €23...

Seanad: Hospital Services (19 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The question, as submitted, did not address that issue. The Deputy must-----

Seanad: Hospital Services (19 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The issue of rumours does not really arise in the question and therefore I did not have the opportunity to address it. We can look at it in time.

Seanad: School Enrolments. (19 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I take this Adjournment matter today on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Senators for raising this matter. The Minister is committed to providing information on the allocation of teachers to schools and as a new feature on the Department's website. The process has begun with the provision earlier this year of initial...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: In order to clarify the matter raised by the Deputy, more information is required in relation to the advice received by the organisation in question. I understand that the Deputy is agreeable to following up on this matter with officials in my Office.

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (20 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The decision to introduce a free Pre-School Year in early childhood care and education (ECCE) from January 2010, at an estimated annual cost of over €170 million, was announced as part of the package of measures provided for in the April Supplementary Budget. As a budgetary initiative, details of the scheme were not publicly available prior to the Budget announcement. Immediately following...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 - 2010. Under this programme funding has been made available by my Office to the 33 City and County Childcare Committees to enable them to support the development and expansion of parent and toddler groups throughout the country. I understand that the group referred to by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (20 May 2009)

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

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 May 2009)

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

Written Answers — Child Protection Services: Child Protection Services (20 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: My Office has been in contact again with the Health Service Executive in this regard. I understand that the information requested in the Deputy's Questions is not routinely held in the format requested. As the request is quite detailed and comprehensive and covers the last decade, it is currently being researched and collated across 32 Local Health Offices. I understand that this involves...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 May 2009)

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

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 177, inclusive, and 182 and 183 together. As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 May 2009)

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

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 May 2009)

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