Results 1,281-1,300 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The report on the Report on the Baseline Analysis of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects, which was undertaken by the Irish Youth Justice Service, was forwarded to me for my consideration. Having had an opportunity to assess the report and its findings, I have now given the go-ahead for its publication, which will now take place shortly.

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: In March 2008, the Government approved the development of new national children detention facilities on the Oberstown campus near Lusk, Co. Dublin. The project is currently at the design stage and it is expected that the tendering process for construction should take place in 2010. Construction is expected to be undertaken in phases with the first phase scheduled to be completed by 2012....

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (27 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 of Finance. The ECCE is being introduced from January 2010 as a free scheme to benefit children in the key developmental period prior to commencing school. The scheme will allow...

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together. As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which will commence in January 2010. The Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is being introduced to benefit children in the key developmental...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The HSE have informed me that the response to Parliamentary Question No. 333 is due to be issued to the Deputy this week.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I will respond to some of the items to which I had an opportunity to listen. The final point made by Senator Mullen on the employment equality legislation is very interesting and goes to the heart of how we order our society. The difficulty with Ireland is that we do not have a substantial parallel educational or health system that is non-religious; it is almost impossible in many parts of...

Seanad: Monageer Report: Motion (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I want to address some of the issues raised. I apologise for needing to step out at the beginning of the debate. Several speakers have referred to the Kelly Fitzgerald inquiry. While I do not want to be overly defensive, the comments made about that report by the then Minister for Health, a member of the Fine Gael Party, in 1996 are worth reflecting on. He stated: It was my intention that...

Seanad: Monageer Report: Motion (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: It was used in the Lower House.

Seanad: Monageer Report: Motion (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Houses of the Oireachtas. Fine Gael made the accusation. If Senator Regan is resiling from it, he should make that clear. The accusation was made on behalf of his party——

Seanad: Monageer Report: Motion (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I stand over my comments. Let us not be overly sensitive. A member of the Senator's party said something in the Lower House about this report. If we cannot discuss such things, we cannot have a full debate. Let us stick to what has been said in public and be honest about it. If we cannot comment for the reasons suggested, we would be overly constrained. My original point was worth...

Written Answers — Inquiry Report: Inquiry Report (28 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the publication of the redacted report of the Monageer Inquiry. I believe that publication of the redacted report will facilitate greater awareness of the needs of families and will improve the response of service providers, and that there is great value in this. The provision of appropriate, robust and responsive child welfare and protection services is a key priority for both me,...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (28 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together. As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (28 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, the Adoption Board has statutory responsibility for the registration and recognition of foreign adoptions in the State. In relation to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Board has advised that the situation regarding adoptions and applicants is as follows. All adoptions from Vietnam, which have been registered on the Register of Foreign Adoptions, are safe and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (9 Jun 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 will commence in January 2010. The scheme will allow children to avail of a free playschool place in their pre-school year, which will be provided for three hours per day, five days per week for 38 weeks. It will also...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (9 Jun 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 (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Children's services provided by the HSE aim to promote and protect the health and well being of vulnerable children and families. A wide range of services are provided including early years services, family support services, child protection services, alternative care, services for homeless youth, search and reunion (post adoption) services, psychological services, child and adolescent...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: My Office is continuously working to create the appropriate legislative, policy and administrative frameworks that will ensure a well regulated regime of adoption. Our aim is to support and protect the children for whom adoption services are devised and provided and prospective parents. A number of regions of the Health Service Executive were recently listed by the Russian Ministry of...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 138 and 180 together. My Office is continuously working to create the appropriate legislative, policy and administrative frameworks that will ensure a well regulated regime of adoption. Our aim is to support and protect the children for whom adoption services are devised and provided and prospective parents. A number of regions of the Health Service...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (9 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Requests for assessment for inter-country adoption are continuously increasing. The 'Study on Inter-country Adoption Outcomes in Ireland', undertaken by the Children's Research Centre, Trinity College, between December, 2004, and April, 2007, revealed that Ireland has one of the highest rates for inter-country adoption in Europe. It is against this background that the Office of the Minister...