Results 1,321-1,340 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

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

Barry Andrews: The Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) was set up, on an administrative basis in 1999. The SSI currently inspects Health Service Executive (HSE) run children's residential centres and foster care services provided under the Child Care Act 1991. The SSI has recently inspected the children's detention schools operated under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Government has accepted all of the recommendations of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and is committed to their full implementation. Included in the recommendations is the need for continued provision of counselling, educational and family tracing services. As Minister of State with responsibility for Children and Youth Affairs, I have been tasked with...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. The need for additional supports is also being considered in the context of the implementation of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and I will be bringing proposals to Government in July in this regard.

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: In July of last year I launched the National Review of Compliance with Children First. The key finding of that review conducted by my Office, is that the Guidelines themselves are fundamentally sound and that a renewed focus on implementation is required. The consistent application of the Children First Guidelines is being addressed by the HSE through the standardisation of Child Welfare...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (9 Jun 2009)

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

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 in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which will commence in January 2010. The ECCE is being introduced to benefit children in the key developmental period prior to commencing school. Services can participate in the scheme on the basis of a number of options....

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: With the permission of the House, I will share my time with Deputies John Moloney, Seán Haughey and Billy Kelleher.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I support the Government's counter-motion. First, I will address some of the issues raised by Deputy Sherlock, as he leaves the Chamber. He says there has been an undermining of politics in the country. Fianna Fáil and the Green Party had a bad election. However, let us think about politics. People came out in record numbers, for various reasons and motivations.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I make this point to contradict the view the politics is undermined. Ireland had, probably, the highest turnout in Europe for the European and local elections.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I challenge the view that politics is undermined. Outstanding candidates from all parties presented themselves on the ballot paper for the first time and endorsed, by their courage, the political system. What Deputy Sherlock said is nonsense. Deputy Sherlock should also be careful when he interprets the outcome for the Labour Party. Support of 14% is not a massive endorsement, given that...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Only 14% of the people voted for Deputy O'Sullivan's view of the world. She should not get carried away with the idea that this is a tidal wave of support and for the soothing words which provide balm for the obvious pain people are suffering.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: People are suffering pain. We have said people's incomes will be affected by the changes that are occurring. The Labour Party may provide soothing words and present a false juxtaposition, criticising the Government for recapitalising the banks and complaining that social services are inadequate.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: They should say that to President Obama or Prime Minister Browne, who are capitalising banks in the US and the UK-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: -----or tell the European Central Bank about our inadequate social care services. It makes no sense. It is cheap and empty political rhetoric.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: That is why they have only 14% support.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: People are sophisticated enough to see through it. We accept that we had a bad election but the Labour Party does not understand that the people of Ireland know that the alternative Government, such as it is, is incoherent. There are two Oppositions in this Parliament, Fine Gael and the Labour Party. In the previous Dáil the Mullingar accord set general principles and approaches. That is...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: We have two Oppositions in a race to the bottom of Irish politics to find the lowest common denominator of political accountability.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: That is wrong. That is why there is a notorious incompatibility between these two parties.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Their incompatibility is not only on nationalisation, where the Labour Party wants to create 40,000 extra public service workers by nationalising all the banks. Does anyone in Fine Gael think that could be done?

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Even temporarily, no one in Fine Gael agrees with that. That is a fundamental question when we are talking about an alternative Government.