Results 1,561-1,580 of 11,907 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Joint Labour Committees (18 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to “support the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee in the childcare sector and the drawing up of an Employment Regulation Order, which would determine minimum rates of pay for childcare workers, as well as terms and conditions of employment”. To progress this commitment, in December 2020, working in partnership with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (18 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention, and wish to apologise for the inconvenience. I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, seeking clarification on why the requested response has not issued, and instructing that a reply issue to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Data (18 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I know the absolute importance of access to birth certs and early life information for adoptees. Addressing this issue is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan in response to the Commission’s Report. It is a priority for myself, the Attorney and the Taoiseach. My Department and I are engaging intensively with the Attorney General to find a solution to the issue of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (18 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation will stand dissolved in law on 28th February 2021 and is due to submit its archive of records to my Department by that date. Former residents of Mother and Baby Homes will be able to make a Subject Access Request (SAR) to the Department under the GDPR for access to their record. My Department is working intensively to ensure that it...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (18 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since taking office at the end of last June, I have engaged in three formal meetings with the Commission of Investigation. The dates of these meeting were as follows: - 27th July 2020 - 15th October 2020 - 13th November 2020 I have also corresponded with the Commission over this period in the context of the legislation enacted in October 2020 to protect its records; in relation to the receipt...

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) (19 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Acting Chairperson for his kind words. I have appreciated the opportunity to come into this House on three occasions to hear at length and in depth from Senators from around the country. They have had engagements, experiences and conversations with people in their own areas who have been impacted by this situation and-or seen the impact of local mother and baby home institutions...

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) (19 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will speak to the Senator afterward.

Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Motion [Private Members] (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome the opportunity to deal with the important issues raised by this motion. It is an opportunity for me to update the House on the issue of the deletion of audio files, which is central to the motion before us. Colleagues across the House are united in wanting to do what is right by survivors. I strongly believe we must focus on real solutions and move quickly to resolve the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Employment Rights (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under Section 9 of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004, mothers in employment who have given birth within the previous 6 months (26 weeks) and who are breastfeeding are entitled to take one hour paid time off work each day in order to breastfeed. At the choice of the employer, a breastfeeding mother may breastfeed in the workplace or express breast milk, where facilities are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 629 together. The recently enacted Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another matter, Act 2020, was passed to protect the archive of records from the Commission of Investigation. Once the archive of records transfers to my Department under section 4 of the Act, my Department will become...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Years Sector (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Learning Initiative (ELI) at?National College of Ireland operates as part of the Tusla Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme. The Tusla ABC Programme is an area based prevention and early intervention initiative delivered across 12 areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage in areas across the country. It operates as part of the wider Tusla Prevention, Partnership and Family...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The 2021 capital funding programme is focused on ensuring fire safety in early learning and care childcare services around the country. The 2021 Capital grant funds were voted are part of the 2021 budget and can only be used for expenditure incurred in 2021. It is not possible to use these funds to compensate early learning and childcare providers for works they undertook in 2019. I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ministerial Advisers (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, on the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The names of my Special Advisers are set out below. These appointments were made in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Abuse (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy refers to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct reply issue to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The table below shows the number of staff employed in my Department by gender and by civil service salary scale as of 31st January 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission has discharged the statutory function set by the Oireachtas and exhausted its remit. It has delivered its report in accordance with Section 43 of the Commissions of Investigation Act, 2004. I am aware of recent calls from some advocates and public representatives for the timeframe of the Commission to be extended to enable it deal with concerns relating to its report and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department currently has 28 live studies, reviews and research projects underway. All bar two of these projects involved the commissioning of external experts. For a full set of details included projected completion dates please see the table below:

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (24 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DGSBV). As the question relates to operational matters, I have requested that Tusla responds directly to the Deputy on this matter.