Results 1,661-1,680 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (3 Mar 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: Adoption Data (3 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: This PQ has been referred to Tusla as it relates to an operational matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (3 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise 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 Childhood Care and Education (3 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability and general provision for school places is a matter for the Department of Education. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar. A child must have reached 2 years and 8...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability and general provision for school places is a matter for the Department of Education. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar. A child must have reached 2 years and 8...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: National Broadband Plan (3 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have not engaged with National Broadband Ireland in the past six months.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for speaking with such passion on this issue. The stark figure he raised of more than 800 active missing persons cases in the country reminds us why this issue is so critical. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, about this earlier this afternoon. She said she would like to be here but cannot because of the Brexit meeting. I will, however, engage with her further...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will bring that request to the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. While I do not want to speak for her by any means, I am sure the Government will look at examining recommendations. As I acknowledged in my own statement, the loss of a loved one in unknown circumstances is tragedy. The pain associated with such loss is carried and felt by families and subsequent generations. When we...

Impact of Covid-19 on Women for International Women’s Day: Statements (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Members for the opportunity to speak today about the impact of Covid-19 on women. It is important that we have these debates to keep the issue of gender equality live but also to better understand the experiences of women in order that we as legislators can continue to make great strides towards achieving gender equality. I am particularly pleased to have this opportunity in the...

Impact of Covid-19 on Women for International Women’s Day: Statements (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Do I have-----

Impact of Covid-19 on Women for International Women’s Day: Statements (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Okay. I was misinformed. I had a speech and everything. Apologies.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Covid-19 Operating Support Payment (COSP) is a short-term, temporary sustainability support that was initially available for the period 1 February to 5 March, and has now been extended to 26 March. It is intended to support early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services that are very reliant on parental fees to remain sustainable during the period of high level...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. Children who do not return to take up their ECCE place within four weeks of 8 March 2021 will not lose their eligibility/qualification for the scheme as consequence of this non-attendance. My Department has continued to provide funding...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators Bacik and Sherlock for raising this important issue today. I wish them and the House a happy International Women's Day. I share the Senators’ concerns regarding measures to increase pay transparency as a means to tackle the gender pay gap, although Senator Sherlock is right that it is just one of the means. As the Minister with responsibility for gender equality, I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will consider all amendments proposed in the legislative process, as I always try to do. We are bringing a number of changes to the Bill and having examined the original draft, I believe, they will strengthen it. In particular, we intend to introduce a mechanism for an earlier review. I understand the review period in the current draft is after five years and I intend to shorten that....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic Violence (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As we called it out in the programme for Government, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is an epidemic in our country. We are ever more conscious of this during Covid-19. The high reporting figures are good because they represent a sign that primarily women are coming forward to say what is happening. The Government has identified this epidemic and is going to address it. There...

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Members for the opportunity to speak today about equal opportunities and access for women in all spheres of life, whether it be economic, social, cultural or political. It is important that we have these debates to keep the issue of gender equality live in mainstream politics. I welcome the initiative of the Irish Women's Parliamentary Caucus to raise the matter. I note the...

Civil Registration (Right of Adoptees to Information) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputy Paul Donnelly for giving his wife's words and reminding us of the stakes at play in respect of this issue. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the extremely important matters involved here and I acknowledge Deputy Funchion for bringing forward the Bill. Access to birth information has been to the forefront of my agenda since I became a Minister and is a priority for me...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 626, 627, 653 and 656 together. As the Deputy will be aware I have now published the White Paper on ending the 'Direct Provision' system of accommodation and support services. The White Paper sets out a new Government policy to establish a new International Protection Support Service. The transition to the new system will be led by my Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department currently has contracts in place for 49 accommodation centres, including management contracts for 7 State owned centres. The 49 centres comprise 45 accommodation centres for International Protection applicants, the National Reception Centre for International Protection applicants in Balseskin, Co. Dublin and 3 Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROC) for refugees...