Results 1,721-1,740 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Seanad: Family Leave Bill 2021: Second Stage (12 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators for their contributions and for the positive way in which they have responded to this legislation. I agree that it is very positive. It is a clear step forward in a direction towards supporting all families, recognising our understanding of the role, and that the joy rather than the burden of caring for children should be shared between parents where there are parents,...

Seanad: Family Leave Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Ruane for her amendment and all the Senators for speaking on it. I understand the spirit in which this amendment is put forward and I am committed to working with Senators, and indeed Deputies, on the issues that are raised here. A legislative requirement to bring forward a review of the nature described by Senator Ruane's amendment is not necessary at this time because the...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Revised Estimates for my Department for 2021, including that of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. As the committee will have seen from the briefing material provided to it last week, my Department is projected to spend €1.887 billion on current expenditure and €32 million in capital expenditure during 2021. This...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will take those questions. We secured a very significant increase in DSGBV funding. Additional money went to Tusla and it then allocated significant additional funding. Additional core funding of €2.7 million was provided, bringing the core funding for the DSGBV area up to €28 million. An additional Covid contingency fund of €2 million was also provided for this...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy asked about additional funding, which is related to a question the Chairman asked earlier. Tusla got an increase of about €66 million. We have also allocated an additional €4.7 million to services relating to domestic violence, of which €2.7 million is core funding. That gives it €28 million in core funding. We have also provided an additional...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My apologies; I meant to comment on that. The issue of the regulation of trans healthcare falls across the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection because the Gender Recognition Act falls within the latter Department. Direct service provision falls under the Department of Health. I am aware that the link between several Irish hospitals and UK healthcare providers in...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will try to address Deputy Murnane O'Connor's questions. Affordability is essential and something on which we want to focus. The issue was raised on the doorstep at the last general election. As the Deputy knows, we are concluding a major piece of research on the funding model. Government policy, which will bind future Governments, has committed to a much greater and continued increase...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I always want to grow the support we give to the youth sector. I was delighted to give it an additional €5 million this year. I think it had been looking for €4.7 million so we were able to go a bit beyond what the sector wanted. I want to be able to continue to support it on its current spending. We also gave additional capital supports in terms of IT grants and small Covid...

Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to be in a position to bring forward the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021. As Deputies know, the Bill passed all Stages in the Seanad and has been renamed the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021. The Short Title has been changed to accommodate the Government amendments to the Bill that are for...

Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputies across the House for their support for this legislation. It was noticeable from the contributions that we all recognise the challenges families have faced and face, particularly the challenges new families face. Those first months after the birth of a child are always a challenging time but Covid has magnified every single challenge in society. The measure we are taking...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1055 to 1059, inclusive, and 1102 together. I am aware of the open letter signed by healthcare professionals in Ireland concerning asylum seekers and refugees on Lesvos. The Government pledge of last October to resettle up to 50 people from Lesvos was in addition to the commitment that Ireland had already made with the UNHCR to resettle 2,900 refugees...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department intends on holding stakeholder consultation sessions ahead of the drafting of Ireland’s National UPR report and the State’s subsequent appearance for review under the third cycle in November 2021. The report is due to be submitted by the 9 August 2021 and drafting of the report is being coordinated by my Department. My Department has commenced contacting...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I can advise the Deputy that my officials are currently examining the correspondence in question and a response will issue to the person concerned in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Anti-Racism Committee was appointed in June 2020, with a mandate to review current evidence and practice and make recommendations to Government on how best to strengthen its approach to tackling racism. The Anti-Racism Committee’s purpose is to develop an understanding of the nature and prevalence of racism in Ireland, and to work towards achieving a social consensus on actions...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing management of the organisation referred to by the Deputy is a matter for their Board, including the challenges being presented due to the recent Covid-19 restrictions. My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning.  All of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The well-being, health and safety of children, their families and those working in the sector is a priority for my Department. A dedicated web-page was developed to provide guidance during the Covid-19 pandemic for parents and service providers on the reopening, operating and use of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services including all childminders. Guidance is...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that there has been some increase in brokerage fees for the majority of childcare providers, but that there has not been a general or significant increase in premiums for childcare providers.   Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) services are required to have insurance as part of their registration with Tulsa, the...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that there has been some increase in brokerage fees for the majority of childcare providers, but that there has not been a general increase in premiums for childcare providers. It is important to note that neither the Government, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing or provision of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter which...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Constitutional Amendments (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government has committed in the Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future' to consider whether there should be a referendum on Article 41.2 of the Constitution, informed by the work of the Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality. The work of the Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality was interrupted in 2020 and delayed by the impact of Covid-19. The Assembly has adapted its...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Under Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005 each Public Body is required to have at least one officer authorised to act in the capacity of "access officer". That officer is responsible, where appropriate, in providing or arranging for and co-ordinating assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing the services provided by that body. In accordance...