Results 1,761-1,780 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the Senators' contributions. I am delighted to be in the Seanad and to reflect with the Senators on the different amendments and sections of the Bill. That is the great thing about the Seanad. Senator Higgins has presented her strong and articulate views on an amendment that has been ruled out of order in the context of her understanding of this section, as well as on the...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have no difficulty with meeting with the Senator to see if that is possible. As we come to other sections we can tease out a little more the ways in which our legislation can respond to support for the wider family network. However, my understanding is that we must accept, acknowledge and be attentive to the basis for the legislative framework for adoption in this country, which is...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Along with many others in this House, more than anything I want to progress the change of which Senator Higgins speaks as quickly as possible. Having said that, we all know how long it takes to progress fundamental and significant change and this is also true of open adoption. Such a change would be significant, notwithstanding the passionate recommendations of some of our exceptional...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator Warfield for noting my reference to it in my Second Stage speech. I am always very happy to look at these issues again particularly in debate in this House. Since working through and responding to this amendment in the Dáil, actions have taken place which I can refer to in light of the concerns raised about this and the other amendment. It is right and proper that the...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator Warfield. I do of course share those concerns. I am also aware of the fact that section 22 of the Adoption Act 2010 provides that Tusla, at its discretion, may contribute towards the expenses incurred by any person in connection with an application for the adoption of a child. We have that already in law. In light of that, protections are in place. Certainly, I would be...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have worked with my officials and the Parliamentary Counsel on the issues raised by Senators Ruane, Black and Higgins. We took quite a bit of time taking a look at this amendment. I know it was proposed in the context about which Senator Ruane spoke. Senator Black also has significant experience in this regard. It is so much what it means to be a lawmaker to draw on that experience....

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I hear very clearly what Senator Ruane is saying and deeply respect the experience and context out of which she speaks, which adds power to her words. I cannot accept the amendment in its current form but there may be ways to see if we can ensure her concerns are met. I do not know yet. "Supports" is a very broad term and could cover a wide range of services the majority of which are...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I reserve the right to table a Government amendment in light of amendment No. 16 having been moved and agreed to.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (1 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 338, inclusive, together. I am committed to the provision of childcare options for families that respect parental choice and reflect international evidence on how to attain the best outcomes for children. While operational responsibility for these do not fall within my policy remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I support the extension of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: European Fund for Strategic Infrastructure (1 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy might note that my Department did not submit any investment project proposals for consideration under the European Fund for Strategic Investment.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commissions of Investigation (1 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) is the only Commission within the remit of my Department. It was established by Government on 17th February (S.I. No. 57 of 2015) and has offices on Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 4. The investigation is ongoing and the Commission is expected to submit three reports by February 2018. Since its establishment...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Investment in ICT infrastructure is essential to support both social workers and other staff in their work. The capital provision for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in 2016 included provision for the continued roll out of the National Child Care Information System (NCCIS). Tusla has also been provided with the requested level of capital funding for 2017 to continue the roll out of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Under Paragraph 10 Schedule 4 Valuation Acts 2001- 2015 services who provide the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme are exempt from commercial rates on the basis that the facility is used exclusively for the provision of educational services only. The Single Affordable Childcare Scheme will not replace the ECCE programme, but rather the current targeted programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department holds a record of, and monitors, the number of children who avail of the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme, which is one of the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes. This programme is targeted at Community Employment (CE) participants who require childcare in order to begin or continue on a CE scheme. Eligibility for the CEC programme is determined by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Communications (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I conduct official business through my official Department of Children and Youth Affairs secure email account. The Department has an information and communication technology acceptable usage policy. This policy does not permit access to webmail services from its network.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commencement of Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has responsibility for the following Acts, or parts of Acts, which have yet to be fully commenced, the Children First Act 2015, the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011, the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015, the Children (Amendment) Act 2015, the Youth Work Act 2001 and Part 11 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. Children First Act 2015 Sections 6-17 and Section 27 of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Programme for Government commits to conducting and publishing an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare. This commitment aligns closely with work on the design and development of a new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme and is currently being progressed in that context. As part of this, Department officials are reviewing previous published research and analysis on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Garda Vetting Applications (7 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The HSE currently undertakes vetting on behalf of Tusla. I have, however, been advised by Tusla that it has established a new internal central vetting bureau and this will commence operations on 13th February, 2017. The Tusla Central Vetting Bureau will perform all vetting for the Child and Family Agency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Garda Vetting Applications (7 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 to 702, inclusive, together. Two organisations are funded by my Department to process vetting applications on behalf of the early years sector. These organisations are Early Childhood Ireland and Barnardos. Neither Tusla nor Pobal have responsibility for processing Garda Vetting applications on behalf of the Early Years sector. I am aware that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (7 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Heads of Bill and General Scheme for the Affordable Childcare Scheme Bill were approved by Government on 24thJanuary 2017, and are being examined by the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs on 8thFebruary. The Heads of Bill and General Scheme will then be transmitted to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for the drafting of legislation, with a view to bringing the...