Results 19,521-19,540 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I am not going to accept amendment No. 8 but I will look at amendment No. 9 and consult with the Attorney General. I understand the principle behind the amendment. I have to be careful about the language used because it could have unforeseen consequences for other sections in the Bill. Therefore, I need to consult the Attorney General and I will come back on Report Stage with something.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I have a big long answer for the Deputy.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I am not going to accept amendment No. 10 and I will briefly explain why. My legal advice is that if one stipulates each thing that is not allowed then other things, ergo, are allowed, which clearly should not be allowed. One cannot give an exhaustive list and that is the danger of doing what the Deputy has suggested. Accordingly, I do not accept the amendment.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: No; I just want to thank the Deputies for their co-operation. I will endeavour to examine the issues I said I would examine, and I look forward to Report Stage. As a principle, and to say what may be blindly obvious, let us not let the perfect get in the way of the good.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the Joint Committee on Health and Children on the progress made and the key issues on which we have been working since the last quarterly meeting which was held on 19 February. Several issues of relevance to the Department have been raised before the committee in the intervening period. I thank the committee for its ongoing interest in these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputies for their comments and questions and I will answer them as best I can. Deputy Troy asked who will take responsibility for the material that was published and for the children's referendum. In this regard, I emphasise the court found that the Government acted in a bona fide manner at all times. Moreover, the Department and the Minister of the day entered into the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: We most certainly are and I gave the figures to the committee previously. The number in the recruitment process currently is 128 and staff turnover is 3.57%. There are variations in different parts of the country and the current social worker head count is 1,543. There is no question that we want more social workers. My Department leads the special needs interdepartmental group. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Nonetheless, if that is happening, I want to know why and to see how it can be addressed because it is not in anyone's interest that we do not have full transparency and information for Deputies to base their policies and concerns on. Senator van Turnhout raised the issue of the educational attainment level in Oberstown. That is something we should examine but it is an indication of "in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Many people are capable. Speaking as a doctor, people can be trained to use an EpiPen. Parents can be trained, for example, and, ergo, child care staff can also be trained to use one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: It is both a specific case and a general issue. In Questions Nos. 21 and 22 Deputy Ciara Conway specifically mentioned the model review. There is a specific reason for it. It is a young agency which brings together three previously separate organisations in one agency and it is a challenge. Tusla is focused on the need to address legacy issues arising from its three parent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: We have a range of services for those who suffered as children but who do not come forward until they are adults. If they do not come forward, we certainly cannot go chasing them, but I know that the Deputy is not saying that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The issue for Tusla is to receive information on adults against whom an allegation was made to protect children. Adults who suffered abuse when they were younger are dealt with by the HSE through its counselling services. The services available include primary care services, a person's GP and, if necessary, referral to the mental health services. From that point onwards it is a separate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: It is not that we do not have a role; I have explained Tusla's role.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The provision of counselling services is a matter for the HSE. We provide counselling services for younger people. That is our remit and role, but there is a crossover in the case of a person who was abused years ago and where the abuser is still around. Does that person now pose a risk to children?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Deputy Regina Doherty talked about the centre at Oberstown, staffing and IR issues and ongoing negotiations. It is not unexpected that there are staff IR issues when three schools are being amalgamated. That was the reason we brought forward legislation. We want to make the best use of these facilities. We want it to be one school under a principal and to reduce administration costs....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Will the Chairman, please, indulge me because it is very difficult to remember all of the questions asked? I have already missed the Deputy's middle question. On prioritising the adoption (amendment) Bill, we are doing this now that the children's rights referendum has been passed. The Deputy asked why we deferred meeting the educational requirements by 12 months. What was his middle...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I will begin with the middle question. Approval has been given in the past week to fill all posts in the Ombudsman's office. On prioritising the adoption (amendment) Bill, we are doing this. Obviously, the key legislation we are pushing is the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I know, but we have limited staff who are expert in this area and they can only do so much at one time. However, we hope to have it done very quickly now that the blockage has been cleared. The Deputy's last question, which was not an unreasonable one, was why we had deferred meeting the educational requirements in terms of qualifications by 12 months. It was because of problems in and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I know that some people who made the effort and managed to succeed will be annoyed. However, these are all community services which often face different challenges. Rather than deprive children of a service because of a target we have set, I prefer to have it available and the target met ultimately. There will, however, be no shifting of the requirement a second time. If an effort is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (2 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: If I had an opinion, I would not be expressing it and will tell the Deputy why. The commission is independent in carrying out its work. For me to interfere would be hugely counter-productive and undermine the independence of the entire process. I have great faith in Judge Murphy and her team and the two experts who are fellow commissioners. I have no doubt that she will do a sterling job.