Results 2,221-2,240 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews
- Planning Issues. (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: I will take this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. An Bord Pleanála has a key role as an independent planning appeals body in ensuring physical development and major infrastructure projects respect the principles of sustainable development and are planned in an efficient, fair and open manner. In recent years, the board has...
- Planning Issues. (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: I have taken a note of it.
- Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: The purpose of ratifying the Hague Convention is to protect children in the process of adoption. It is the intention that the proposed adoption legislation will ensure all intercountry adoptions meet standards of the Convention either through ratification of the Convention or through bilateral agreements which meet the standards of the Hague Convention. After giving the matter detailed...
- Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: It is a great honour to speak on the budget for the first time as a Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs. As Members know we presented the budget on Tuesday at an extremely difficult time for the Irish and global economy.
- Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: As I mention the global economy, Deputy Bannon should be aware this is not confined to Ireland and anybody who is not wearing blinkers like Deputy Bannon is fully aware of it. The Irish people are aware of it as are those with common sense. Some, like Deputy Bannon, would like to fool a few people with their narrow vision of what the problems are but most of us realise we are in a difficult...
- Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: We are taking prudent and sustainable decisionsââ
- Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: ââand the budget rose to these challenges and well Deputy Bannon knows it.
- Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: He is sore that he did not have an opportunity to do it himself and I am quite sure he never will have.
- Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: I would like to outline the key aspects of the budget that impact on the Vote for my office as the Minister with responsibility for children and youth affairs. A key area of Government policy implemented by my office is the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010, NCIP, which has a total allocation of â¬575 million over the period 2006-10, of which â¬358 million is in respect of...
- Written Answers — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (14 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) which is the successor programme to the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) which concluded at the end of 2007. The NCIP has been allocated â¬575 million over 5 years, and is designed to deliver 50,000 additional childcare places 10,000 of which will be for the 3...
- Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (14 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: In the first instance I should like to reiterate that the development of robust, responsive and appropriate child welfare and protection services is a priority for both myself, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and the Government. Recent statements, such as that made by the Ombudsman for Children, along with significant media coverage of this area has facilitated a valuable public...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (14 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which will invest â¬575 million over 5 years, with â¬358 million of this in capital aid for childcare services. The NCIP came into effect from January 2006, and aims to provide a proactive response to the development of quality childcare supports and services, which are...
- Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (14 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (14 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 130, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 â 2010 (NCIP) under which the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) was introduced in January of this year. The CCSS is open to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide reduced childcare fees to...
- Job Losses. (9 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. He will be aware that the commercial decisions of Aer Lingus are a matter for the board and management of the company and that it is not open to the Government to intervene. Aer Lingus is an independent company and must make decisions on a commercial basis. It is understood the cost savings are necessary in order that the airline can remain...
- Naval Service Vessels. (9 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: As the House will be aware, on 11 September the national sail training vessel, Asgard II, sank in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France. The ship was on a cruise from Falmouth in the United Kingdom to La Rochelle and on board were five crew and 20 trainees, all of whom were evacuated successfully and are safe and well. The decision to abandon the vessel and take to the life rafts was...
- Health Services. (9 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: I will be taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to the provision of family planning services. Under the provisions of the Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Act 1992 and the Health (Family...
- Written Answers — Pre-School Education: Pre-School Education (7 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) which is the successor programme to the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) which concluded at the end of 2007. The NCIP has been allocated â¬575 million over 5 years, and is designed to deliver 50,000 additional childcare places. 10,000 of these places are...
- Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (7 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (7 Oct 2008)
Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 247 to 250, inclusive, together. As the Deputies will be aware, my Office has been working to finalise a new Bill which will ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The purpose of ratifying the Hague Convention is to protect children in the process of adoption. The Hague...