Results 281-300 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (7 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I should firstly say that my response to Dáil Question No. 108, dated 1st July 2010 was based on a misinterpretation of the question. The question refers to the system of direct provision for asylum seekers which is operated under the aegis of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Law Reform. The operation of these centres is a matter for the Department...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (7 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. With reference to the case referred to by the Deputy, the issue of post-release supervision is a matter for Probation Service which is under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, while housing is a matter for the Local Authority in question and the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. This Bill is obviously a matter of serious concern to them. One thing which came across strongly from the comments was the strong ethos of care. Some of the phrases used were that it is "a gem", "an oasis" and that St. Luke's has provided a wonderful service to people over the years. The challenge for the HSE is to ensure the service is...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am glad he is still hale and hearty after so many years. The Senator can send him my personal best wishes. It is important to remember the transition will last five years until 2014 and perhaps 2015. There are considerable safeguards and reassurances. The Minister heeded the concerns raised by Deputies and Senators and it is a tribute to the staff of the hospital that they will be...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I do not want to ignore the Senators' comments. Senator Prendergast is concerned about funding. The Friends of St. Luke's Hospital is a limited company and, as such, a separate legal entity. Senator Feeney also raised concern about the money it raised. The company will continue to determine how the funds it collects through voluntary contributions are distributed and it has stated that it...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The question raised by the Deputy concerns an application for capital grant funding under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which is implemented by my Office. I understand that Pobal, who manage the day to day operation of the programme, are continuing to work with the applicant in question in regard to this funding request and will report to my Office when they...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best...

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementing the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which was introduced in January of this year and which provides a free pre-school year to eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. The table below sets out the number of pre-school services participating in the ECCE scheme, and the number of children...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: In the process of re-negotiating a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption with Vietnam serious issues came to light in relation to the Vietnamese adoption process. The issues were contained in the report on intercountry adoption commissioned by UNICEF and the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and carried out by International Social Services (ISS). An earlier report published last August...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. In April 2009, An Garda Síochána and the HSE signed a joint protocol which sets out the roles and responsibilities of both agencies in relation to Children Missing from Care. The joint aim of both organisations is to reduce the incidence of Children Missing from Care placements, including migrant children, to prevent those children from...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementing the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial child care providers for the development of child care facilities. In March 2007, the company in question was approved capital grant funding under the NCIP of up to €1 million to develop a child care facility. I...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: Section 33 of the Adoption Bill, 2009 provides for a minimum age of 21 at which an adoption order may be made or recognition given to an intercountry adoption effected outside the State. There is no upper age limit for eligibility to be assessed for inter-country adoption. However, prospective adoptive parents are assessed for eligibility and suitability to adopt a child. All applications...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have discussed the proposal to put in place a hotline for missing children that is operational in some EU Member States with members of charitable organisations and non-governmental organisations with a view to providing some level of service. I will keep the Deputy informed of developments in this regard.

Written Answers — Young Carers: Young Carers (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The report on the Study of Young Carers in the Irish Population was published in May, 2010. As I indicated at the time, the study is preliminary and exploratory in nature. It is clear from the study that the identification of and reaching young carers is, in itself, challenging. In that respect the report highlights the importance of creating a better understanding of children as carers in...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (6 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: The provision of an additional Early Start unit for Traveller children would be contrary to the recommendations set out in the 2006 Traveller Education Strategy. This strategy built on earlier reports, including the 1995 Task Force on the Travelling Community which specifically recommended the end of segregated provision at all levels of the Education system. This includes the pre-school...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: Political accountability is one of the core functions of the Minister in his or her relationship with the Oireachtas and, therefore, the intention of the amendment is captured by these functions and it is not necessary to make an amendment. While in its original draft, the Bill referred to the child deaths review group, the new section provides for the HSE to be proactive in furnishing the...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2010)

Barry Andrews: This matter was also raised in the Dáil. The Attorney General was firm that the Interpretation Act 2005 permits the understanding of plural when a word is given as singular. It is a pedantic point but he is convinced that "person" is satisfactory to capture the Senator's intention.