Results 3,261-3,280 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Other Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 32 together. I have not yet received a copy of the Elliott report into the handling of allegations involving the alleged serious sexual assault by an adult volunteer. Scouting Ireland commissioned Mr. Ian Elliott to carry out a review into the organisation’s handling of this allegation of a serious sexual assault on an adult volunteer by...

Other Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On the timeframe, as I stated in my earlier response I have met the board of Scouting Ireland. We had a strong and robust conversation. I put a number of questions to the board and it indicated the actions that it proposes to implement to reform the governance of the organisation. The drawdown which the organisation has will continue to resource it. The board also indicated to me that it...

Other Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In light of the conversation I had with the board, I believe it is honest and that its ambition and intention is to make the necessary changes. I know from its description of the processes that the putting in place of the necessary reforms is dependent on a number of factors and people. As the Deputy is aware, subsequent to my meeting with the board, a number of board members agreed to...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I was pleased to secure an additional €40.6 million for Tusla in 2018. This is the third year in succession that Tusla has received a significant increase in its funding, which now amounts to more than €753 million. I am satisfied that Tusla has sufficient resources to act on mandatory reporting. I support the work of Tusla and I am committed to supporting the agency in...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have a deep understanding of how upset and disappointed the survivors, especially of the Bethany Home institution, feel. I understand what the Deputy has described. I am aware of it and fully aware of what the commission of investigation stated in its second interim report and brought those arguments to the Government. That is why we took a long time to deliberate on the report, with a...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The commission is independent. I have had meetings and conversations with it and it has insisted that it needs more time to speak to and hear from the people involved. Many more have come forward than initially anticipated. It needs time to consider their histories and conduct investigations before it can state what are the facts and its findings. All I can say is the commission has...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am deeply conscious that giving testimony to a commission and revisiting difficult personal experiences will be distressing for many former residents. I know that some people may need to access various supports around this time. I also acknowledge that the Deputy has raised this issue recently and thank her for highlighting this important matter. I have previously advised that any...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: If the Deputy has a specific cases she wants to bring to my attention, I will be happy to bring it to the Minister for Health, specifically as I understand the women may require counselling as a result of engaging with the commission and offering their testimony. Health and well-being supports are under discussion and consideration for those who were resident in the institutions and would...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for raising that very specific practical issue. I know from personal experience that it is very important. That kind of issue has been and will continue to be considered in the context of how we can offer these supports once we have discussed the matter and decided we can do it. The practical issues take time to sort out but they are important in order that all of the...

Priority Questions: Children and Family Services Provision (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: With regard to the Deputy's question, the children who are in direct provision with their families are in the care of their families. Even though they are in the care of their families, there are a number of services available to them through Tusla. We have a dedicated Tusla person who regularly works with all direct provision centres throughout the country to ensure they have access to...

Priority Questions: Children and Family Services Provision (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla provides dedicated aftercare supports to the group of young adults who reach 18, after they are 18. It uses its resources to do that. On the question on children in direct provision who are in the care of their families, some of the questions relate to direct provision, which is under the remit of another Ministry. Perhaps some of the Deputy's questions are appropriate in that...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Bethany Home is one of the institutions included within the terms of reference of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. This particular institution was one of the first identified for inclusion when the scope of the investigation was being decided. Decisions on the issues to be investigated by the commission were informed by the serious concerns about the care and...

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Let me start with the Deputy's last question because I appreciate where it is coming from. I am committed to and appreciate the work of the thousands of volunteers in Scouting Ireland. There is no question about that. Every action that I have taken in regard to this issue is because of my deep respect for them and my desire to ensure that they can continue to have an organisation that they...

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy did not miss any press release. I am informing the House this afternoon of that appointment, which, in the development of the terms of reference, only happened in the past couple of days. This is an appropriate place to do so.

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Sorry?

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have a certain amount of time to answer the Deputy's questions.

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Okay. That is what I am doing. I am not tacking anything on. In regard to the Deputy's question on Mr. Elliott's report, as I stated, I have not even seen it yet. I am also expecting the other report. I expect it would be useful to it into the public domain. Usually one has to get some kind of legal view on the publishing of such reports and we will have to go through that process. ...

Priority Questions: Children and Family Services Provision (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is vital that we treat all children, who are received into State care, equally. There should be no differentiation in standards of care, priorities for care, other standards or protocols. I am satisfied that the care provided to separated children seeking asylum is of a high standard, and that they receive an equal standard of care. Children seeking asylum who are in the custody of...

Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: There are two ways to respond to that. More generally, in terms of the mother and baby homes and the time that work is taking, I have described - as I am aware the Deputy has also - great empathy for the waiting that the people are experiencing. In that context. I believe the Deputy is aware that I have taken a number of other actions to engage with the primary stakeholders and...

Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Regarding the Deputy's last question, that is absolutely and certainly my intention and I am pushing matters as quickly as I can. With respect to the work of Galway County Council and the consultation it conducted using a variety of methodologies, I am aware there were criticisms about that as well, but it utilised a number of methodologies in order to get back from the people, as best it...