Results 4,461-4,480 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: She is hurting many people.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Which Minister? The real Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Will it be the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh? We have had him too many times?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Will it be the real Minister?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It will affect hundreds of people.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. This will be our last chance to debate this Bill in the Seanad. It is important, therefore, that the Minister of State come clean on this issue so that couples are updated. I support the amendment but I want to hear how couples will receive information from the Minister of State, given that the Bill will not be discussed in the Seanad...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In the article in The Irish Times the Minister of State dealt with issues such as national oversight, fees and the Helping Hands agency. I ask the Minister of State to share his observations with the House. Why does he discuss these concerns with the legal affairs editor of The Irish Times and not with legislators? This brings the House into disrepute and puts the Seanad down. When we have...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Vietnamese-----

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is all on the record in The Irish Times.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Please do so.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: No one is hysterical. The Minister of State should simply answer the question I asked.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Before I speak in support of the amendment I wish to clarify for the Minister of State that I broke no confidence before he did so himself in The Irish Times. I expect he will respect that. I support this amendment on the need to promote the development of post adoption services. We all support the key issue, the welfare of the child. If we are serious about the welfare of children being...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is much broader than that.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The key point on this issue is the make-up of the membership of the adoption authority. There should be at least one person who has been adopted or is a birth parent or adoptive parent. I do not mind whether there is a net cost. That is not the issue. Can the Minister of State assure the House that the authority will have representatives with this unique experience on it? Any mainstream...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I ask the Cathaoirleach to let us have an answer.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I agree with Senator Fitzgerald. These support and advocacy groups are critical to couples going through the adoption process. The International Adoption Association has offered great support throughout this process for many couples and it would be a shame if the association was hindered because these couples would otherwise be alone.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the introduction of the Bill in the Seanad. It is not over yet as it still has to be concluded in the Dáil. This is a historical step in terms of adoption in this country. We are ratifying and bringing into law the Hague Convention and are strengthening the standards of child protection and child welfare in this country. I thank the Minister for bringing it to the House and the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 May 2009)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They have taught us much and that needs to be noted. They even caused a briefing for the Fianna Fáil Party by the Minister, and anything that brings about that is worthy of note. I have regrets about some of the amendments that were not taken on board by the Minister, but I am hopeful that he will examine them in the Dáil. My main regret is that at the conclusion of the Bill in the...