Results 4,501-4,520 of 11,893 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I apologise to Deputy Stanton if my answer gave the impression I was excluding persons with intellectual disabilities; I am absolutely not. It is vital they are entitled to be able to avail of the services through education, further education and employment. They need to be supported regarding transport. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, about this particular issue. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is very kind of the Deputy. The issue of someone with an intellectual disability who needs to change buses or trains is as big a challenge in Blanchardstown as it is anywhere in Cork East. I appreciate that and I will consider it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since publishing A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service, my Department has placed a significant focus and drive on delivering these reforms. Implementation of the White Paper began with the appointment of dedicated staff as part of a transition team in the Department to lead the transition to the new system. Governance...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has raised a number of issues that I will be unable to delve into fully in the time available. The three key elements of the White Paper related to accommodation, supports and integration. We are absolutely on the back foot in terms of the accommodation vision that was set out in the White Paper because of the changed circumstances. However, it is not accurate to say we have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can tell the Deputy clearly that we have not abandoned the idea of reception and integration centres. They remain central to our response. My Department is engaging at the moment with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform about how we can advance the programme, whether through my Department purchasing large existing buildings and converting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 19 together. I thank the Deputy. The case he has outlined brings to mind a similar case in my constituency. The HSE provides specialist disability services, including day services and rehabilitative training, to people with disabilities who require such services. People with intellectual disabilities form the majority of service users who are supported...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On engagement with survivors, I said in the Seanad yesterday that I have had online meetings, had phone calls and had very significant engagement with one of the survivors. I am open to further engagement if that is something they feel is necessary and that they would wish. Moving away from St. John Ambulance to the wider issue, the discussions Deputy Funchion will have at her committee...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Adoption Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides guaranteed access to birth and early life information where it exists, thereby addressing a decades-long historic injustice. The legislation provides a full and clear right of access to birth certificates, birth, early life, care, and medical information for all persons who were adopted, boarded out, the subject of an illegal birth...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Adoption Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: If the Deputy wishes to draw a specific instance to my attention, where an individual has received less information, she can do that. I have always engaged with Deputies when they had concerns about information issues. I will not comment as I would like to see the information. If we can provide a resolution, we will do so. In terms of the processing, there are delays which I know are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Adoption Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: If there are specific issues in terms of the accessibility of information, I can only act on them if I know what they are. There are many sources of information. It may be that the information one of the people who has been engaging with the Deputy is from a source that is not covered by the birth information and tracing legislation. There could be a variety of reasons the information that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: A range of issues is impacting on our ability to recruit new staff and retain existing staff across the CDNT network. Undoubtedly, pay is one of those. It is also fair to say that even in HSE-led CDNTs we are having problems regarding recruitment and retention as well. I do not think it is solely because of the pay differential between HSE-led and section 38- or section 39-led CDNTs. I do...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As I said, the issue of recruitment and retention in CDNTs is the top priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and me. We will look to support all measures that we can see that will start to address the major issues in this context. I recognise that pay and the pay differential is part of this issue. We have seen that issues concerning organisations providing services to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: We had a useful discussion on this matter in the Seanad yesterday. The board of St. John Ambulance Ireland commissioned an independent review to be carried out by Dr. Geoffrey Shannon into the handling of complaints of historical sexual abuse of members under 18. This was a step I had urged the organisation to undertake following my own engagement with victims of abuse within the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: While we all welcome that this report was undertaken, that it was published and that St. John Ambulance has committed to implementing all its recommendations, it is not acceptable that it took this huge level of pressure, primarily applied by the victims of abuse in this organisation, and nearly everyone here would have engaged with one or more of those victims, to bring about this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. In January 2022, the Government agreed that issues relating to international surrogacy required further detailed consideration and agreed to the establishment of a special Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy. Following the publication of the final report of the committee in July 2022, officials from my Department joined colleagues from the Department of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the very pressing needs for parents with children where those legal relations have not been properly established. That being said, I do not think we could promise to provide for the retrospective element beforehand. This has to be done in the one package. The Government has committed to addressing the issue of retrospective parentage and has set out a range of criteria in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Being honest, as mine is not the lead Department, I cannot give the Deputy a specific timeframe. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and get back to her directly to give her an indication on times. Following the publication of the proposals in December, I was contacted by groups such as LGBT Ireland. It had flagged some concerns, particularly for same-sex female couples and how...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: To answer the question very directly, I have not had a formal meeting with the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health since responsibility came over to my Department on 1 March on this specific issue. However, both myself and the Minister of State with special responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte, and our officials, are engaging with all relevant Departments and stakeholders, such as...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Tourist Accommodation (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is encountering significant challenges currently in providing accommodation to the elevated arrival numbers of international protection applicants. IPAS is also experiencing an accommodation shortfall for current residents due to the impending loss of contracts with large hotel contractors. IPAS continues to rely on hotels for...