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Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The proposed amendments are quite similar to those we discussed. I will make similar points regarding them. Seasonal variation can be built into a flexible working arrangement and very much form part of that. There may be situations where it disadvantages an employee to immediately revert to the original arrangement. I do not share the Senator's concern that seasonal variations will be...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I share the objective in ensuring what we do is trans inclusive. It is important, however, we understand the Interpretation Act we are bound by. The legislation must be read in accordance with the provisions of the Interpretation Act. That allows us to read this provision in a way that is trans inclusive. It is particularly the view of the Parliamentary Counsel, from which we have to take...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Accommodation Recognition Payment, provided under the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, is a tax-free monthly payment available to those providing accommodation to Ukrainians who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive since March 2022. The rate of payment doubled from €400 per property per month to €800 with effect from 1 December 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and childcare (ELC) providers are private entities and set their own admissions policies which are agreed with or offered to a parent. An overwhelming majority of these providers are also in contract with my Department to deliver a range of programmes, including the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. The ECCE programme is a universal fully funded two-year...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Provision for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas has been under active consideration by my Department and advanced significantly in 2022. Officials in my Department have been examining the legal and operational issues relating to the introduction of a scheme of maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas. Some aspects were identified that would benefit from the consideration...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Projects (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together. In March 2022, the Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance to be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin 1. The Centre will stand as a site of conscience, and will be a national memorial to honour equally all those who were resident...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Due to the large amount of work to be undertaken to provide an accurate report in relation to the request made, the finalised report will be available by Friday 3rd of March and will be sent to the Deputy directly. I apologise for the delay and will ensure this request is given priority.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials can confirm that this building has not been offered to my Department for use as an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre to accommodate international protection applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Details of the capital funding provided by my Department to Youth Services and Early Years providers for a range of capital projects in Westmeath since June 2020 is set out in the table below. The nature of this funding is small grant funding rather than funding for any larger scale refurbishments or major infrastructural projects. For example in relation to capital funding provided for youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (1 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department, with the support of my colleagues in Government, are moving to create new responsive structures and put in place new funding channels to recognise the impact of new arrivals on communities around the country. Earlier this month my Department launched The Communities Integration Fund (CIF) for 2023 where €500,000 will be made available to local community-based projects...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mother and Baby Homes (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Boyhan for giving me an opportunity to speak about the Institutional Burials Act and the preparations under way for an intervention under the legislation at the site of the former mother and baby institution in Tuam, County Galway. The Institutional Burials Act 2022, which came into operation on 15 July 2022, provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mother and Baby Homes (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to say that we are setting up a separate agency that will undertake the work specifically at Tuam, and important that it is at a clear remove from Government. Obviously, it will be funded through my Vote but the director will take decisions independently. In order to support the director so it does not just become an entirely bureaucratic process, we have this advisory...

Seanad: Remuneration Information and Pay Transparency Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators Ardagh and Crowe for bringing forward this Private Members’ Bill, which the Government will not be opposing today, thus allowing it to go on to Committee Stage. We all agree discrimination at any stage in employment is unacceptable, and the proposed amendments brought forward here today both to the Employment Equality Act 1998 and of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the members of the committee and appreciate them making time to let me move and discuss this motion today. The proposal I am bringing forward for the committee's consideration is an order to extend the termination date of the financial contribution scheme for hosts of beneficiaries of temporary protection, BOTPs, from Ukraine, known as the accommodation recognition payment, ARP. The...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is absolutely right about the hosts and the significant personal sacrifices many households are making, particularly where a house is being shared, to ensure Ukrainians are welcome. It is important to say the origins of the 13,000 people who are being accommodated come through a variety of paths. Some come through the Red Cross pledge process and some come through the...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My understanding is local authority tenants can avail of this scheme and it will not result in a breach of their tenancy agreements. I think they have perhaps to notify the landlord or local authority that the arrangement is taking place, but once that has been done, they are able to provide the necessary accommodation and avail of the scheme.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In the situation of a HAP tenancy, there would be a requirement to engage with the landlord and to notify the local authority as well. We designed the scheme in response to an emergency situation and have asked for flexibility in the approach, especially from local authorities.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. The scorecard from the Children's Rights Alliance clearly indicates the real challenges we have faced in this area in the past year. The landscape has entirely changed from what it was in late 2021, for example, when we undertook the serious and still challenging task of ending direct provision by the end of 2024. We were dealing with accommodating and meeting the...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Civil Law Act 2022 (Section 4 (2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2023: Motion (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: A Government decision would be needed on whether the agency is the direction we go. If so, it will take some time. It is not something that can be brought about today or tomorrow, nor should it be. However, I believe that is the direction Government policy should go. It does not necessarily have to be this Government but whatever Government is in place could do it. Policy should be to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, the number of children currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation currently stands at 4,139 as of 19 February 2023.