Results 521-540 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: As much monitoring was done as could be expected of a domestic Government.

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: That is why we are bringing forward this Bill and the sooner we get the Bill completed, the sooner we will have the standards to which the Deputy has referred.

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (27 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I move: " That Report Stage be taken now."

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: As Deputy O'Sullivan says it has been raised in the Seanad and on Committee Stage. I am aware of the eminence of her legal adviser, however, my legal adviser is not short of eminence either. The Attorney General has said it is the practice in Irish parliamentary drafting to use the word, "signed" rather than "done". I am afraid I will not accept the amendment.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (26 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, on 12 April last, I announced details of a dedicated youth café funding scheme of €1.5m from dormant accounts funds. This is the first dedicated youth café funding scheme in Ireland and was launched along with the publication of two relevant associated publications, Youth Cafe9s in Ireland: A best practice guide and Youth Cafe9 Toolkit: how to set up and run...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementation of the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) under which capital funding is made available to community and commercial child care providers for the development of child care facilities. As the Deputy is aware, following the review of Government expenditure which was completed in April of last year, a decision was taken not to...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (26 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 to 173, inclusive, 181 and 182 together. As indicated to the Deputy in my previous response, it was not possible to answer the original question due to industrial action. This industrial action currently remains in place and continues to affect the provision of substantive replies to certain Parliamentary Questions. If the matter raised continues to be...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (25 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: It remains my intention to assist 20 named applicants to complete intercountry adoptions in respect of children from Vietnam on an exceptional basis and insofar as it is practicable in law. In communicating the decision to suspend the bilateral negotiations the Irish Government asked the Vietnamese Government whether it will be possible to proceed with these adoptions. The Vietnamese response...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (25 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. 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 — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (25 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action in the public service by members of IMPACT, the HSE is not in a position to provide a response to this Parliamentary Question within the normal timeframe.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (25 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: It is a matter of great concern that a number of children go missing after they enter the State. Separated children going missing from care is not a phenomenon unique to Ireland. The issue of separated children who go missing from care is complex. There has been a tendency to equate all missing children with trafficking. However the HSE advise that there is evidence to indicate that some of...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (25 May 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 — Children in Care: Children in Care (25 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am currently giving consideration to the legal position with regard to the provision of aftercare services, having regard to the existing legislative provisions as set out in the Childcare Act 1991. I met recently with Focus Ireland in this regard and had a constructive exchange of views and discussion on these matters. I have received legal advice which confirms that the obligation...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (20 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 94 together. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action in the public service by members of IMPACT, the HSE are not in a position to provide a response to this Parliamentary Question within the normal timeframe.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, my Office had responsibility for the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) which was administered on its behalf by the then Department of Social and Family Affairs. The ECS was replaced from January of this year by the new free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is also implemented by my Office. The ECCE scheme provides for free...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is drafting the Heads for the National Vetting Bureau Bill with a view to submitting Heads of Bill to Government shortly. Consultations have taken place with the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and colleagues in other Departments. My Department has...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 127 and 128 together. The HSE seeks to implement an equity of care policy in relation to all service provision to ensure that all children and young people receive the same level of care as that afforded to children who are citizens of this country. Appropriate care services at local and national level are being developed, working in partnership with...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (19 May 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 interests...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs presented a copy of the third and final report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children to Cabinet in early March. The Cabinet decided that in view of the complex nature of the issues involved, all Ministers and Government Departments should consider the report and...