Results 5,441-5,460 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I support what the Tánaiste says. I can understand why the Deputy is asking the question. He may have a suggestion in terms of other ways to get at that more quickly than what we are identifying here. The tribunal of inquiry may be appropriately placed or the investigation I have ordered. In light of the questions he raised and an earlier question from Deputy Catherine Martin on...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In response to Deputy Mattie McGrath, I am deeply concerned about Tusla which is why I have requested that statutory investigation. As the Tánaiste has said, it is a relatively new organisation. There has been a change of leadership even within its short period of life, so I think it is important to note that at this stage as well. Yes, I have deep concerns and that is why it is...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate Deputy Catherine Martin's questions. Of course, that is exactly what I want to do - to ensure that this will not happen from this day forth. That is what we have communicated in our conversations with Tusla, even from the beginning, subsequent to my meeting with the McCabes. In order to ensure that, however, it needs to be complemented by an investigation, as I have outlined....

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: This is the first time I have spoken on this issue in the Dáil. I do not believe I have misled the Dáil. As I said in response to Deputy Wallace earlier, certain information is available but it is not appropriate to bring the names of those concerned to the Dáil.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have information. I am sorry, Deputy, but I am just trying to recall absolutely clearly information that went back and forth that may have had initials as distinct from full names of the people about whom the Deputy is asking. I can check that in the context of this debate. I am trying to recall that now, with all the information and the back and forth I have had in terms of what the...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I do not have that explicit information.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I will answer Deputy Howlin's last question first. No, I was not advised. I was not aware of the contents of what we would be discussing that morning regarding the response to the O'Neill report. No, I did not have any advice in that regard. With regard to the Deputy's first question, I have already answered that. I made a decision. I discerned the information that had been shared...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: No, they were not.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for those questions. I believe they are excellent and relevant questions. These are the issues that I expect will be covered in the statutory investigation that we are requesting of HIQA. The terms of reference are being drawn up. As we are having this debate, work is going on. I am going to bring those terms before the Attorney General to take a look at...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I met Lorraine and Maurice McCabe on 25 January 2017. Many Members of this House have also met them and will be aware of the heavy burden of the hurt and wrongdoing that has been inflicted on them. They have spoken very clearly of the devastating impact this has had on them and their family. They told me that the most recent development, involving the information they had received through...

Other Questions: Child Poverty (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: We are fully committed to a whole-of-Government approach to reducing child poverty. We understand that addressing child poverty requires access to adequate resources and that this issue is related to income, specifically, as the Deputy noted, changes in household incomes. This is not the only way we are addressing child poverty. Other areas being addressed include access to affordable...

Other Questions: Youth Services (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I agree with the Deputy that we need an integrated approach to the programmes that aim to support children and young people, especially for those at high risk. My concern is to ensure that we target our programmes and funding so that the most vulnerable people are reached effectively and in a way that makes sense in their lives. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and...

Other Questions: Youth Services (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. She referred to the day I came to her constituency and the conference that was being held by all of the groups that are engaged in working with young people. Many young people were there themselves as well as representatives of the schools. It was impressive. The Deputy works with people who put into practice that which she is arguing for. We ought to encourage...

Other Questions: Youth Services (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I agree with what the Deputy presented. She will be aware that I have a number of years of experience working in similar and comparable communities as well. I am aware of the absolute importance of working in an integrated fashion. The Deputy was also concerned with the amount of paperwork etc. that may at times get in the way of doing the job and bringing about effectiveness. She is...

Other Questions: Child Poverty (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The reduction of children's poverty is a key political priority for the Government. The Taoiseach has described tackling child poverty as a moral imperative and I too believe that it is a vital issue that we must address robustly. In recognition of the higher risks and life-long consequences of child poverty, the Government set a child-specific poverty target in Better Outcomes, Brighter...

Other Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In terms of ensuring we provide the kind of security and base out of which they can continue to live in this country and look for education, training and employment opportunities, I agree with the Deputy. I would be happy to meet her and others in the community to examine these issues. As the Deputy will appreciate, the issue of status is not something for which I am directly...

Other Questions: Housing Issues (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am very conscious of the effects of the housing crisis on children when they and their families are in emergency accommodation. As part of a whole-of-Government approach to homelessness, I am committed to helping families by supporting implementation of Rebuilding Ireland action plan. It acknowledges that any medium to long-term period living in a hotel seriously affects normal family...

Other Questions: Housing Issues (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: On the last question Deputy O'Sullivan raised, I fully agree with her on the amount of time that children ought to be with their families in that context. I have held discussions with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and some of his advisers, along with my advisers. I have also raised questions and conducted investigations in the context of my constituency,...

Other Questions: Housing Issues (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: On the issue of transport in the context of emergency accommodation, as the Deputy is aware I have been committed to trying to mitigate the impact of that since taking up office. It is important that children are able to travel between their new place of residence, including emergency accommodation, to the schools they attend. The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and Dublin City Council...

Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputy Coppinger for setting out the ways in which she has information on her concern that somehow children of homeless parents are entering into a route of care. This not my understanding of how children come into care or from a statutory perspective how they should come into care. I have listened to what Deputy Coppinger has said and I will certainly take it into account and bring...