Results 541-560 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank Senators for their reasoned contributions. Clearly, they have engaged directly with the Ombudsman for Children's report and the two hours have passed quickly. It has been a very interesting debate. Senator Twomey has suggested I show support for social workers in view of the difficulty of the work they do. Last year I had four regional meetings with social workers, something that...

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the recent publication of the report of the Ombudsman for Children entitled, Investigation into the Implementation of Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which guidelines were first published in September 1999. They are the over-arching national guidelines that apply to all individuals and agencies which come...

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: That is dangerous nonsense.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I will give the Senator an explanation.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: It is reckless.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: No, the Senator is extrapolating or inferring something theological.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Senator should clarify his phraseology.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I cannot go into all the detail.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: That is not the same as mandatory reporting.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: When they are ready. A great deal of progress has been made in respect of this matter. Senator Mullen was extremely accurate when he stated it is necessary to deal with the statutory aspects as well as those relating to implementation.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: As stated earlier, HIQA will be involved.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Senator-----

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: They are trying to-----

Home Help Services (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank Deputy Ring for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House on Government policy on the home help service specifically, and community services generally, for older people. The guiding principle of Government policy in this area is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible....

Children in Care (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the opportunity to reply to this Adjournment matter. The tragic circumstances of the death of Daniel McAnaspie are particularly harrowing and all the more difficult for his family and friends. As Deputy Shatter mentioned, the case is the subject of a murder investigation being carried out by the Garda and therefore I am limited in what I can say about the specifics of the case....

European Globalisation Fund (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coghlan. I am aware of the redundancies last year and this year at the Alienware company which is located in Athlone. I understand that this company, which is an Irish limited company, is a subsidiary of the Dell Corporation, as Deputy O'Rourke has pointed out. The...

School Accommodation (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coughlan. I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position on Herbertstown national school. Modernising facilities in the existing building stock...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (18 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 — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: Regions from within more than a dozen countries, including Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom and France were recently "blacklisted" by the Russian Ministry of Education, thus suspending referrals for adoption. The issue as it pertains to Ireland relates to the provision of Post Placement Reports by adoptive parents. When adopting from Russia, adoptive parents agree to complete a...

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (18 May 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have read and noted the contents of the newspaper report referred to by the Deputy. The provision of foster care is central to child welfare and protection. In the course of an inspection last year, HIQA identified serious issues in the HSE Local Health Offices of Dublin North West and Dublin North Central. Key concerns included gaps in the assessment of foster carers, a lack of contact...