Results 6,001-6,020 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter more appropriate for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an area-based prevention and early intervention initiative delivered in twelve areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage across the country (locations below). It involves partnership with families, practitioners, communities and national stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for children and families living in areas where poverty is most...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Properties (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that my Department operates from two building locations: 1. Block 1 Miesian Plaza, 50 – 58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. D02 XW14. (Floors 2 and 3) and 2. Montague Court, 7 – 11 Montague Street, Dublin. D02 FT96. (Floors 2 and 3). My Department also runs a Ukrainian Refugee Transit Centre in Citywest, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co. Dublin, D24 KF8A. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome our guests in the Public Gallery as well and I hope they find their trip to the Oireachtas very interesting. I thank Senator Buttimer for raising this important issue, for advocating on behalf of the parents of the children attending the Morning Star preschool, and for emphasising the importance of this early education for those children as well as the support it provides for their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As Senator Buttimer said, it would appear we now have a full application containing all relevant documentation. This is important and will allow for the application to be processed. Tusla is aware of the need to work expeditiously to ensure applications are processed, and the agency understands children will not be able to access education until this is done. Tusla's early years...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I note Senator Mullen's opposition to the section and the detailed remarks he made at our previous session. The provision under consideration came about as a result of careful deliberation on the constitutional, legal and clinical considerations arising from the recommendation of the post-legislative scrutiny report on the removal of section 85(6) from the 2015 Act to ensure that pregnant...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: What we are seeking to do with this provision is to reflect the situation where a pregnant woman will not be denied the benefit of her advance healthcare directive solely on the basis of her pregnancy. That is what the current provision allows for and following the repeal of the eighth amendment, that is a position we are moving away from. With the greatest of respect to Senator Mullen, the...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: What the Senator has said about the protections that apply after 12 weeks is important. The consequence of the withdrawal of treatment on the basis of an advance healthcare directive does not constitute a termination under our law. Whether that happens before or after the 12-week period is not a termination as our law recognises and it is important that this is clearly stated.

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the presumption of care for pregnant women and the foetus, we could not proceed as the Senator is suggesting, that is, that we would legislate that a presumption would be made on a pregnant woman who has made an advance healthcare directive but one which does not specifically address pregnancy and that certain things would apply to her. We could not do so as that would be the creation of...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: For the avoidance of any doubt, where an advance healthcare directive is silent, the existing law and clinical practice apply. In this case, if the advance healthcare directive is silent about a consequence of treatment during pregnancy, the existing clinical practice applies and so the pregnant woman is treated equally to any other pregnant woman in that situation. There is no rebuttable...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Senator knows, I was not here at the time of the 2015 legislation but it is my understanding from talking to officials that this provision was seen as a necessity that stemmed from the then constitutional situation. What we are doing now is ensuring that the specific restrictions on the applicability of an AHD to a pregnant person, which is understood as being necessitated by the...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Pardon?

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is okay. If the advanced healthcare directive is silent on the issue with regard to the interaction of pregnancy with the particular treatment, the existing legal and medical processes apply.

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It means that the doctors and the medical team in that situation would undertake what they would normally undertake. They are not bound by any requirements of the AHD. They can treat just as they would treat in any other situation according to their judgment of the situation.

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The current section 85(6) creates a specific standard that applies solely to pregnant directive-makers. The purpose of the removal of the subsection is to ensure that the current clinical practice applies to pregnant women.It is not being put forward as any sort of weakening of the protections towards a foetus but it allows for clinical policy, which is always more responsive to legislation,...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In terms of the position that Senator Mullen has taken and the concerns that have been raised by other Members, I will reflect on that and come back. We can discuss it further on Report Stage.

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The 2015 legislation has not been commenced. That is one of the central reasons for bringing forward this legislation because we do not-----

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Senator asked me to reflect-----

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Senator asked me to reflect on the position and I agreed to do so. He then stated that even though I had agreed to do so, he thinks I have come to a conclusion anyway. If he wishes to take that position, that is fine.

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Throughout this legislation, I have engaged extensively on issues that have been raised. This legislation did not get to this House until now because we were reflecting on other issues and brought forward improvements. With the greatest of respect, I think I have a track record of listening and engaging where that is possible.