Results 7,821-7,840 of 11,907 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reports (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My department published a report on, “The prevalence and use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in discrimination and sexual harassment disputes” on the 7th March 2022. The report investigates the use and prevalence of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), with a specific focus on cases of alleged sexual harassment or discrimination in Ireland and a number of other...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with the commitments in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2022, my Department continues work on mapping of LGBTI+ community services. In November 2021, 42 projects received funding to a total amount of €1.5 million under the 2021 LGBTI+ Communities Services Fund.  The fund comprises two schemes – one dealing with community services, and the other...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2020/21, gathered in June 2021, estimated that there were 181,565 children enrolled in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services nationally. Of these children, approximately 18% were classified as school-going children. These data refer only to ELC and SAC services in contract to deliver DCEDIY funding schemes. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together. Since taking office, I have been concerned with addressing the issues and concerns arising for people affected by illegal birth registration.  In January 2021, I established an Interdepartmental Group tasked with developing proposals to address the issues arising for people affected by the illegal birth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Determining the precise number of illegal adoptions by adoptive parents living in other countries is a complex task, not least because this practice was often a secretive process carried out without due regard to the rights and dignity of those involved. However, today the safeguards in the adoption acts ensure that the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration in all...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318, 321 and 327 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. If a child appears to be at risk of harm or neglect, the concerns should be reported to Tusla. Anyone can report a concern about a child to Tusla, and information on how to do so is available on the Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has a number of officials from my Department at Dublin Airport each day. A reception desk has been set up and officials are meeting incoming Ukrainian refugees to aid them with accommodation needs - streamlining the transfers from the airport to the accommodation. Each Ukrainian national that arrives at Dublin Airport is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that accommodation is being made available by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department to those Ukrainian refugees in need of accommodation. IPAS is scaling up its operations as the number of arrivals increase. My Department is currently sourcing accommodation from hotels and guesthouses. It has also engaged with the Association of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 328 together. All public bodies have responsibility under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans. The public sector duty assessment and implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla have provided us with their most recent figures for the number of children in care,from December 2021 monthly. - Total # children in care = 5,863 - Total # in foster care general = 3,768 - Total # in relative foster care = 1,498 - Total # in residential general care = 446 - Total # in residential special care = 16 - Total # in other care = 138 (i.e., at home...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials from my Department meet with various youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises, in regular formal meetings with individual organisations or as a group, and by maintaining informal contacts. Throughout Covid-19, the Department engaged with a representative group from the sector on pandemic specific issues including the regular updating of national...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Immigration Policy (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has responsibility for migrant integration policy, including the outgoing Migrant Integration Strategy, that sets out the Government’s commitment to the promotion of migrant integration as a key part of Ireland’s renewal and as an underpinning principle of Irish society. The Strategy provides a framework for a range of actions to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 331 together. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. There are two types of supports available under the Scheme: - The Universal Subsidyis available to all families with children under 3 years. It is also available to families with children...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Chairman and members for the invitation to join them to discuss the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality. At the outset, I want to recognise the fantastic work done by the Citizens' Assembly and the determination of the Deputies and Senators who make up this committee to see that its work is vindicated. It is an objective that I, as Minister, and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I suppose one of the key measures we took - it was a decision taken following on from both the programme for Government but also recognising that the need to central equality had enhanced following the publication of the report - is the review of the equality legislation that my Department initiated. It is a recognition that when, 20 years ago, we brought in the equal treatment Act and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that when that legislation was passed there was a requirement for a review of it to take place within three years. That review is under way at present. Shortly after I was elected, I certainly made submissions to the then Minister for Justice on the terms of reference of that review, and particularly that the views of sex workers would be considered and all impacts, positive or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Currently, my Department is working in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a new equality data strategy. That is important for ensuring that we have data that allows us to do deep dives on particular minority communities where, within the wider disaggregated data, particular issues affecting them might not be picked up. That data strategy should also address...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am clear that I want the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly to be implemented. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to do so. Some of them are constitutional recommendations and obviously will require a referendum. Until such time as we have a clear wording in front of us and the legislation is passed, any referendum is potential so we will just have to accept...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the Senator's initial point about the importance of this work, it is essential. When the Constitution does not reflect somebody's situation it is very frustrating. One of the arguments I made during the marriage referendum was that marriage is a constitutionally protected institution that I would have liked the opportunity to access at some time should I so choose. The fact that our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: What I am saying now is purely my own view. I would like to see a broad understanding of the family under Article 41. I think that is important. I also believe a recognition of care within the Constitution is important. I take on board the legitimate points that have been raised in terms of decision-making resting solely within the Constitution, particularly around the allocation of...