Results 841-860 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (25 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill 2009 was published in January 2009 and completed all stages in the Seanad by May 2009. Second stage was commenced in Dáil Éireann on 18th November 2009 and completed on 21st January 2010. Committee stage commenced on 17th February 2010 and is scheduled to recommence on 2nd March. It is hoped that the Bill will complete its passage through both Houses shortly thereafter....

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (25 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: Adoption in Ireland is regulated by the Adoption Board which is an independent quasi judicial statutory body appointed by Government. The 1952 Adoption Act established the Adoption Board which has the sole right to grant or refuse to grant adoption orders. The functions of the Board in relation to an intercountry adoption application are set out in the Adoption Act 1991. The Board has two...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (25 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill 2009 was published in January 2009 and completed all stages in the Seanad by May 2009. Second stage was commenced in Dáil Éireann on 18th November 2009 and completed on 21st January 2010. Committee stage commenced on 17 February 2010 and is scheduled to recommence on 2nd March. It is hoped that the Bill will complete its passage through both Houses shortly thereafter....

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am disappointed I did not have the opportunity to hear Senator Buttimer's comments but I am sure they would be fully laudatory of every aspect of the Government's performance. I thank all Senators for the valuable contribution they made. As always, it is a great pleasure and honour to be in the Seanad. I wish to mention the wide-ranging views expressed in this House and the engagement...

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I accept that clarification. Senator Corrigan spoke about the lack of information in the District Court. As she knows, the report made a recommendation that a study be done to elicit information on judgments and decisions made in regard to the child care legislation in order that we would know what issues are raised in terms of the limits on the ability to support families where children...

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I understood the point the Deputy was making. There is much more to debate in dealing with this issue, as can be seen in the breadth of contributions made today. I am committed to bringing the report to the Government as soon as possible. It is clear that this is a determined piece of work by a committee which was very focused. I want to establish form on the issues involved. Two other...

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The publication of the third and final report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children has been widely welcomed. The constructive approach taken by members of the committee to the serious and complex legal issues under consideration created an environment in which political consensus could be arrived at. The building of political consensus was the first challenge...

Mental Health Services. (24 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to update the House on the ongoing regulatory programme undertaken by the Department of Health and Children, including the regulation of health and social care professionals. The Health and...

Building Regulations. (24 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government would like to thank Deputies McEntee and Terence Flanagan for raising this important matter regarding the standard to which new homes are built. The issue of pyrite was brought to the attention of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in mid-2007. Having consulted the statutory Building Regulations...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (24 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 139 together. 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...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: My Office is advised by the HSE that a reply to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 20th of October 2009 is issuing to the Deputy on 24th February 2010.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (23 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: Cherry Orchard Integrated Youth Service, which is managed by the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre, receives grant-in-aid funding from the Children and Youth Services Development Unit of my Office via the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB). The Government's decision to reduce its payroll costs in various ways – principally by reducing the salaries paid to public servants and reducing the...

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (23 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which was introduced in January of this year. This scheme provides for a free pre-school year for all eligible children prior to commencing primary school. I am not aware of specific correspondence from parents of children attending the service referred to by the Deputy. I can, however,...

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (23 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which was introduced in January of this year. Children will qualify for a free pre-school year place when they are aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months at 1 September each year. The application of this age range is being interpreted as generously as possible...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (23 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill 2009 provides for the restating or updating of the provisions of the Adoption Acts 1952-1998 as appropriate, and for the repeal of those Acts. It also gives force of law to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Inter-country Adoptions. The Bill also provides for the establishment of the Adoption Authority of Ireland to replace An Bord Uchtála....

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (23 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am informed by the Adoption Board that there are currently in the region of 90 applicants whose papers have been submitted to the Board for a decision regarding Declarations of Suitability and Eligibility to adopt. The Adoption Board is making every effort to process applications on hand prior to the enactment of the Adoption Bill 2009.

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (23 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The correspondence referred to by the Deputy concerns the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being implemented by my Office since January of this year. The letter in question was received by my Office in December 2009 and was responded to earlier this month. As the Deputy is aware, the scheme is open to children who are aged more than 3 years...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (23 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have not received the report of the Adoption Board in relation to this matter and I understand from the Board that enquiries in this regard are ongoing. As regards the issue of transitional measures I brought forward at Committee stage a proposed amendment to the Adoption Bill 2009 that will enable prospective adoptive parents to proceed with an adoption from a non-Hague or non-bilateral...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (23 Feb 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 — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, 2009 Implementation Plan states that "The provision of aftercare by the HSE should form an integral part of care delivery for children who have been in the care of the state. It should not be seen as a discretionary service or as a once-off event that occurs on a young person's 18th birthday." The Report makes the following...