Results 8,761-8,780 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (24 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: First of all, I can assure you that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by this Department is of the highest priority to both myself and my officials. Any crime of sexual assault should be reported to An Garda Síochána (AGS) and AGS investigate such crimes as appropriate. The International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has a sexual...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: No personnel in my Department have been removed from their position, transferred to another role or had their employment terminated from 2011 to date due to breaches of departmental standards or professional misconduct or incompetence.

Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome the opportunity to address the issues raised in this motion. We are all united in our belief that the State must take responsibility for the indisputable wrongs that were visited on women and children who spent time in these institutions. As the Taoiseach stated in his apology earlier this year, "The State failed you - the mothers and children in these homes." It would be...

Seanad: Children in Care and Children Leaving Care: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Ruane for raising this important matter and for her ongoing work in this really significant area. It is valuable that Members of the Seanad should have the opportunity to express their views on issues concerning vulnerable children and young people in or leaving State care. We all share an ambition for children in care to thrive. This requires all forms of alternative care...

Seanad: Children in Care and Children Leaving Care: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I must leave as I have to speak on a Private Members' motion in the Dáil. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will take over for me. I thank the Senators for their contributions and I am sorry I cannot respond directly. However, many of the issues raised are issues we are engaging with, as Senator Ruane and I discussed yesterday. We will continue to engage on those issues and I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Capital investment in early learning and childcare will be delivered through the National Development Plan (NDP) during 2021-2030. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars : Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during the lifetime of the NDP as follows: (1) Modernisation: Much of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Therefore, I am not in a position to comment on individual cases. I can confirm that this matter has been referred to Tusla, for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: National action in respect of autism is a firm commitment in the Programme for Government. Earlier this year, Minister Rabbitte announced an intention to develop an Autism Innovation Strategy with the aim of launching it in 2022. In Budget 2022, Minister Rabbitte and I secured €100,000 for the design and implementation of the Autism Innovation Strategy, and for awareness raising around...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Housing Provision (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you for your question Deputy. It is incorrect to state that "it is the hope of this Government to give every asylum seeker in this country a home of their own after 6 months of being in direct provision". As outlined in A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service, applicants for international protection will be provided with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am familiar with this matter. I can confirm to the Deputy that the family in question have arrived safely into Ireland and are now receiving assistance from the Department of Social Protection, the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and the Irish Refugee Resettlement Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Travel (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the Government's pledge to bring 2,900 Syrian refugees to Ireland from Jordan and Lebanon by the end of 2023, a team from my Department's Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), accompanied by members of an Garda Síochána travelled to Jordan to meet with and interview refugees for relocation to Ireland. As part of this mission, I travelled to Jordan to join the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The below table provides the number of adults and children in the international protection process that have been required to quarantine from 1October 2021 to 19November 2021. The table is broken down by length of time spent in quarantine, as requested by the Deputy. Time period in quarantine No. of adults No. of children 1-5 days 399 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: From the details supplied it would appear that the Deputy is referring to the process of School Age Childcare registration with Tusla. Tusla is the independent statutory regulator of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services in Ireland. The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate promotes and monitors the safety and quality of care and support of children in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Amnesty International has not sought funding from this Department. Amnesty works closely with the Irish Refugee Protection Programme on a number of aligned projects.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to Tusla for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (23 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to Tusla for a direct reply.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Following intense deliberations over the past months, on Tuesday the Government approved an action plan for mother and baby institution survivors and a mother and baby institutions payment scheme. This payments scheme goes significantly beyond both the recommendations of the commission of investigation and those of the interdepartmental group that was established to bring proposals to me....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I absolutely agree with the Deputy that every person who spent any amount of time in these institutions was impacted, although I am not sure I agree that every person was impacted the exact same. Certainly my engagements with survivors would suggest that people have different responses and reactions to the time spent in the institutions but I agree with Deputy Browne that everyone was...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will respond to Deputy Buckley's question. As he knows, we announced a scheme to provide financial payments to 34,000 former residents and enhanced medical cards to 19,000 former residents at an overall cost of €800 million. I am acutely conscious of the importance of getting these payments and the enhanced medical cards to survivors, many of whom are elderly. Because the scheme...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Equality Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I was relieved at the start of the Senator's contribution to hear she was not in any way questioning protection for trans people in society, but I ask her in future contributions to consider her framing because to bring reference on at least two occasions to sex offenders straight into the debate and to speak about voyeurism and exhibitionism in a way that suggested these are linked to a...