Results 8,881-8,900 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (30 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm to the Deputy that refugees from Afghanistan are being admitted to Ireland with the assistance of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) of my Department.   Programme refugees normally qualify, for instance, for housing provided by local authorities after spending some time in refugee accommodation centres, or through Community Sponsorship groups.  They...

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome the attention that the Dáil is devoting tonight to the situation in Afghanistan and the terrible plight of its people. Like me, Members will have been distressed by the images of men, women and children enduring atrocious conditions outside Kabul Airport over many days just for the simple chance to flee Afghanistan, their home, and to get to a third country. When we see...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Decision-Making (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.  It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: EU Directives (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The date for transposition of Directive 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers is 2 August 2022. The Directive, at Article 20 provides a two-year extension, up to 2 August 2024 for Member States to implement the final two weeks of paid parental leave (parent's benefit). While many of the provisions of the Directive are already...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: State investment in ELC and SAC has increased by an unprecedented 141% since 2015. This funding has been used to remove barriers to access so that children can enrol and meaningfully participate in high-quality ELC and SAC.  As the Deputy is aware, First 5, the whole-of Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, commits to at least doubling investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I meet with representatives of the early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sector on a regular basis, and I have had a number of meetings in relation to the Big Start campaign. On working conditions and staffing, the campaign highlights the low wages of those who work in ELC and SAC services. I firmly believe that their level of pay does not reflect the value of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In July I met with some of those involved in writing the report, and I welcome the report's findings and proposals. On working conditions and staffing, the report highlights the low wages of those who work in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. I firmly believe that their level of pay does not reflect the value of the work practitioners do for children,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Separately, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has responsibility in terms of capital provision for the development of new refuges. The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the introduction of the ECCE pre-school programme in 2010, a higher rate of capitation has been applicable to services that meet higher qualification requirements for staff delivering the programme. The primary requirement is that room leaders in the ECCE programme should have a relevant Bachelor’s degree (level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications). A Focused...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Special funding allocation for Clare Haven for programme year 2020-2021 was an increase on their Special funding allocation of the previous year. As outlined in correspondence to the service on the 1st September, the Sustainability and Case Management team in the Early Years Division’s Finance, Governance and Reform unit (EYFGR) are reviewing the process for Special Service CCSP...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that this question has been referred to Tusla for direct reply to him.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Ryan Report Implementation Plan, action 65, states that ‘the HSE will, with their consent, conduct a longitudinal study to follow young people who leave care for 10 years, to map their transition to adulthood. A feasibility study carried out by Dr Carmel Devaney and Dr Cliona Rooney; The Feasibility of Conducting a Longitudinal Study on Children in Care or...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Yes.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Head 40 is in draft format at the moment. When the Bill is finalised, head 40 will be very clear in terms of which aspects of GDPR the Bill proposes to restrict. The reason we would be suggesting any restrictions to GDPR rights is that GDPR protects the rights of all data subjects. It protects the rights of an adopted person but it would also protect the rights of a parent, including...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will do my best to address those questions. The Deputy stated it was confusing who gets unrestricted access to information under GDPR when we then talk about restrictions. We have taken the decision, and it is one I think everyone agrees with, that we have to provide adopted people with unrestricted access to the various categories of information. In certain circumstances, that requires...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy Cairns asked about next of kin. I am happy to come back on that because it is an important point. I thank Deputy Cathal Crowe. Fathers will be able to use the contact preference register and the statutory tracing service to indicate if they want to provide information, receive information, or if they want contact. There is a provision for them to use the system. I was able to...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The timescale for the legislation is a matter for the committee right now. It is giving the legislation the detailed scrutiny that it needs. As soon as the committee has completed that and sent its report to me, it has my absolute commitment that I will work with the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to make amendments and get it to the Oireachtas as quickly as...