Results 921-940 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: -----and it will be welcome for Members of the Oireachtas. It is shocking that there is still not a clear statutory entitlement for Members of the Oireachtas to take maternity leave. We are addressing that finally.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: That has been done already.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Yes, it has. One of my colleagues-----

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: One of my Green Party colleagues is on maternity leave from her council at the moment.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are behind the local authorities in terms of that piece. Then, we are addressing the key piece on NDAs. My hope is that this can progress rapidly and a waiver can be granted and we can move to introduce this into the Seanad initially and subsequently the Dáil. I will circulate the draft amendments in advance to those who are interested and then seek to introduce the specific...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Certainly, we are far behind other European countries in terms of our entitlement to maternity leave.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is also fair to say that if we pass the piece on NDAs, we will be quite a leader in terms of making provision. Certain other jurisdictions are looking at the draft legislation that was debated through the Houses as a potential map or indication forward. We will be quite advanced in that particular area. That is certainly something I would welcome.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Yes, in other areas.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to say that I do not want to be in any way overly harsh towards people who work in the drafting office and who do huge work. It is simply an issue of the pressure of work that is taking place at present. There is a finance Bill that will need to be drafted soon, a planning Bill that is going through the Senator's House, a gambling Bill, a family law report Bill and other...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: "Yes" is the clear answer. The policy intent is as set out here. I would not have gone through this convoluted process if the whole intent had been to pass legislation that was not delivering on what we all understood, which was to outlaw the use of NDAs in these circumstances. I hope I can provide that reassurance to Senator Ruane now.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Data available to my Department demonstrate that, overall, early learning and childcare provision is expanding, specifically: Data from the Early Years Sector Profile Survey shows that, between 2021/22 and 2022/23, the estimated number of enrolments in services rose by 8% from 197,210...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides free universal pre-school to children in the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year. The programme year runs from the end of August to the following June in line with the primary school year. An approved ECCE provider must be registered with Tusla to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: An inspection from the HSE Environmental Health team took place at River Lodge on 11 September 2024. A report has since been received which has made a number of recommendations regarding food safety compliance. The Department will cooperate fully with the HSE to implement these recommendations. Tented accommodation at River Lodge was established under emergency circumstances, and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 361 together. My appointment of Patricia Carey as Special Advocate for Survivors took effect on 25 March of this year. This followed an independent, open and transparent recruitment campaign, managed by the Public Appointments Service. The role of the Special Advocate is to promote the collective interests of survivors, as expressed by them, and to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) releases weekly statistics in relation to people seeking international protection (IP), including a per-county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing. These statistics are located on the gov.ie website: Currently, there are over 32,000 people accommodated across IPAS. As of 31 August, 5,234 of those accommodated by IPAS...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The State has a legal obligation to assess the claims of those who seek International Protection (IP), and in that time, to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (transposed under SI 230 of 2018, or the "Reception Conditions Regulations"), regardless of their country of origin. Any potential arrivals from Sudan will be treated in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) is a key priority of Government. Data available to my Department demonstrates that, overall, ELC provision is expanding nationally, specifically: Data from the Early Years Sector Profile Survey shows that, between 2021/22 and 2022/23, the estimated number of enrolments in services rose by 8% from 197,210 to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports them to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Home Care Packages (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports them to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the...