Results 941-960 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: There are no plans to negotiate a bilateral adoption agreement with Haitian Government. Haiti is currently not a signatory of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. Adoptions from Haiti, carried out in accordance with the law of Haiti, do not currently qualify for an entry in the Register of Foreign Adoptions. I am also...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 273 and 274 together. In the process of re-negotiating the bilateral agreement on inter-country adoption with Vietnam serious issues came to light in relation to the Vietnamese adoption process. The issues were contained in the report on inter-country adoption commissioned by UNICEF and the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and carried out by International...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 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 — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: The conclusion of bilateral agreements on adoption with any country must take place in the context of the best information available to authorities at the time the agreement is being concluded. This was the case in relation to the bilateral agreement with Vietnam which expired on 1 May 2009. We must constantly strive to improve inter-country adoption standards. These standards evolve over...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 269 and 271 together. The Joint Working Group referred to by the Deputy did not meet on a formal basis. However a number of joint meetings between officials from Ireland and Vietnam were held on an ad hoc basis to support the implementation of the Bilateral Agreement. Representatives of my Department and/or the Adoption Board met with their Vietnamese...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: My Office became aware of concerns around aspects of the operation of the mediation agency in question upon receipt of the 'draft Final Report' of the 'Assessment of the Adoption System in Vietnam' by ISS in mid August last year. The Adoption Board were contacted immediately upon receipt of the draft report. The Adoption Board's role in registering adoption societies, including the mediation...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: It remains my intention to assist 20 named applicants to complete inter-country adoptions in respect of children from Vietnam on an exceptional basis and insofar as it is practicable in law. In communicating the decision to suspend the bilateral negotiations the Irish Government asked the Vietnamese Government whether it will be possible to proceed with the adoptions. A response is awaited...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 300 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 — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which commenced earlier this month. I also have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) under which capital grants were provided to community and commercial childcare providers to develop and refurbish childcare facilities to...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (26 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that policy for the care of children in the criminal justice system is outlined in the National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010, one of the actions of which states that the Department of Health and Children will work with the HSE to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Expert Group on Mental...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question is more appropriate to my colleague the Minister for Education and Science.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (21 Jan 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 — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (21 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: As outlined in my reply to the Deputy on 17th December, 2009, the position regarding transitional measures for prospective parents who are at a definable stage in the adoption process when the Bill is enacted and who wish to continue to adopt a child from a non-Hague, non-bilateral country, is being examined. Prospective adoptive parents have waited a long time and it is my intention to be...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, is continuing its progress through the Oireachtas. It has already passed all stages in the Seanad and the second stage debate was completed in the Dáil today, Thursday, 21st January. A number of submissions have been received from...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank Deputies for their many thoughtful contributions today and on previous occasions on Second Stage. Senators made a valuable contribution while the Bill was in that House. Every Deputy said that this is an area of extreme sensitivity. In 18 months in this office, I know it is beyond question the most sensitive area and the most difficult to manage because of the sensitivities and the...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: Yes, to ratify the convention. When we signed the convention all those years ago, a process began to transpose it into Irish law. However, a decision was later taken to consolidate all adoption legislation and that lengthened the process. The consultation process had the effect of lengthening the period of time it took to ratify and transpose the convention into legislation. Deputy Thomas...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I cannot give the House an indication of when Committee Stage will commence. I hope it will commence at the earliest possible opportunity. I have indicated that we hope to begin Committee Stage by the end of next month and to complete the enactment of the Bill by the end of March.

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (21 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Health and Children, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.