Results 10,061-10,080 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Costs (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Among the range of commitments in the Programme for Government, addressing affordability in early learning and care and school-age childcare is a priority. Annual investment in early learning and childcare has increased by 141% since 2015. This funding has been directed towards improving accessibility, quality and affordability. It has, for example, funded a second year of the free pre-school...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Authority of Ireland (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am interpreting the reference in the Deputy's question to the “Adoption Authority” to mean the “Adoption Board” as the Adoption Authority was established in 2010 and the Adoption Board preceded it. The correspondence referred to is not in files held by my Department, as responsibility for adoption matters previously rested with the Department of Health....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DGSBV). I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly on the information sought.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware I have now published the White Paper on ending the 'Direct Provision' system of accommodation and support services. The White Paper sets out a new Government policy to establish a new International Protection Support Service which I envision will be fully operational by December 2024. Currently there are 31 centres that can offer independent living with 12 of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of its response to the findings and recommendations of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters, the Government has committed to establishing an ex-gratia Restorative Recognition Scheme. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) has been set up to develop detailed proposals. The IDG has held two meetings to date and will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators Bacik and Sherlock for raising this important issue today. I wish them and the House a happy International Women's Day. I share the Senators’ concerns regarding measures to increase pay transparency as a means to tackle the gender pay gap, although Senator Sherlock is right that it is just one of the means. As the Minister with responsibility for gender equality, I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will consider all amendments proposed in the legislative process, as I always try to do. We are bringing a number of changes to the Bill and having examined the original draft, I believe, they will strengthen it. In particular, we intend to introduce a mechanism for an earlier review. I understand the review period in the current draft is after five years and I intend to shorten that....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic Violence (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As we called it out in the programme for Government, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is an epidemic in our country. We are ever more conscious of this during Covid-19. The high reporting figures are good because they represent a sign that primarily women are coming forward to say what is happening. The Government has identified this epidemic and is going to address it. There...

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Members for the opportunity to speak today about equal opportunities and access for women in all spheres of life, whether it be economic, social, cultural or political. It is important that we have these debates to keep the issue of gender equality live in mainstream politics. I welcome the initiative of the Irish Women's Parliamentary Caucus to raise the matter. I note the...

Impact of Covid-19 on Women for International Women’s Day: Statements (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Do I have-----

Impact of Covid-19 on Women for International Women’s Day: Statements (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Okay. I was misinformed. I had a speech and everything. Apologies.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will bring that request to the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. While I do not want to speak for her by any means, I am sure the Government will look at examining recommendations. As I acknowledged in my own statement, the loss of a loved one in unknown circumstances is tragedy. The pain associated with such loss is carried and felt by families and subsequent generations. When we...

Impact of Covid-19 on Women for International Women’s Day: Statements (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Members for the opportunity to speak today about the impact of Covid-19 on women. It is important that we have these debates to keep the issue of gender equality live but also to better understand the experiences of women in order that we as legislators can continue to make great strides towards achieving gender equality. I am particularly pleased to have this opportunity in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for speaking with such passion on this issue. The stark figure he raised of more than 800 active missing persons cases in the country reminds us why this issue is so critical. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, about this earlier this afternoon. She said she would like to be here but cannot because of the Brexit meeting. I will, however, engage with her further...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Covid-19 Operating Support Payment (COSP) is a short-term, temporary sustainability support that was initially available for the period 1 February to 5 March, and has now been extended to 26 March. It is intended to support early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services that are very reliant on parental fees to remain sustainable during the period of high level...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. Children who do not return to take up their ECCE place within four weeks of 8 March 2021 will not lose their eligibility/qualification for the scheme as consequence of this non-attendance. My Department has continued to provide funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (3 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (3 Mar 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