Results 10,441-10,460 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is the Supreme Court which makes decisions in respect of the provisions of the Constitution. The amendment is about marriage and access to marriage for same-sex couples, not parentage or children. The regulation of access to donor-assisted human reproduction will be a matter for the Department of Health and will be decided in the best interests of the children to be born. It will not be...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have already made it clear that Articles 42 and 44 stand. Obviously, we have the equal status legislation. It is remarkable. We have a religious ground there.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the equal status legislation, we clearly have a religious ground. It is always open to people to take cases. Senator Walsh is asking me to comment on a different piece of legislation here, but I will just say that clearly there is a religious ground on which people can take a case if they feel they are being discriminated against. If any of the scenarios he described were to emerge,...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Rónán Mullen knows well the answer to that question. When people are taking an equality case they decide on what grounds they are going to take it.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In regard to the comments on the Constitutional Convention in terms of telling the citizen representatives who were members of it that it was ready-up, they are an outrageous reflection on the integrity of a process which has been being widely recognised and praised as a public deliberation process and a very genuine one. Certainly all of those who oversaw it, the academics and everyone who...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: No. I have gone through the amendments and have nothing further to add.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would say-----

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As we discussed on Second Stage, the Bill will substantially improve the position of the many non-marital fathers who are actively and meaningfully involved in their children's lives. The changes I have agreed in the legislation will ensure more non-marital fathers register because they will be doing so at the same time as the birth certification process. Before we go forward to automatic...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As with amendment No. 51, I cannot support this proposal in the absence of further analysis. However, I acknowledge the spirit in which the Senator has tabled these amendments. In the meantime, I have introduced the other provisions I outlined and am committed to the necessary policy work. In addition, I am committed to a review of the provisions in two years time.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the approach of Senators Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and Averil Power to this matter and I am extremely sympathetic to it. I intend very shortly to begin work on the issue of presumptive rights. It is a model we should examine and I am committed to doing so. We all have an obligation in this regard and I have also committed to conducting a public information campaign to ensure...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On Second Stage when I announced what I was doing in this regard, I made the point that I believe it is important we do not make registration compulsory because it could begin to create a perception that if a person fails to register a declaration, that person could not be a guardian. It is important this does not happen. I am committed in principle to the establishment of a central...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will take up the last point made by Senator van Turnhout first. These amendments would make it mandatory for the Minister to make regulations concerning experts to be appointed to convey a child's views to a report on a question affecting the welfare of that child. I will reply to amendment No. 63 presently but I wish to make this point. I assure Senator van Turnhout that, in...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Senators for the various comments relating to this. The only further point I wish to make is that the development of family courts will be very important. This is something I intend to bring forward. In respect of the welfare service about which Senators Ó Clochartaigh, Power, van Turnhout and Bacik spoke, there is a critique of the current way that many family law cases...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: From my experience, I would say that in practice the decision on who may adopt a child is primarily that of the birth mother. That is the reality of the situation at the moment. I think Senator Norris referred to that point. The birth mother has extensive information on prospective adopters. That is the absolute best practice and that is what happens before she gives her consent. If...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: All of my experience in this area, as somebody who carried out adoption assessments, as a former Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and from my contact with the Adoption Authority of Ireland, is that the views of the mother are a huge factor in placement issues. It is the practice that several families would be discussed with the parent. Clearly, the mother's wishes are very central to...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: One needs to have a birth certificate to apply for a passport.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, so it is connected anyway.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is true.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I know that Senator Power has very strongly held views on this issue and I respect that. I understand the point that the abridged certificate may facilitate parents in some cases to hide from children the fact that they are adopted. There are advantages and I do not know whether she would agree. The argument would be made that the current certificate will also ensure that adopted children...