Results 11,141-11,160 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Care Services (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Information provided to my Department by Pobal confirms that on the week ending 12 March 2020, when childcare services closed due to Covid-19 emergency measures, there were 490 Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services with active child registrations in County Cork. As of Friday 16 October, 483 services in County Cork have signed a funding agreement for at...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I fully appreciate the essential role which those working in the early learning and care sector have played in recent months since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. On 10 June 2020, a major funding package was announced to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services during the summer, including supporting services to retain their...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Offices (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As set out in Circular 31/06 - Implementation of the Regulations of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004), breastfeeding mothers are entitled to paid breaks from work (one hour per day), or reduced daily working time (one hour per day) to facilitate breastfeeding or lactation (At present, breastfeeding or lactation breaks may continue until the child is two years of age). My...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Currently the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation to suspected victims of trafficking who are in the International Protection process. Where requested by the HSE or An Garda Síochána, IPAS also provides accommodation to suspected victims of trafficking who are not in the protection process for a period of reflection and rest. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have secured a total of €638million for Early Learning and Childcare programmes and initiatives next year, despite the particularly challenging circumstances surrounding Budget 2021. In addition, I have secured access for the sector to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme with a critical exemption to the turnover rule. This is worth €60m to the sector for the first 3 months of...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators for their contributions and their continued engagement on this legislation over the last weeks. When we last spoke in the House, earlier in the week, I noted that this is technical legislation. As was said by speakers earlier, I acknowledge that while the legislation we are looking at is technical, it reflects a long, grim period in our country's history. This...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators for their engagement. As regards the treatment of these records by Tusla, when my Department has engaged with Tusla on this we have engaged with them on a technical level, and given them an indication how the database could be used, and how it will facilitate their existing functions under the existing, as we all accept, insufficient type of information and tracing that...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: No.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank all Senators for their contributions. It is justifiable to recognise Senator Boyhan's contributions as he is someone who has experienced some of the matters about which we are talking today and brings that sense of personal experience to this debate. To reassure him, I have sought the advice of the Attorney General at all stages of this process. I would not do otherwise. After our...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Its terms of reference stated that the records were to be destroyed at its conclusion. That was an issue of significant debate in a previous Oireachtas and there was a Bill on the issue, although it did not pass. The matter remains to be addressed by the Minister for Education and Skills.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I beg Senators' indulgence regarding the details of this. I had a conversation late last night with the Attorney General in which I asked him to start work on it. When my telephone rang very rudely at the start of this debate, it was the Attorney General looking to talk to me. Most of this morning was spent preparing to speak to the Senators today so I do not have the firm details at this...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My apologies. I wish to indicate that I would like to come in soon after the Senator. She may want to hear what I have to say.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: When I spoke to the Attorney General yesterday on the previous points we discussed I also indicated I would like him to bring forward a proposal for an amendment in the Dáil which will address the specific issue and see if there is a way of ensuring a complete set of records and the database are included in the archive from day one. I asked the Attorney General to draft an amendment...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I hear the criticisms of Tusla. From my engagement with the current legal infrastructure for information and tracing, which we know is insufficient, many of the barriers encountered by people seeking information about their birth mother or siblings result from the inadequacies in the existing information and tracing. That is why we need to change that legislation. If there are situations...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will deal with that issue under a later amendment. I am not pursuing an amendment on that point, having engaged with the commission and received an indication of a very extensive index it will provide. I will deal with the issue at a later stage but I am not pursuing such an amendment because the commission has given me an indication that the index it will compile will be a detailed...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I hope I can address the points raised by the Senators. I share Senator Higgins's interpretation and, on the legal advice we have received, we are assured that the legislation deals appropriately with data protection considerations relevant to the Bill. We share the Senator's interpretations on the points she has raised.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Unfortunately, I will not be in a position to accept this group of amendments, following engagement with the Attorney General and officials in my office. Much of that is the result of the core consequence of this commission of inquiry being based on the 2004 legislation. With regard to Senator Bacik's amendment, section 3(1) specifically outlines what is lawful for the agency to possess and...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will be fully honest with the Senator. I do not see at this point that I will be in a position to address this particular matter in the Dáil, as I felt I was addressing-----

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: It will not be done through legislation at this point.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I might be able to provide the clarity the Senator wants. In the case of section 45 of the Act of 2004, I am aware that amendments also relate to a concern that an unintended consequence could arise if the amendment precluded the Minister from also transferring the archive to a tribunal, where requested. In this regard we have checked with Parliamentary Counsel and I am satisfied that this...