Results 11,161-11,180 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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: In the comments I made earlier in response to Senator Higgins's amendments on the issue of a full copy of the database both being in the archive and transferring to Tusla, I indicated I had flagged that with the Attorney General and asked that he work with my Department so that we can bring forward an amendment in the Dáil. I hope that colleagues will accept my bona fides on 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: I trust-----

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 trust the Attorney General will give me the necessary advice to make provision for whatever I am doing, as regards ensuring a full set is in the archive. We can make provision for that in the Long Title as well.

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 speak to amendments Nos. 25 and 27 first. I understand the desire and need for an index of the evidence and the records. This has been considered as part of the commission's investigation. We contacted the commission and asked for clarification of what it is doing. An index is referred to in its terms of reference. As part of its final report, the commission has compiled a...

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 have not yet responded to Senator Bacik's queries. Senator Warfield asked about the timeline for receipt of the commission's report. I cannot give a timeline until we get it. Several procedural requirements under section 38 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 must be met. The Office of the Attorney General must go through the report, as will my Department. There is an option...

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 where Senators are coming from. Probably our earlier debate on amendment No. 2 and the discussion about the appropriateness, or otherwise, of the confidential committee and the rules around that reveal the shortcomings - and "shortcomings" is far too light a phrase to use - of using the commission of investigation model to examine an issue of such great impact on so many people 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: Like the other speakers, I take on board the sentiment of what Senator Higgins has been saying. We have spoken about an arrow to a future direction and I have provided plenty of arrows in my contributions today and earlier in the week. I would like not to be fettered by the sort of time period mentioned because it is very tight. I would also like not to be fettered in respect of mother 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 not hold colleagues long; I know it has been a long day. I thank them for the detailed consideration they gave to the legislation. I hope they feel that today's discussions have led to an improvement in it. As a result of our discussions today and earlier this week, I will be introducing in the Dáil an amendment to deal with the issue of the agency and people who gave testimony...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (15 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the National Childcare Scheme, a parent’s “reckonable” income is assessed to determine their level of subsidy. Reckonable income includes family income, including DEASP payments, after tax, PRSI, USC, and any allowable items under the Scheme have been deducted. There are some exceptions to this where some Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (15 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to thank the Deputy for his question, and can confirm that I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees (15 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) are one of the key support mechanisms of my Department, and I want to acknowledge the important role they play in providing vital support and guidance to the early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sector and to parents. CCCs act as the local agent of my Department in the coordination and delivery of the national early...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Guidance for Youth Organisations Resuming Full Services document to which the Deputy refers to is designed to provide guidance for youth organisations funded by my Department. This guidance was prepared in the broader context of the Government’s Resilience & Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, and the Return to Work Safely Protocoldocuments. It should be read...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Schemes (15 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department will review this case but first requires additional information from the person referred to by the Deputy. I would ask that the person referred to by the Deputy make contact with officials from my Department through the email address eyqueries@dcya.gov.ie so that the necessary information can be requested to process the review.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (15 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and care and school-age childcare services are reporting staffing and recruitment difficulties, with increased pressures as a result of Covid-19. There is no official data on the extent of staff shortages. However, officials in my Department have been actively monitoring the issue and have sought data and evidence-based proposals from sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (15 Oct 2020)

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 (DSGBV). The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (known as the Istanbul Convention) sets out signatory obligations. The Convention does not set out the standard to which the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Regional Aid (15 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can advise the Deputy that my Department and agencies under its remit have not granted regional aid under the Regional Aid Guidelines in the last seven years.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am sharing time with Deputy McAuliffe. I am very pleased to outline the key elements of budget 2021 for my Department, which has responsibility for children, disability, equality, integration and youth. It has received an additional €121 million, bringing the total investment for 2021 to €1.95 billion. In the budget unveiled yesterday, one can see the impact of the Green...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland's history is sadly littered with a legacy of failings related to the care of our most vulnerable citizens in institutional settings. Previously, the State has ordered investigations into specific institutional settings and shone a light on the pain and anguish experienced by people who found themselves in these institutions through no fault of their own. In 2015, the Government...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank all of the Senators for their detailed and heartfelt contributions today and in some of the earlier consultations they have had with my Department. The debate we have had demonstrates the complexities and sensitivities touched on by this Bill and the wider legacy issues arising from our past and the treatment of certain categories of people, particularly women, in that time. I have...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is not solely a matter for history. We have spoken about this in a historical context but we must remember that there are existing issues of deep concern for many people who have lived through the experiences of the mother and baby homes and other industrial schools and the impact this has had on their relatives and descendants. I reassure the people who are watching this debate and...