Results 15,161-15,180 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: What is surprising is that yesterday Fine Gael called for this payment to be scrapped and replaced with a voucher system, which would be paid in respect of receipted child care payments. In other words, this would not go to families with stay-at-home parents minding their children. Leave aside for one moment that, on the basis of current case law, my advice is that it is far from clear such a...

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the Acting Chairman. I note that the learned editor of The Irish Times suggested that it would have been better for me to have used the term "xenophobic". For the purposes of this debate, I am happy to suggest that Fine Gael was xenophobic on this issue.

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have concluded on this subject, but as Senator Brian Hayes raised this issue in his opening contribution, I therefore felt entitled to reply to it. However, I understand that my time has elapsed and my course is run. Other aspects are to be welcomed, such as the maternity leave referred to previously and the child minding relief. I look forward to the Members' contributions and thank them...

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: No one stated that any of their remarks was racist.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am making this reply on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to outline to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science on the issue raised by Senator McHugh. A general allocation scheme has been introduced, under which mainstream primary schools have been provided with resource teaching hours...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Senator has raised a relevant point. The council for special education would be the appropriate body to which it should be addressed. It is planning the future of this sector on a statutory basis, as I am sure Senator McHugh is aware.

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am taking part in this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. Under the Health Act 2004, the HSE has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of ambulance services. I am aware of the many...

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not have any information beyond what I have stated in my reply.

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I certainly will.

Seanad: Health Insurance Industry. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will take the Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. There is widespread support in this country, reflected in the decisions of the Oireachtas, for applying community rating to health insurance. Under community rating, subscribers pay the same amount for similar cover throughout their lives. Numerous references were...

Seanad: Health Insurance Industry. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am not in a position to speak for BUPA. Neither am I briefed or informed this evening to make a considered judgment on an utterance or statement it made. BUPA participates in the Irish health insurance market in the full knowledge and understanding of the applicable statutory provisions enacted by the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the Senators who tabled the motion, which recognises the Government's sustained commitment to the development of quality child care and the measures that made up the child care package announced in budget 2006. An important point to note is that the package is not just for the year ahead but for a number of years thereafter. I take Senator Terry's point that self-congratulation on the...

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A Member of my party may have said it first, but it was echoed by Members on all sides of the House. I find that extraordinary because, not only as a Deputy or a Minister of State but at the time of my election to the Dáil, I was aware of the issue——

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——and I have frequently participated in debates on the subject. Child care is an important issue that has been to the forefront of Government policy development since 1997. The equal opportunities child care programme was intended to last from 2000 to 2006. In several debates on the programme in this House last year I think everyone agreed that the time had come to take a long-term view...

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Senator O'Meara is aware, requirements have been imposed on planning conditions to build child care facilities per a certain number of houses. This has led to circumstances where there are, on occasion, too many child care facilities located in one area while none are located in another. There are also questions in regard to the negotiations which take place between officials and...

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will deal with the points as they arise.

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (31 Jan 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 349 together. The youth homelessness strategy was published on 31 October 2001. The strategy provides a strategic framework for youth homelessness to be tackled on a national basis. The goal of the strategy is "to reduce and if possible eliminate youth homelessness through preventative strategies and where a child becomes homeless to ensure that he or...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (31 Jan 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The number of children in care in 2003, which is the most recent year for which data is available, was 4,984. This compares with a total of 2,885 children in 1990. At the outset it is important to recognise that there has been a significant change in the type of care provision provided for these children, with a significant increase in the numbers of children in foster care and a decrease in...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (31 Jan 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: On foot of a Government meeting on 24 October 2005, the Minister of State with special responsibility for children wrote to the Irish Bishop's Conference both individually and collectively to seek confirmation that the church's framework guidelines of 1996 were being, and that the recommendations of the Ferns Report would be, implemented. The Minister of State asked that the church review and...

Written Answers — Constitutional Review: Constitutional Review (31 Jan 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am studying the recommendation of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution based on the findings of that group. I am conscious that the committee's findings were based on a wide consultation with submissions from the public, including individuals and interest groups. I will be considering the recommendation in the context of Ireland's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of...