Results 1,601-1,620 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Social Services Inspectorate of the Health Information and Quality Authority carries out inspections of HSE children's residential centres under Section 69 (2) of the Child Care Act 1991. Following this a report of the inspection is produced with recommendations for improvements, if required. Reports from inspections are published on HIQA's website http://www.hiqa.ie/and are forwarded...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) is implemented by my Office. Capital grant applications under the NCIP are processed in the first instance by the City and County Childcare Committees and are then forwarded to Pobal, who assist my Office in the day to day implementation of the programme, before being submitted for decision. A significant...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I echo Senator Mary White's comments to the effect the Government is committed to the civil partnership Bill. Everyone recognises the country has taken great steps forward in recent years. A number of surveys show the concept of same-sex marriage does not offend the majority of people. While it is fine for people to advocate the family model which includes a mother and father, there should...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The sooner we come to grips with that fact the better. As already stated, however, it would not be appropriate to accept the amendment at this point.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: On Committee Stage, I said this proposal was an intriguing solution to this issue. I also referred to the Adoption Act 1988, whereby an adoption order can be sought in respect of someone in long-term foster care provided tight criteria are met. That is transposed into this Bill. There is a constitutional requirement due to an Article 26 reference in the Bill. The position of foster...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I undertook to look at this amendment prior to Report Stage. As I said on Committee Stage, it is the practice in Irish parliamentary drafting to use the word "signed" rather than "done". I have been advised by the Office of the Attorney General that this is still the practice so I do not accept the amendment.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The proposed amendment suggests inserting the words "in the English language" into the definition of the Hague Convention in section 3 of the Bill. This is considered unnecessary because if it was in any other language it would be so stated. It is considered a given that the text of the Hague Convention referred to in the Bill is the English language version.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: There is no intention to translate this into the Irish language.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: May I have the permission of the House to make a statement on the issues raised by the Senators?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: At a human level I share the Senators' sense of the deep hurt and frustration expressed by all the people who have been sending e-mails to me and the other Members of these Houses. At a human level one cannot avoid empathising with the situation Senator Healy Eames mentioned. Many parents have come through a very long process involving attempted family formation followed by, in my view,...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: Shall I address the amendments?

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I refer to amendments Nos. 3, 24 and 65, which have been discussed. This is about trying to create a system whereby another type of adoption would be permitted outside of the Hague Convention or a bilateral agreement. The Hague Convention is a minimum standard and as I noted previously, it is clear there never will be a situation in which one is 100% guaranteed that each adoption will be...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: We must take cognisance of the inability of such states to come up to the minimum standards for which we negotiate or if they cannot sign or ratify the Hague Convention. I am not prepared to accept a parallel system of adoption in the Bill.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Report Stage (13 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank Senator Prendergast. This legislation is standard-setting and with respect to Russia, it is clear the Government will have learned a great deal from the Vietnamese experience. If the Government is successful, this will have been the first time a bilateral agreement will have been concluded under the terms of the new Adoption Bill and the new standards it has set for itself. At the...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is being introduced from January 2010 as a free scheme to benefit children in the key developmental...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is being introduced from January 2010 as a free scheme to benefit children in the key developmental...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) is implemented by my Office. Capital grant applications under the NCIP are processed in the first instance by the City and County Childcare Committees and are then forwarded to Pobal, who assist my Office in the day to day implementation of the programme, before being submitted for decision. A significant...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 176, 180, 184, 209 and 212 to 215, inclusive, together. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, was published on 23 January, 2009. Under the proposed new legislative regime, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 220 together. I am arranging for the Deputy to be provided with the most recent statistics prepared by the Health Services Executive regarding inter-country adoption assessment services. I am very aware of the lengthy waiting time especially in some regions. My officials have been working with the HSE and the Adoption Board to assess ways of...