Results 16,421-16,440 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 951 to 957, inclusive, together. My Department has begun work on Ireland’s first early years strategy. I have received Government approval for the approach I am taking in developing to this strategy as an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland’s early years sector aimed at providing a coherent approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 958 and 966 together. Ethiopia is not a signatory of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. In these circumstances, future adoptions from Ethiopia would require a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Ethiopia. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states who...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Adoptions from Russia, effected under the transitional arrangements provided for in the Adoption Act 2010, are ongoing and are currently being examined, and recognised, by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI). Under the provisions of the legislation, such adoptions may take place up to the end of October 2013. As regards adoptions thereafter, Russia has not ratified the Hague...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the HSE that there were 2,248 admissions to care in 2011. Of these admissions 354 related to children who were aged under 2 years. Of all admissions to care in 2011, 62% were based on a voluntary agreement between the parent/guardian and the HSE. Data on the principal reason for admission of all children to care is collated under a number of categories - abuse, child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. In particular, the Youth Affairs Unit provides targeted supports to disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Rights Referendum (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The purpose of the proposed Constitutional Amendment is to recognise children in their own right within the Constitution and to acknowledge that each child enjoys rights and deserves certain protections from the State by virtue of the fact that, as a child, they are vulnerable. The Referendum will not address all wider issues that impact on children. This Referendum is the fundamental...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services, and to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency. The new Agency and the wider transformation of children's services represents on the of the largest, and most ambitious, areas of public sector of reform embarked upon by this Government. The necessary legislation is being...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In tandem with the Children Referendum I have published the General Scheme of the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2012, which the Government plans to bring before the Oireachtas on the passing of this Referendum. This Bill sets out in detail how it is proposed to address issues in relation to adoption which would arise in relation to the proposed amendment to the Constitution. It is proposed that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Education (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a significant commitment to maintaining the universal free pre-school year. About 65,000 children, that is approximately 95% of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Northern Ireland Issues (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my response to his last question on this issue (PQ 46612/12). In this reply, I confirmed that while there is no dedicated North South Co-operation Unit in my Department, officials engage with their counter-parts in Northern Ireland on issues of mutual concern and importance and as part of their day-to-day responsibilities,. As such, it is not possible to state...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Sector Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Certain grades of care staff are employed on a roster basis in the Children Detention School and due to the nature of the work involved, there are no plans to remove them from that system.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Sector Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the Deputy is referring to public servants who retired during the period 1 January 2010 to the 29 February 2012. I can only answer this question in relation to my own Department and agencies that fall under its remit. In that respect, I understand that the National Educational Welfare Board has recently appointed one member of staff as interim Chief Executive Officer on a...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The purpose of the proposed constitutional amendment is to recognise children in their own right in the Constitution and to acknowledge that each child enjoys rights and deserves certain protections from the State by virtue of the fact that, as a child, he or she is vulnerable. The referendum will not address all wider issues that impact on children. It is the fundamental backdrop to the...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is fine.

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage people to vote on 10 November next. It is a Saturday, which should facilitate people. It is important for people to come out to vote and to give a strong endorsement to this amendment. The information is out there. It is available to the public. People always ask for more information. Two booklets are being delivered to every home....

Other Questions: Youth Health Issues (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take Deputy Wallace's point in regard to teachers. I take this opportunity to praise the dedication of teachers who give such so much time outside school hours to support young people who participate in all sorts of sporting activities and school events. That is a very important aspect of the work of teachers in dealing with the kind of issues we are talking about today. Teachers help...

Other Questions: Retail Guidelines (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I addressed this issue to some extent in response to Question No. 5, in the name of Deputy Wallace. Other Departments and bodies are involved in the regulation of advertising in broadcast and other media. Inappropriate marketing and, particularly, the sexualisation of children in advertising, which we have already discussed, are important issues for those of us concerned with the welfare of...

Other Questions: Retail Guidelines (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have given the details of the number of retailers that have signed up to the guidelines. That information can be considered as part of the reply to this question. In August 2011, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland issued a consultation document on a children's commercial communications code and launched a related public consultation process on how food and drink should be commercially...

Other Questions: Retail Guidelines (25 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is clearly a complex issue. No particular authority in Ireland governs the broadcasting of the programmes mentioned by the Deputy. Clearly, there is scope for the best practice with regard to these issues to be examined at EU level. I am not sure how effective that would be, however. It is hard to know what impact it would have. I will make inquiries for the Deputy and revert to him...