Results 17,261-17,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1163, 1176 and 1178 together. The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption entered into force for Vietnam on 1 February 2012. The ratification of the Hague Convention by Vietnam, the associated changes in Vietnamese law and the arrangements being put in place to support on the ground implementation represent significant changes in the intercountry adoption...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (18 Apr 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. About 66,000 children, that is approximately 95% of children in the year before school, are availing of the free pre-school provision at this time. Children qualify for the free pre-school year...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of legislation and Government policy. Adoptions between Ireland and India must comply with the terms and conditions of the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1167 and 1169 together. The expiration of declarations is covered under Section 41 (1) of the Adoption Act, 2010. The section provides that a declaration of eligibility and suitability expires after 24 months from the date of issuance of the declaration or after a further period of not more than 12 months that the Adoption Authority may specify. The...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I recently announced that 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 seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to age six....

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The policy of the HSE is to place children in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. The vast majority of children in care are in foster care and residential care. Some children have...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1172 and 1174 together. As requested by the Deputy, details of the names and salaries for Special Advisers in my Department are set out in tabular form. In accordance with Department of Finance instructions on Ministerial appointments, my Advisers were placed on the first point of the Principal Officer standard scale on appointment. There have been no salary...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: All Ministerial staff appointments made by me have been made in accordance with Instructions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Finance in April 2011. These instructions set specific conditions to be met in respect of such appointments including sanction of the Minister for Finance and An Taoiseach for appointments made from outside the civil service. In addition,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is currently using Vodafone as its mobile service provider and is operating under the Department of Finance National Framework for the Supply of Mobile Voice and Data Services. My Department has incurred costs of €9,127 in respect of mobile charges since its establishment in June 2011.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on 2 June 2011 and since then the following contracts have issued. No contracts have issued in the first quarter of 2012. Company Name Service Provided Contract Value Cnag ar an Doras Development of resource materials and toolkit for Comhairle na nOg €20,200.72 (paid in full) Anam Cara Training, research and analysis for a survey on Body Image for...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1179 and 1180 together. The issue of surrogacy is a cross Departmental one involving the Departments of Justice and Equality, Foreign Affairs and Health as well as my own Department. On 21 February 2012, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter, T.D. published a Guidance Document on citizenship, parentage, guardianship and travel...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1181 and 1182 together. The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of legislation and Government policy. In November 2011 the AAI commenced a review of the adoption law(s) of Panama, which has ratified the...

Estimates for Public Services 2012 (Revised): Motion (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 159(1) or (2) or the Order of the Dáil of 23 February 2012, the following further Revised Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31 December 2012 be presented to the Dáil on 18 April 2012, being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of Estimates, and that the further Revised Estimates be referred to the Select...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (29 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland inform me that discussions regarding administrative arrangements under the Hague Convention are ongoing. A delegation from the Authority is travelling to the US on 29-30 March 2012 with a view to progressing matters. Further updates following this visit will be posted on the Authority website.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (29 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The costs incurred by my Department for flights to Boston for St. Patrick's Day celebrations was €1,415.12. At this point in time no other expenses have been paid by my Department. A final figure will not be available until all invoices have been received and processed.

Written Answers — Adoption Legislation: Adoption Legislation (29 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. I wish to thank the Deputy for her questions. I have asked the Adoption Authority of Ireland for a response to the issues raised and I will make this response available to the Deputy when it is received.

Written Answers — Adoption Legislation: Adoption Legislation (29 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department and I have had meeting with numerous organisations regarding the issues to be addressed in the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and will continue to do so.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (28 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Each child in State care is required to have a care plan and information relating to criminal charges or convictions would be recorded at local level on an individual child's file by the HSE. However, it is regrettable that this information has not in the past been collected or collated at a national level. Since taking office I have had to prioritise the need fro better data collection and...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 233, inclusive, together. I have an extensive legislative programme to address a number of issues which fall within my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. My first legislative priority was to establish the Department of Children and Youth Affairs as a legal entity. In order to do this efficiently, I made significant amendments to the...