Results 1,721-1,740 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: I remind Senators that we are in a very sensitive period in negotiating this agreement with Vietnam. My experience is that such a measure as proposed in the amendment would not be helpful in negotiating an agreement with another party. I would like to say many things about how we are trying to conclude this agreement at the moment. However, it is a very sensitive time. We are approaching...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: If a bilateral agreement were not concluded there would be a good reason. It would mean that after a negotiation process, we would have not been able to be satisfied that all child protection measures were in place and therefore there could be no agreement and no adoption. That is the way it works.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is the outer limit, which is reasonable given the long settling in process in terms of adoption of a child. In my view, it is fair.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank Senator White for proposing these amendments, which I have considered carefully. The Senator is proposing in amendment No. 51 that in certain circumstances, the authority, having considered the issues involved, should not have the discretion to limit the publication of certain information and restrict access to public inspection of such information. I am not sure what he is getting...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Barry Andrews: Senator White makes a persuasive argument. The point I made initially — I cannot really elaborate on it — is that we are in consultation in terms of international adoption and the effect of tracing. Many of the young people who were adopted from overseas are coming of age. Those adopted from Romania, in that period in the early 1990s, are coming of age and we are beginning to learn a...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 78 together. The Government and the HSE remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. I personally chair regular meetings between officials from my Office and senior child welfare and protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of services to children at risk. A key component of...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: 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 new legislation, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries that have also ratified the Hague Convention, and from countries with which Ireland has a bilateral...

Written Answers — Medical Consent: Medical Consent (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The issue of medical consent required for the treatment of children is not governed by any specific piece of legislation. What is required in a given situation falls to be determined on the basis of the facts of an individual case. In medical emergencies, for example, urgent treatment may be provided to a child in the absence of express consents where it is necessary to save the life of the...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I have been informed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that it does not routinely keep the information required by the Deputy in the format requested by him and therefore it has to be generated and collated across each of the 32 Local Health Offices. I have also been informed that the HSE is actively pursuing the responses on the Deputy's behalf and that a reply will issue as soon as the...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Government and the HSE remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. I personally chair regular meetings between officials from my Office and senior child welfare and protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of services to children at risk. A key component of these discussions has been the provision of out of hours...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) has been for many years promoting, supporting and co-ordinating the development of voluntary youth clubs and youth services in Dublin City. I understand that the youth club referred to by the Deputy was in receipt of a "pre project" grant of €15,000 for the past three years from CDYSB to help it develop and become an independent project. While...

Child Care Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It had been expected that the review of the adequacy of child and family services report for 2007 would be completed and published before the end of 2008. However, following discussions between my office and the HSE in late 2008, it was agreed to give priority instead to the preparation of a social work and family support services survey. The finalisation of this comprehensive survey...

Child Care Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am working very closely with the HSE and I am satisfied we have made very considerable progress on the issues the Deputy identifies as shortcomings in the child welfare and protection service. The information should be at hand in two weeks, and I am absolutely confident that we will have it to hand before Easter. The survey to which I referred will give us the further context mentioned by...

Child Care Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: In the main body of my answer, I explained to the Deputy that I have been furnished with the draft social work and family support services survey, and the Deputy will be given that report as soon as it is finalised and validated. This report presents up-to-date information and context for the first time. It was not available to policymakers before.

Child Care Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I have the interim data for 2006, which are what this survey is based on.

Child Care Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The HSE will publish the 2007 figures within two weeks. Thereafter, we will endeavour to ensure the 2008 figures are published in a timely fashion. The reform of social work, child welfare and protection is my priority. This always has been the case since I was appointed to this job. I cannot stress enough the progress we have made in partnership with the HSE in the last year. I am very...

Child Care Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It has set up a task force to work on the standardisation of business processes. That will be reported in May and will provide us with the capability to ensure we have a much better X-ray of child welfare and protection on a contemporaneous basis in the future.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: In relation to the funding of youth cafés, my Office has been allocated €750,000 from Dormant Accounts for the development of a structured programme of youth cafes in 2009. Final decisions on the operation of this programme are still under consideration. The launch of the National Recreation Policy in September 2007 highlighted Government's commitment to the development of youth cafés....

Written Answers — Juvenile Liaison Service: Juvenile Liaison Service (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has already responded to your Parliamentary Question today (No. 142) in relation to the salary and associated costs of a Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer. In these circumstances, I assume that, in referring to the "juvenile liaison programme",the deputy is seeking the other costs associated with the Garda Diversion Programme, for...

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: On a point of order, I would be grateful if the Deputy would give way for five minutes so I could wrap up on behalf of the Government. I apologise if it is a slightly unorthodox mechanism but I would——