Results 18,201-18,220 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 11: In page 62, line 16, to delete "a fine not exceeding €3,000" and substitute "a class B fine". These are technical amendments to section 23NP of the 1991 Act, as inserted by section 9 of the Bill, which provides for offences under the Bill. The amendments are proposed in accordance with section 5 of the Fines Act 2010 which provides that fines between €2,500 and...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 12: In page 62, line 45, to delete "a fine not exceeding €3,000" and substitute "a class B fine".

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Child Care Act 1991 provides that in proceedings under Part IV, that is, care proceedings, where the child to whom the proceedings relate is not a party, the court may, if it is satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of the child and in the interests of justice to do so, appoint a guardian ad litem for the child. The provision of a guardian ad litem service is extremely helpful...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Next week.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department will pass that test because I am committed to the provision of quality aftercare service. I mentioned how critical I believe it is and section 45, the aftercare provision, will be examined to see if there is merit in making regulations to make clear that children who require aftercare get the service they need. The legal advice is that there is an obligation on the HSE to...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputies for their comments on the provision of the aftercare service. It is clear from what they said that the importance of the aftercare service is recognised. I understand Deputy Ó Caoláin's reason for highlighting this. The service is critical because the practice has not been good in the past. As my colleagues stated, there is a move towards a national implementation...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 Instruction to Committee: Motion (Resumed) (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputies for their support for the motion to give the Department the legal right to request and receive information and documents from the HSE. That is important in the context of the establishing the Department. I also thank Members for supporting motion because it allows us to proceed to discuss the four relevant amendments. Deputy Ó Caoláin quoted some of the advice I have...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, line 8, after "2001" to insert "; THE HEALTH ACT 2004". I understand amendments Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 16 are being taken together. Amendments Nos. 1, 3 and 5 are technical amendments to the Long Title and to section 1 and are consequential on amendment No. 16, which introduces a new section, namely section 33. Amendment No. 16 is to amend Part 7A of the Health...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the legislation underpinning the establishment of the HSE changes, as is the intention of the Government, then clearly further legislation will also be required for my Department. In the meantime we need the powers being introduced until such time as other legislation will be brought to the House.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue arose previously. The Deputy is correct to refer to it. When, for example, an independent review of child deaths was established by the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs in March 2010 the group was furnished with preliminary information by the HSE but it was refused access to individual case files due to legal concerns identified by the HSE on...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The collection of data has been a major issue with regard to child protection services generally. What we must achieve is consistency. Gordon Jeyes, the new director of child and family care in the HSE, is determined to ensure this because it is incredibly important. We have inconsistent data, for example, with regard to the reasons children are taken into care. We need to be clear about...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, lines 12 and 13, to delete "AND CHILDREN". These are technical amendments to the Long Title and section 2. The amendments are required to reflect the title change of the Minister for Health and Children to the Minister for Health, which came into effect on 4 June 2011 on foot of an order made under section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment)...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, line 22, after "31," to insert "33,". Amendment agreed to.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 4: In page 5, line 22, to delete "42 and 44" and substitute "42, 44 and 46". These are technical amendments to section 1, which deals with collective citations. The amendments reflect those changes made to the Bill which affect collective citations in respect of the Child Care Acts and the Adoption Acts.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 5: In page 5, line 26, to delete "2009 and section" and substitute "2010 and sections 33 and".

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 6: In page 5, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: "(5) The Adoption Act 2010 and section 46 may be cited together as the Adoption Acts 2010 and 2011.".

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, line 5, to delete "and Children".

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 8: In page 6, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: 4.—Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended by deleting subsection (4). This amendment relates to section 3(4) of the Child Care Act 1991, which deals with the functions of the Health Service Executive, and connects the Child Care Act with the Health Acts. The reason for the amendment is that in the...