Results 1,821-1,840 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I must revert to the Senators on Report Stage.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: Yes.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It has already been dealt with.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The measure is to ensure a reasonable degree of maturity in adoption applicants. Different age limits are applied in other areas, such as the age of consent, voting and so on. In this case, the age limit allows applicants a reasonable opportunity to evaluate their readiness for the procedures involved, which everyone knows to be complex. If we are guided by the best interests of children,...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am not inclined to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: To deal with the first point, in the previous day's debate, Members had a discussion on the standards this Bill is trying to introduce and the danger of diluting such standards by allowing less rigorous criteria for certain categories of people simpliciter, without being obliged to go through the same eligibility and suitability procedures as everyone else. This is not good practice and...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I have met the International Adoption Association on a number of occasions since my appointment and the organisation has consistently raised the delay in the assessment procedure, as have constituents, Deputies and Senators. Complaints are also made about the procedure, although people are reluctant to complain about it because they feel they may jeopardise their chances of succeeding in...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am inclined to accept the principle behind the amendments in regard to the words "refuses to" because we can do something on that and it is probably worthwhile to do so. The only caveat and reason I would not accept the amendments today is that I am concerned there may be an unintended consequence that mothers may be less inclined to reveal the identity of fathers. There is a possibility...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The position in general terms in the Constitution is that it is presumed the best interests of children are served in the marital family. We can debate that presumption all day in the context of the marital family and natural parents but that is not really relevant to this matter. We are dealing with what considerations are to be taken into account during adoption proceedings. Naturally,...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is a very well-intentioned amendment. To identify genetic illnesses at the earliest possible time in a child's life can have an amazing impact on the treatment and even the life expectancy of a child — that goes without saying. However, I am not inclined to accept the amendment for two reasons. One is that the health information Bill will deal with some of the issues. There are...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I have indicated I am sympathetic to the change in language as proposed by Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: This amendment envisages a hybrid between fostering and adoption, a legislative halfway house. As Senator Bacik pointed out, previous Ministers of State with responsibility for children have, to an extent, investigated the matter. We may return to it but not in the context of adoption. Fostering arises out of child care concerns, as opposed to adoption, which is the creation of the same...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I was referring to full adoption.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: A national contact preference register was established in 2005 and this gives adopted children and natural parents an opportunity to put out feelers for contact. A court order is a dangerous precedent. There could be a frustrated father who objected to the placement or who challenged the consent being dispensed with in the High Court and who could be making applications for contact orders...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Senators. I am opposing the amendment. It is my view that section 14 already provides that the accredited body shall provide the mother with a written statement explaining the effect of an adoption and the consent necessary, and requires the mother to sign a document stating she understands the import of the written statement. Furthermore, section 28 goes on to provide that the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: The baby Ann case is a very unfortunate set of circumstances. Those types of cases are determined on the basis of the best interests of the child, as we all know. Even under the old regime prior to this adoption Bill, every effort is made to allow the mother realise the consequences of both the placing of a child for adoption and the adoption order itself. The best practice in this area...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: All the big cases in this area have featured the giving of full information by social workers to natural mothers and problems arise with a change of mind. Taking all the sections together, the statutory framework is correct. We must ensure practice reflects that, as it sometimes has not been of the first order in terms of what social workers do and how they work. I am satisfied the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: That issue is dealt with in later sections. That issue will be widely discussed when we come to deal with them.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It will be dealt in section 18.

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (10 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 186, 188, 189, 201 and 228 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 Intercountry Adoption, was published on Friday 23rd January. Under the new legislation, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries which have also ratified the...