Results 19,541-19,560 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Those in government should at least accept responsibility.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 5: In page 20, paragraph (b), line 30, after "effect" to insert the following: "stating that she has been fully counselled as to the effect of her decision, that she understands the effect of her decision and that she has made her decision freely". There are some good points in this section which deals with the "Explanation to mother or guardian as to effect of adoption"....

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Some of us might not agree that progress has been made. Progress reported; Committee to sit again.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State's response to the issues that have been raised. The facts that he set out in regard to fostering are valuable because they have not previously been published. The more such information is made available to the public, the better. To take up Senator Mullan's comments on the Mrs. Gill situation and mechanisms for a legal framework around that contact, perhaps...

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: In spite of us.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The point about amendment No. 50 is that the Minister, in section 81, is already allowing for some exceptions which are deemed necessary. The amendment does not, for example, create a right to adopt where a person or couple have previously adopted from a non-contracting state. Rather, as I said earlier, it provides for the making of an exception where the authority deems it required or...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was not discussed.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Amendments Nos. 14 and 50 have not been put.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have moved on to amendments Nos. 3 and 20.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: However, amendments Nos. 14 and 50 were not called.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: They have been reached. We just discussed them.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand. It was my mistake and I apologise for it.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have seen dramatic changes in Irish society over the years. Until 1972 women had to leave the public service if they got married. I agree with Senator Norris's remarks on former Deputy Máire Geoghegan-Quinn coming into the Houses and decriminalising homosexuality, an act that displayed great political courage. It was an extraordinarily brave action in the political context of the time....

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to raise a couple of issues concerning these amendments and perhaps the Minister of State can cast some light on the situation. First, it is disgraceful that people are wondering whether or when the bilateral agreements will be concluded. If this matter was clarified it would relieve much anxiety for people who, for example, want to adopt children from different countries, including...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State's comments will reassure many parents who are involved in the adoption of Vietnamese children. He indicated his hope that there will be an agreement and he referred to the fact that the USA and Sweden have stopped all adoptions from Vietnam. Are the difficulties being experienced in respect of this matter relative to the Vietnamese side or to the Irish side? Do those...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: ——what are the implications of that for social policy in this country with regard to adoption? More important, what are the implications for the individuals who are currently dealing with those countries? What is the Minister's advice to them? What will be the knock-on effects of this legislation for them? The Minister should spell that out as clearly and in as much detail as possible...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: On that point, the Minister of State appeared to indicate that his Department is not in a position to work on the bilateral agreement with Russia until such time as the bilateral agreement with Vietnam has been concluded. Perhaps I misunderstood him.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: My point was related to the resources available to the Minister of State's office to secure bilateral agreements. As the Minister of State noted, the Department has an agency working on the ground in Vietnam and departmental staff have been able to visit the country and work with Vietnamese officials. I hope we are moving towards a resolution although if I am to interpret the Minister of...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I did not make any such inference.