Results 141-160 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (3 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am informed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that a reply issued to the Deputy on 13th September 2010. I have asked the HSE to re-issue this response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (3 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I understand that the Health Service Executive (HSE) are still awaiting information back from a number of areas. I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (3 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I understand from a clarification given by the Deputy, that this question relates to a pre-school service provider who wishes to participate in the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, implemented by my Office. Some 4,300 pre-school services, or 95% of those in the State, are participating in the ECCE scheme. Some 3,800 services entered the scheme from...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (3 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: Would continuing until 2.10 p.m. be of use to anyone?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (3 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: Very well.

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (2 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementing the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which provides for a free pre-school year to eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. Children qualify for the free pre-school year where they are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months in September of the relevant year. This...

Seanad: Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Seanad for allowing me the opportunity to have this discussion with Members with such speed after the publication of the report yesterday. Senator Cannon referred to the constant negativity in this area, and Senator Corrigan summed up the reason for that constant negativity. She said there are no positives possible to put in the public domain to weigh against all those negatives...

Seanad: Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: I share with the HSE a deep regret about the circumstances described in yesterday's report and acknowledge the bravery of the children of the family concerned who so bravely presented themselves to the inquiry and Mr. Justice John McMenamin. I also commend Ms Norah Gibbons for an extraordinary report which was published in a timely fashion.

Seanad: Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: It restores some of the faith people might have lost in the manner in which we are capable as a country of accounting for ourselves when we fail to reach minimum standards. In opening this debate on the report on the child care inquiry published yesterday I am mindful of the judgment of Mr. Justice McMenamin in granting the permissive order paving the way for publication. Having consulted...

Seanad: Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: It was an ex parte application-----

Seanad: Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: -----but it was not resisted.

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: Deputy Reilly wandered in and asked for an apology. If he had been here for my speech, he would have heard my apology, or read it if he had taken the time to read the speech. I will respond to his question about whether the HSE is fit for purpose. The HSE is what we have. The child protection system provided within the HSE, which involves primary care teams, is the best way of delivering...

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: Brendan Drumm was wrong and I do not mind saying that. He knows my view on that and I totally disagree with him. In fairness, I think he accepts he was inaccurate when he said that. My position is very clear. The HSE is fit for purpose in regard to child protection services.

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: The problem is that although many good things are going on in our child protection service, we do not hear about any of them because we cannot report on them due to the Child Care Act and privacy issues in regard to children in care. We do not know about the thousands of children who are living in loving foster care families and who are getting excellent interventions. We cannot know about...

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: It is my job to ensure the recommendations are implemented and I will account to the Dáil. Suggestions were made in the Seanad that the sub-committee of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, established to deal with children, should deal with the coverage of the recommendations. That is something I am prepared to do. I am sorry I have not reached all the questions but I...

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: No. It has only just started as far as I am concerned. The publication of this report is very important in terms of transparency. The High Court judge has indicated he will give a full judgment which may provide a roadmap for future cases like this one to be dealt with in a timely fashion and under a template and parameters provided by the courts in order that we do not have the delays...

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: To which review is the Deputy referring?

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: Yes. It started very recently.

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am not sure exactly when it started.

Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Barry Andrews: It is not completed.