Results 1-20 of 21 for other and baby speaker:Anne Rabbitte

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Diagnoses (17 Apr 2024)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue for discussion and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for its having been selected. As Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, I am fully committed to the continued development and enhancement of our disability services, through the implementation of my Department’s Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026. As the Deputy...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mother and Baby Homes (14 Dec 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: ...this matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. We are conscious that the uncertainty regarding the burial place of many children who were resident at the former mother and baby institution in Bessborough is difficult for the families concerned. The investigation of burial arrangements in mother and baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important...

Mother and Baby Institutions Redress Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (19 Oct 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: There has been a huge and entirely appropriate outcry in recent years over the shameful way some of our most vulnerable citizens were treated. We have all been moved by this. As the realisation deepens regarding how unfairly some of our citizens were treated in the past, we more fully understand that the effects continue to ripple through to today. We witness the pain felt so deeply by...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (15 Jun 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy. She is right that it is unacceptable that a ward would be closed and that we would not be communicated with on it so that we would know how many beds were closed. I do not know today how many beds have reopened other than I have been told the ward is open. I will find out for the Deputy. When we talk about spin and everything else, I know the Minister, Deputy Donnelly,...

Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2021)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank Members for their contributions. In January this year, the Taoiseach, on behalf of the Government, the State and its citizens, apologised for the profound generational wrong visited upon Irish mothers and their children who ended up in mother and baby homes or county homes. He stated categorically that the State did not uphold its duty of care and thereby failed these women and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Registration of Births (16 Nov 2021)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this Commencement matter today and I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting it. The Senator has a direct question that quite rightly, deserves a direct response. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and his officials are actively considering the contents of the report in advance of bringing it to Government and publishing it. The Minister intends to engage with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Direct Provision System (14 Jun 2021)

Anne Rabbitte: I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, who cannot be here. This response has been drafted by departmental officials and perhaps we can get further into the more human side of what the Senator has raised afterwards. There are currently 37 residents in the Courtown emergency accommodation centre, with five residents leaving the centre on Tuesday, 8 June, to move to...

Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Motion [Private Members] (24 Feb 2021)

Anne Rabbitte: ...The motion put forward by the Social Democrats outlines why they believe that an extension to the term of the commission is necessary. Their proposal is "to extend the term of the Commission for another 12 months... to facilitate a review... into the destruction of the recordings and allow for any potential salvage of remaining testimony". It is positive, for some, that this extension...

Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jan 2021)

Anne Rabbitte: ...Devlin, about copies of the report. In short, approximately 200 hard copies of the abridged report have been sent out to date. Of those, 75 were posted on the day of publication to the survivors and their representatives and to select Members, Deputies and Senators. Since then, 123 requests for the abridged version have been received to date and a copy has been posted to all of those...

Fourth Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Anne Rabbitte: This is my third time to stand here as the Minister seeks an extension regarding the commission of investigation. On the two turns before this I was favourable to, approving of and co-operative with the request. Today, I am disappointed. The Minister will understand why I am disappointed to see yet another extension to the commission of investigation timelines. That is particularly the...

Tuam Mother and Baby Home: Statements (25 Oct 2018)

Anne Rabbitte: ...out of the Cabinet meeting earlier this week. Fianna Fáil welcomes the recent announcement of the Minister that a full forensic excavation will be conducted at the site of the former Bon Secours mother and baby home in Tuam. We fully support all efforts to bring justice to all survivors of the mother and baby homes and to deliver some peace to relatives and survivors. This era in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Sep 2018)

Anne Rabbitte: I will continue in the same vein as Deputy O'Sullivan in speaking about Tuam because it is my constituency and I hold my clinics there. Owing to the age factor, these people require an awful lot of supports. There are ways in which we can assist them. The counselling service and the wellbeing programme are essential but people are not able to access them or get feedback on the funding...

Independent Clinical Review of Maternity Services at Portiuncula University Hospital: Statements (14 Jun 2018)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank my colleagues for sharing their time with me. I had my baby in 2005 and was fortunate. I gave birth in Portiuncula hospital and had a very good experience. It is important to put that on the record at the outset. I attended the briefing session in Ballinasloe on the night it was announced. Maybe I am cynical, but the strategic release with only 24 hours' notice to coincide with...

Topical Issue Debate: Foster Care Provision (26 Apr 2018)

Anne Rabbitte: ...Investigates" on the work done to highlight this story. The story broke in April 2016 when the perpetrator of the abuse was still saying he was innocent. The women in question decided to come forward and release their names. They have done that in an extremely brave fashion. I have to acknowledge the graphic detail in which they explained exactly what happened to them while in foster...

An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2018)

Anne Rabbitte: ...to speak here tonight. It is not my first time to speak on this particular issue in the Chamber. I served on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. Like many other people, I am torn by the whole issue and have been from the very beginning. I am clear about that. At present, the debate is on the referendum and on the issue going to the people. One...

Childcare Support Bill 2017: Second Stage (31 Jan 2018)

Anne Rabbitte: ...the Minister for her statement. This is the first time I have seen much of the information she has provided. For that reason, I will leave much of my commentary on the Bill to Committee Stage and focus now on the broader purpose of the legislation. The Fianna Fáil Party welcomes the introduction of the Bill, for which we and the parents of Ireland have been waiting since it was...

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Anne Rabbitte: ...Naughton, I have been on a journey. I am of a particular pro-life view, but I joined the committee with an open mind. I thank all of the committee members. Going into the debate was daunting and nerve-racking, given the two strong viewpoints. I would not like to believe that I would ever let anyone tell me what to do or control my thinking process, so I had not engaged with either side...

Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (1 Jun 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Minister very much for her contribution and statement. From the opposite side of the House, all I can say is I welcome everything the Minister has given me and my colleagues. It is very welcome for those in the Visitors Gallery to hear the Minister speak with such passion and empathy. I hope that on "Reeling in the Years" the Minister's speech will be seen a defining moment. ...

Maternity Leave and Benefit: Motion [Private Members] (5 Apr 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Martin for bringing the motion to the House this evening. I am delighted to be an elected representative when we do not have a divided House and we are all working together for one common goal. We are discussing the 4,500 premature babies born each year. Last Christmas, I was honoured to be invited by members of the Irish Premature Babies group to Lusk, where they launched...

Mother and Baby Homes: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I am sharing my time with Deputies Mary Butler, Kevin O'Keeffe and Fiona O'Loughlin. I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for moving the motion. It is a conversation we need to have. What has been put before us has us back in the Chamber again to discuss this matter. We were here less than a month ago after the revelations about Tuam. "Shocked", "horrified" and "dismayed" are some of the...