Robert Troy
Question:99. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the most recent occasion that his Department held a meeting with the Russian Embassy regarding inter-country adoption. [32470/15]
View answerInter-Country Adoptions
Questions (99, 100)
Robert Troy
Question:100. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the outcome of the last meeting his Department held with the Russian Embassy regarding inter-country adoption; and the strategy to advance same. [32471/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The Adoption Act 2010 provides for adoption of children into Ireland from countries that have signed and ratified the Hague Convention and from countries where a bilateral agreement on adoption is in place. The Hague Convention is a landmark in regard to inter-country adoption and provides an international architecture that prioritises the best interests of children.
While it has signed the Convention, the Russian Federation has not ratified the treaty. This has prevented recent adoptions from Russia into Ireland. Over the last number of years efforts have been ongoing to try and reach a bilateral agreement with the Russian Federation on inter-country adoption.
Since its establishment, my department has carried forward this work but significant issues remain in the way of an agreement. For example the Irish Constitution is very clear on the integrity of the family unit here and Russian requirements for post placement reports on adopted children pose a difficulty in that regard.
My department has been working with the Irish Embassy in Moscow in seeking progress towards a bilateral.
In 2013 officials from the Russian Federation travelled to Ireland for a meeting. Officials from my department had considered going to Russia earlier this year., however this meeting was deferred. The Irish Embassy in Moscow has been assisting in liaising with the Ministry of Education and Science, which is the responsible department in Russia.
I recently met with the Russian Irish Adoption Group to advise them on the current situation. Members of the group have adopted Russian children in the past, prior to the current arrangements, and many seek to adopt a sibling also from Russia. At the meeting I was deeply conscious of this reality and members of the RIAG gave a powerful presentation of the sensitivities involved.
I and my department take the view that it is essential to give clear, frank information about the likely time scale potentially involved in trying to secure an agreement with the Russian Federation. Families must have an accurate assessment of the time scales involved in order to allow fully informed decision making. I advised the RIAG representatives that in practical terms, even in the event of bilateral being finalised , it could take a further couple of years before adoptions with Russia could take place.
My Department is engaged in an extensive work programme across a wide range of issues with a clear central theme; to work in the very best interests of children and young people, protecting and enhancing their lives. The issue of the negotiation of a bilateral agreement with Russia must be considered in the context of the overall priorities of the Department in relation to adoption and the general focus of Ireland in regard to countries of origin for Inter Country Adoption.
Work on the bilateral has not ceased and it remains the aim of the Department to finalise a bi-lateral agreement on inter-country adoption with the Russian Federation. However it will not be possible to finalise this agreement in the short-term.
Home Help Service Data
Questions (101)
Seán Kenny
Question:101. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of home help hours from 10.3 million to 11.5 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32345/15]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Orthodontic Services Provision
Questions (102)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:102. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding orthodontic treatment for a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32347/15]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (103)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:103. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32352/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (104)
Robert Troy
Question:104. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) is granted a date for their knee replacement operation at Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly, without further delay. [32374/15]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Hospital Services
Questions (105)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:105. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of beds in the epilepsy monitoring unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9. [32386/15]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.