Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As always, we have deliberated on the five petitions before us today in private session and we will record in public session the decisions of the committee. Our committee has received a total of 153 petitions to date since the launch of this petitions system. The secretariat has been examining them to establish admissibility of the petitions and how best to progress them. Of the 153, 137 petitions have been brought before the committee on at least one occasion. Of these, 77 were considered, agreed upon and closed, 44 were deemed inadmissible, and 36 are awaiting decision or still under consideration.

There are five petitions before us today. The first is petition No. P00026/14, which relates to civil rights for civil servants, from Mr. Tom Geraghty. We have deliberated on this and we have agreed to correspond with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, seeking clarification on whether he believes legislation might be required with regard to the response received from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and with reference to Article 16.1.1° of the Constitution. We will correspond with the Minister on that. Is that agreed? Agreed.