Results 7,241-7,260 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Defence Forces Property (14 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 2: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to consolidate Defence Forces formations in to fewer locations; the timeframe over which this will occur; the properties he intends to sell as part of this; the locations he intends to rent as part of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14580/12]

Defence Forces Property (14 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Will the Minister of State indicate when the report will be finalised and presented to the Minister for Defence? It is disheartening for the families of personnel in areas where barracks are closing to see advertisements in their local newspapers seeking to rent premises for the Reserve Defence Force. Representatives of a number of families have sought the publication of the feasibility...

Defence Forces Property (14 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: While the personnel may be part-time, we will, nonetheless, be renting premises for them on a full-time basis. Was a cost-benefit analysis carried out on the potential savings to be made from closing the barracks compared to the cost of leasing long-term accommodation prior to the decision to close the barracks?

Defence Forces Property (14 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Will the Minister of State arrange to get that additional information to me?

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 84: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which the Irish Prison Service will present to him plans for the development of Cork Prison within the existing 2012 to 2016 justice capital budget; the date on which a final decision will be made on those plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13843/12]

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 101: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of the mechanisms developed in partnership between the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service, Cork Prison, and community-based services in order to identify community-based programmes which could act as alternatives to custody for suitable prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 421: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that provisions of the Civil Partnership Act contravene the need for equivalence in human rights provisions under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement; his plans to rectify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14253/12]

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 527: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in the care system who have been placed with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender foster parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14251/12]

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 528: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the lack of clarity in Irish law by which same-sex couples who adopt in the UK may not have their adoption automatically recognised by this State; her plans to rectify this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14252/12]

Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for his response. There is a difference between accepting the recommendations and putting in place the procedures to allow us to move forward. The issue of human rights cannot be held back by resources or finance. It is very important this Government is focused on human rights and on its obligations. In some of the responses, it is a case of wait and see...

Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Resources cannot be an excuse for not-----

Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am glad to hear Deputy Keating's concluding remarks to the previous matter because I thought job creation is the best way of moving people off those queues. I thank the Minister of State for dealing with the Topical Issue Matters. It looks like he is a one-man Cabinet today dealing with topics such as small business, social protection, justice, defence, equality. I presume this is because...

Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: -----should form part of any bill of rights. I find that statement to be offensive and the Government needs to address it.

Asylum Support Services (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: The first question deals with the value for money review on expenditure. There are approximately 39 accommodation centres State-wide and we are dealing with close to 5,500 people. It is my understanding that the Reception and Integration Agency does not actually lease the premises but instead leases services, such as accommodation, housekeeping and facilities. The Minister has said in the...

Asylum Support Services (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is it fair to say from the Minister's response that he is in favour of a different system and this is something he will examine in light of the upcoming immigration Bill? The Minister may not have the figures before him and if not, I understand. What is the average time for processing applications? If the Minister does not have this information, I would appreciate it if he would forward it...

Asylum Support Services (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Humane?

Asylum Support Services (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: In that regard, will the Minister look again at the EU directive on minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers - it may be directive 2039 - which deals with many of the issues he has just outlined? It also deals with an issue raised in the previous question, that if the State does not make a decision within a certain timeframe, certain steps will be taken to deal with that. Many...

Residency Permits (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I recognise there is some flexibility. However, one of the issues - I am sure Deputy Stanton, as Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, will support this - is that people are unaware of the criteria on which decisions are based with regard to this flexibility. The Minister spoke about the low numbers who requested independent status. One of the reasons...

Criminal Prosecutions (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 61: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the UN fundamental human rights instruments to which this State has signed up make it clear that fundamental rights protections may be derogated from only in times of emergency that no such emergency exists that could possibly warrant the measures contained in the Offences Against the...

Criminal Prosecutions (13 Mar 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I spoke to the Minster about this last week. This question was scheduled for last Thursday; however, I was unable to attend and it has been rescheduled. Sinn Féin has long said that the Offences Against the State Act should be repealed and there is a growing call for its repeal. Various organisations describe it as draconian. The Minister referred to section 8 of the Criminal Justice...