Results 7,721-7,740 of 9,316 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does Mr. Tyndall believe the fact that the scheme is not established on a statutory basis has reduced the level of engagement one would expect from a Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: One of the main ongoing issues of concerns is the fact, as Mr. Tyndall said in his closing comments, that some women who were in these laundries or institutions have not yet received any benefit under this scheme. One explanation that appears to have been put forward by the Department is that there may be the prospect of double payment and people may have been compensated under the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is Mr. Tyndall satisfied that enough efforts have been made by the Department to ensure that women who worked within the laundries are aware of the scheme and have applied for the scheme or is there anything else he believes the Department could do to apprise women of their entitlements under this scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: It may not be within Mr. Tyndall's responsibility but one of the big issues for the women is the establishment of an appropriate memorial. Is anything being done or can anything be done by the Department to contact the women to try to allow them engage with each other as to how they believe there would be appropriate memorialisation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. I thank Mr. Tyndall.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Mr. Martin for coming in and for his presentation. A concern that I and other members of this committee have is that, in February 2013, the State made a sincere apology to the women who were in Magdalen laundries, but there is a view in this committee, which I would hold, that the scheme applied and how it has been applied is not really consistent with the sincerity of that apology....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Ombudsman says that seems harsh. A number of women were located in places such as training centres or industrial schools attached to or beside a recognised institution. On whose instruction was the Ombudsman's analysis rejected? Did the Minister say he was wrong and that we should stick to the stricter version?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Has anyone in Government indicated to the Department that, in light of the strict manner by which it is being applied, the scheme should be amended or broadened?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: One of the Ombudsman's recommendations was that the Department should commence reviews. That is in respect of the first recommendation. The Ombudsman stated to the committee that he got a request back from the Department in respect of those reviews. Where are those reviews and when will they be completed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that clarification has been provided.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Ombudsman recommended the Department should commence these reviews immediately. Do I take it from Mr. Martin's answer that the reviews, in fact, have not commenced?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Has the Department told the Ombudsman that these reviews are not going to be done?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Has anyone in the Department gone to the Minister and said we cannot commence this review in respect of what the Ombudsman has suggested until such time as a Government decision is made to extend this scheme beyond the 12 named institutions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am conscious of the function and role of the Civil Service. Ultimately, this is a decision for the Minister and Government. Is that what Mr. Martin is saying to us?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. In respect of advocacy services, many of these women are elderly and vulnerable. They need access to some form of expertise or advocacy to enable them to engage with this scheme. What has the Department done to provide them with access to independent advocacy services through the scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is there any formalised method whereby women who have not engaged with the Department are informed, notified or provided with any advocacy services, whether independent or not?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: In terms of the memorialisation, one of the recommendations is that a memorial should be put up to commemorate and recollect what happened. This requires engagement by the women themselves. Has the Department done anything or can the Department do anything to enable the women to come together and collaborate on what they would like to see?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Administration of Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme: Report of Ombudsman (31 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the witness.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (30 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 302. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the interim right to work for asylum seekers that he proposes to introduce prior to the State's opt-in to the EU reception directive is consistent with the decision of the Supreme Court delivered in May 2017 on the constitutional right of asylum seekers to seek asylum. [4195/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (30 Jan 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 303. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that the use of the Employment Permits Act 2003 (as amended) to facilitate asylum seekers in seeking work prior to Ireland opting into the EU reception directive is consistent with the decision of the Supreme Court in May 2017 that asylum seekers have a freedom to seek employment under the Constitution...