Results 20,381-20,400 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank the Minister for his response. Independent of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing, all members are very conscious of the need to ensure inter-agency co-operation in terms of responses to specific cases. The Minister rightly referenced several agencies with particular responsibility in that area. There is a need for work-life changes to ensure greater...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: As we are in public session, all mobile phones should be switched off as they cause interference, even if on silent mode, with the recording equipment in the committee rooms. Deputy Eamon Scanlon is deputising for Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. This meeting has been convened for consideration of Committee Stage of the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018. I welcome again the Minister for Justice and...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister's intention is noted.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Will the Minister respond to Deputy Clare Daly on how substantive the amendments about which he is talking are?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: No doubt that is very illuminating for Deputy Clare Daly.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: My reading is that we are unlikely to get anything further from the Minister on what he is proposing to do. I had asked for a substantive-----

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank the Minister. I propose to proceed. We will have to bide our time. Report Stage will be taken in due course.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: No, but Deputy Clare Daly's expressed concerns are not unreasonable. She brought forward the initial Bill more than three years ago and we have a keen interest in facilitating its progress.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That is fine.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Perhaps the most important issue is that of the Minister being able to indicate that Report and Final Stages of the Bill will be taken at the earliest possible date after the completion of Committee Stage. I hope that is his intention.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I hope that sums everything up at this point.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Amendment No. 3 in the name of Deputy O'Callaghan has been deemed to be out of order, representing a potential charge on the Revenue, which is always unfortunate because members have validly considered the merit of the proposition. Having it deemed out of order on that basis is most unfortunate.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Amendment No. 4 is in the name of the Minister. Amendments Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, in the Minister's name are related and may be discussed together.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That is it. You have addressed the four amendments, Minister. We are discussing amendments Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive. Does anyone wish to comment?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is whoever had responsibility for the deceased person. I think these amendments are technical in nature and I do not believe there should be any issue with them. In the absence of any other comment I will dispose of each of them.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Amendments Nos. 8 and 9 are related and will be discussed together.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: If Deputy Wallace does not wish to add anything at this point, he can reserve the opportunity to speak later. I invite the Minister to address amendments Nos. 8 and 9.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I wish to add a further comment before the Minister responds. I appreciate the difference in the two positions. The amendment proposed by Deputies Clare Daly and Wallace states, "At the request in writing of a family member of the woman concerned, a coroner may decide not to hold an inquest". There still is a degree of determination on the part of the coroner who "may decide not to hold an...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Before the Minister responds, there was one related matter about which I am anxious. Where an inquest has been denied and it is very definitely the view of the bereaved that an inquest is important and necessary, the process for appeal, as I understand it, currently takes place through the Attorney General. Can the Minister clarify whether that is the case? I have a sense that this merits...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank the Minister for that. It is an appeal - that is how we lay people would view it in any event, and the Minister used that language in his concluding sentences. The Attorney General can direct a coroner or, actually, override a coroner's previous decision not to proceed. In preparing for today's meeting and informing myself of the methodology, I was alarmed to see that this was the...