Results 20,861-20,880 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Senator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: It remains for me, on behalf of the committee, to thank our witnesses for coming here this afternoon and sharing with us their observations on and concerns about the proposed legislation, and for dealing with the questions of members in the manner in which they have done so. It has been put to us that it is intended that the Bill will provide for amendments in three areas, which we have...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (20 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: 603. To ask the Minister for Health for an outline of the CAMHS service in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7948/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (20 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: 604. To ask the Minister for Health the current position on the reform and the regulation of CAMHS under the Mental Health Act 2001. [7949/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: 134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the avenues open to parents of children with special needs (details supplied) who are without a primary school place for the coming school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8446/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: 135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will sanction increased funding and resources for primary schools in County Laois to ensure that no child with special needs is left without a place in an ASD unit where required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8447/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: 136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school places available in ASD units in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8448/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. Jacob. I will now open proceedings to the members of the committee. We may not have a full house but we have the next best thing. We are limited in our time. I propose that members be as succinct as possible in their questioning. The purpose of our deliberations this afternoon is to elicit concerns from our witnesses that may form part of our report on our pre-legislative...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Is this matter the subject of any discussion at the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: That is if the Secretary General stays.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: While we have had a positive discussion that has been instructive for this committee, I am not sure whether the levelling of sinister activity or behaviour on the part of the Department is entirely appropriate. That has been put but I am not sure whether, in the circumstances, it is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Apologies have been received from Senator Joe O'Reilly. We are dealing with pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2023. We are pleased to meet members of the external oversight body of the Defence Forces to discuss this Bill. I welcome in particular Professor Brian MacCraith, chair, Ms Josephine Feehily, member, Ms Julie Sinnamon, member, Ms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Professor MacCraith very much. On behalf of the committee and on my own behalf I would like to mention how grateful we are for the workload being undertaken by them and, indeed, for the role and function of their body. We very much acknowledge that and, in particular, the critical need for the transformation process to proceed along the lines that were originally intended. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Would anyone like to comment on Deputy Berry's observations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Was Ms Feehily keen to come back in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Why would that belief have been?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Over the years this committee has engaged with the Defence Forces. As the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence we are often struck, sometimes to a remarkable extent, by the lack of engagement and consultation and the absence of listening, as Professor MacCraith mentioned, between the Department of Defence and not only the representative bodies but also rank and file members in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the work done by the oversight body and the work it is undertaking to do and, as Professor MacCraith said, the expanded workload it is eagerly looked forward to and is of extreme importance. It is not expected that there will be certainty but there is no certainty regarding the issue of the headquarters but it is crucially important that the headquarters be independent and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Not surprisingly, head 6 states that the external oversight body shall be independent in the performance of its functions subject to the Act. Is Professor MacCraith satisfied as to the independence of the body in the context of what has already been prepared and drafted? I note that under head 8, a provision that there shall be a chair and six, Professor MacCraith has commented on a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Of course, it is too late if the legislation is enacted because, as the witnesses all know, it is about the rigidity of the legislation. It could be over a decade before this is revisited, so in the first instance it is important it strike a proper note. In this regard, all the witnesses' expertise and their collective views are hugely important in the process.