Results 20,961-20,980 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (22 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Please do. It would be very useful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (22 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I appreciate that and thank Mr. Justice McMahon for sharing such up-to-date statistics with us. We have heard Mr. Justice McMahon's view on the so-called emergency direct provision that has come into being relatively recent. We have challenged the Minister, Minister of State, who is a former Chairman of the committee, and representatives of the agencies involved on this matter. They...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Regulations (28 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: 386. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a vehicle displaying a valid blue badge can park on areas other than a designated disabled parking space and other valid parking areas; if it is the case that when they are already taken the vehicle owner and-or driver can park on double yellow lines in circumstances in which no obstruction or danger is present; the position in...

Housing (Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I welcome the opportunity to address this very important matter and to set out the Sinn Féin position on it. I commend Fianna Fáil on introducing the Bill and hope sincerely that we can all work together to improve dramatically the entire process whereby citizens with disabilities access vital funding to carry out adaptation works to their homes. Improving the system through a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Business of Joint Committee (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Senator Colm Burke for facilitating the commencement of this morning's business. Go raibh míle maith agat, a Sheanadóir. I remind members to please switch off their mobile phones as they interfere with the recording equipment. We shall go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The purpose of this meeting is to continue our series of engagements examining the direct provision system and the international protection application process. From the Irish Refugee Council, IRC, we are joined by Mr. Nick Henderson, chief executive officer, and Ms Rosemary Hennigan, who is the policy and advocacy officer. They are both very welcome. Joining us from the Movement of Asylum...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Mr. Mfaco will speak on behalf of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Mr. Mfaco. We will now move on to members' questions. Deputy Jack Chambers was first to indicate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Who would like to take that question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Before calling the next speaker, I would like us to take a group photograph at the conclusion at the meeting which we will include in our report. We will invite back all of the delegates for the launch of the report sometime in autumn. I wanted to flag this to my colleagues in case other business might take them away.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Before I go back to Deputy Ó Laoghaire, would anyone else like to offer comment on their experiences? There are many different stories behind all of you being here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Before going back to members, I would like to offer an opportunity to Ms Kunene, Mr. Sibanda and Ms Leonard to contribute. There are not two tiers here. It is just that we could not put everyone sitting together. Our guests are all equally welcome. Would they like to offer their perspectives or make any points?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Ms Kunene. Would Mr. Sibanda like to take the opportunity to comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Mr. Sibanda. On a light note, I knew the minute he said he would be brief that he would be like all my colleagues here. He is definitely part of all of this now. I will bring in Ms Kunene before going back to the members of the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Ms Kunene. I think it was worthwhile to hear further testimony before returning to the members of the committee

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Ms Vuma. Time is against us but Ms Ndlovu might like to make a short comment before I go back to Senator Black and other members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I take Ms Ndlovu's point and assure her that in the course of this examination and before producing our report, we will take a direct look at the contrasts between Mosney and other locations. It is part of what we intend to do. Does Senator Black have any further questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I reiterate the point that Senator Ó Donnghaile has made. Subsequent to this engagement with the IRC or MASI, I would like to submit some suggested points that we should look out for or that we should raise. The contributions of the witnesses have been significant and informative and they have helped greatly in the preparation of what we intend to do but something else may occur...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Unfortunately, that is not the way it will unfold but we will keep our eyes wide open and be conscious. As is the case for a school inspector, everything will be bright and shiny on the day-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: -----but the questions and points the witnesses share with us in the interim will be helpful. Ms Kunene is going to get the last word. I thought it would be Mr. Sibanda. I do not know why.