Results 2,461-2,480 of 9,147 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Discussion with Nominee (23 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Before I allow Deputy Seamus Kirk to contribute, let me clarify some matters on the lost at sea scheme. The recommendations of the then Ombudsman, Ms Emily O’Reilly, were rejected by the committee. She did raise the issue in her outgoing speech to the committee and has indicated she will be bringing it to the Taoiseach to be dealt with. The committee is seeking legal advice from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Discussion with Nominee (23 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Please allow Mr. Tyndall to finish.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Discussion with Nominee (23 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We like ambition. Mr. Tyndall should be ambitious for reform in Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Discussion with Nominee (23 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I sincerely thank Mr. Tyndall for assisting us in our deliberations today and I wish him all the very best for the future. We are grateful to him for taking time to meet us today. This concludes our consideration of the topic.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Messages to Dáil and Seanad (23 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Under Standing Order 87 the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Joint Sub-Committee on the Ombudsman of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions has completed its consideration of the following motion:That Dáil Éireann recommends Mr. Peter Tyndall for appointment by the President to be the Ombudsman. Under Standing Order 72 the following...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 62. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to request an independent investigation of the management of the fixed charged notice and penalty points system following the recent report from the Comptroller and Auditor General, as well as the ongoing media reports regarding the alleged termination of penalty points for journalists, judges and a State solicitor. [46620/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Minister has the question. I will use my 30 seconds more effectively after he has spoken.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It is a nonsense. For God's sake, everyone has the question. What can I say about a question that is already available?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Comptroller and Auditor General's report revealed that half of summonses were not served and one in five motorists facing fixed-charged notices were getting off. It was much clearer than the previous report carried out by An Garda Síochána, and that is why we must have an independent examination of the issue. Just as important, there are ongoing reports in the media about...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Is the Minister concerned about allegations made by a number of media outlets, including The Guardian, which is one of the most respected international media outlets, that senior journalists who worked directly with gardaí had penalty points terminated? Is he concerned about media reports that at least two judges allegedly had penalty points terminated? There was also a report about a...

Other Questions: Common Travel Area (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: On a point of order, I am alarmed by this. The new system to guarantee five questions for each spokesperson is not in place today, but the rule under which questions fall if the Deputies who tabled them are not present has been introduced. This means that spokespersons have limited opportunities to raise issues. There is a miscommunication. I ask for some latitude from the Chair on this...

Other Questions: Common Travel Area (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I have to press this issue because it is very important. I have two questions. First, was it communicated to party Whips that all Deputies with questions on the Order Paper would have to be present today? Second, why is it the case that we, as spokespersons, have not been guaranteed five questions? If the new rules are in place, they are in place. If the Chair is saying Standing Orders...

Other Questions: Common Travel Area (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: That is what has been implemented.

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: On a point of order, it is disappointing that certain Opposition Deputies have taken advantage of the adverse position in which other Opposition Deputies find themselves. Sinn Féin submitted questions as normal, including having nominated Deputies. We were not informed that the Deputies who tabled the questions had to be present in the Chamber and, as a result, we lost an opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 89. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will publish the Family Relationships and Children Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45967/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 516. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person seeking lone parent claim and is estranged from their spouse is obliged to provide utility bills and bank statements for their ex-spouse (details supplied). [46287/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (5 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 758. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of extra staff that will be recruited to the Garda Vetting Unit arising from the announcement made in Budget 2014; when he expects the full staff compliment to be in place; how quickly applications will be processed; the date on which the National Vetting Bureau Act will be fully commenced; and if he will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 2. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will overturn the decision to close the families clinic in the Curragh Camp at the end of 2013.. [46846/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: On the face of it, the Minister's argument that he cannot provide services to one set of families and not others is fair. However, the families insist they were not consulted and were first made aware of this very significant change by letter. They also referred to the wider issue of the changes in the camp, which, many years ago, was a very different place. They use words such as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I defer to my colleague's local knowledge of the realities on the ground. The Minister did not answer my very simple question on what consultation was undertaken with the families who are already, as we can see, very concerned about the changed circumstances in the camp. Why was it not put to them that the Department had done a survey of local GPs and clinics in nearby towns and found that...