Results 2,721-2,740 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 4: In page 28, line 11, to delete "A person" and substitute "A person under whose direction the activities are being conducted". We had a discussion on this matter and I will not the labour the point. This amendment relates to the Part dealing with offences and penalties where a person contravenes a condition of a licence granted under the relevant statutory provisions....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Seaweed Harvesting (16 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, for coming to the House. I know it was a bit of a challenge for him to get here because the previous debate finished early. I appreciate him coming in. I previously raised the issue I am raising when the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, held the position now held by the Minister of State....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Seaweed Harvesting (16 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Interestingly, since 1933 we have had the Foreshore Act and the licensing regime has not been policed that quickly in the interim. In fact, in the past year or so we have seen an acceleration of applications coming through. I take on board the point made about the need to continue but at the same time surely the Minister is putting the cart before the horse. Would we not be better off...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: In addition, notwithstanding that applications for leave to remain follow a notice from the Minister of Justice and Equality that he or she is considering deportation, until that application has been determined, refused and followed by a deportation order, it cannot be said that a person is in the country irregularly. The use of the term “regularisation”, therefore, erroneously...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I would have no confidence-----

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I would have no confidence in this Government accepting amendments on this issue. I believe that although certain Ministers, such as the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, are saying the right things, there is not full Government backing for change in the system. I say to Senator Norris that I am not in a position to support the Bill, although I believe there are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I apologise for being late. There is actually a debate on immigration regularisation in the Seanad and it shows the madness of these Houses that the debate on the same issue is happening at the same time. We may be called to vote on that in which case I will have to leave. I thank the IRC for its input. It is important that we get that input today. Could they outline some of the basic...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Would that be common practice internationally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the witnesses for their evidence, the detail of which is useful. I concur with the Chairman's comments about visiting the centre. Hopefully, the RIA will attend the committee. If there is to be an oversight mechanism, should it constitute random access for NGOs or something else? We as elected representatives can be in the same position as Doras Luimní, in that we must ask...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We have discussed how asylum seekers can make complaints to the system, but what mechanism do the organisations before us have for making complaints if they are not satisfied with how matters are being handled or they are being treated and how well does it work? If they do not have a mechanism, what would they recommend? If comparisons with international best practice were possible, would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Is there any reason NGOs did not tender to provide direct provision centres? Mr. Straton outlined the example of the Red Cross in Sweden.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Has the process been open to it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Is any auditing carried out of the 53 centres? One company was given €100 million to run centres. Was the spending of that money not audited?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It is strange when there are cutbacks in public expenditure and so on and we have been debating the expenditure of Irish Water and other organisations, that €53 million allocated annually by a Department is apparently not fully audited. It is something we probably need to investigate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Does the RIA, for example, have guidelines? I could have a company that receives €1 million a year to run a centre but I could run it in a way that ensures a €500,000 profit. Are there guidelines in the tendering process regarding the profits companies can make?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It is an interesting issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: To whom do the organisations appearing before us complain? Is there a formal procedure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Do they correspond with the RIA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I asked a question about the Ombudsman for Children.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The homeless list has increased.