Results 3,081-3,100 of 9,147 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (Resumed) (26 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It is an insult to this House.

Post Office Network: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am here as a representative of the people of Donegal just as all of us represent our communities. I will report on the post office situation in Donegal. In Greencastle, at the very top of the Inishowen peninsula, the postmaster, Cyril Gormley, sadly passed away. Very soon afterwards, An Post questioned the future of the postal service that his son wanted to continue. It was very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 2. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that the Garda confidential recipient has been relieved of his duties, the arrangements in place for members of An Garda Síochána who wish to make a complaint. [9946/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: How can there be time limits? This is Priority Questions. I should have two minutes on the clock.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It is two minutes and one minute, so why have I not been given two minutes?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: No, this is Priority Questions, so it is two minutes and one minute for the Opposition spokespersons. Why are there not two minutes on the clock?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Will the Leas-Cheann Comhairle clarify why it is one minute? This question has been grouped with another one and, as spokespersons, we should not be disadvantaged. Usually I would have two minutes and then one minute. Why are there not two minutes on the clock?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: This is Priority Questions, so it is two minutes plus one minute. I should not be disadvantaged because the questions have been grouped. I should have two minutes. Is there less time if questions are grouped?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Do we only have one minute?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: What are the normal times for a priority question taken alone?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Therefore, we get 30 seconds, one minute and one minute.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We get two minutes in total. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for clarifying that. When Oliver Connolly was appointed, the Minister testified to his character as an honourable man. Since he has been relieved of his duties, and I do not know the man personally, it has been reported that he is a respected solicitor. There is no question about this man's character. Why did he find himself...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Minister intimated that there will be a replacement for Oliver Connolly. What will be the arrangement? What will the arrangement be in the interim? I presume the Minister intends to move to a position where gardaí, regardless of the issue, will go directly to GSOC in future. Will he clarify that?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 5. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 as a basis for independent inquiries into matters of significant public concern. [9947/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: As I said yesterday, there are few people who would have as detailed an understanding of legislation as the Minister, so for the life of me I cannot understand why the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, which the Minister probably knows line for line, was not deployed in regard to the allegations of the GSOC offices being bugged and the serious matters that have come into the public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The issues in regard to the alleged bugging of the GSOC offices are very clear. They have been gone through line by line and every decent journalist in the State has reported on and analysed them. The Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions has spent hours dealing with the issues. The allegations and the issues of concern are very clear. Why did the Minister not deploy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Government's first position was that we did not need an independent inquiry because the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions was dealing with it but it cannot make findings of adverse fact, so it was never going to be satisfactory in terms of a resolution to this issue. The Minister's second position is to go with the half-baked review under Mr. Justice John Cooke....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I insulted the procedure, not the judge.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Will the Minister answer the question put to him? It would be good to get an answer.

Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (27 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I want to establish the Government's opinion of the critique of the Smithwick tribunal that was presented to him by the retired detectives, former chief superintendents John O'Brien, Michael Finnegan and Michael Staunton. It is a 30-page review and critique in which they contest Mr. Justice Smithwick's findings. Has the Minister had a chance to examine that and what is his view on it?