Results 3,221-3,240 of 4,399 for speaker:Martin Browne
- Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: We have apologies from Senator Warfield. The question is that we approve the minutes of the private and public meetings of 14 June and 15 June 2023. They have already been approved at our virtual private meeting, but we must approve them now for procedural reasons. Is that agreed? Agreed. I will read out some formal notices. I remind Members of the constitutional requirement that...
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: The next item of business is our engagement with the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, which will be followed by our consideration of public petitions. I will explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from...
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: I thank Mr. Justice Mahon. I see in the report that there are three specific issues the ODF has identified, and which the Minister needs to address. I will not call them out but these are identical to issues the committee has heard previously from the ODF. In some of the case studies we have seen, the 12-month rule has hampered the ability of some to seek resolution through the ODF. The...
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: The limitations.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Has the Department given any indication that it will bring forward the three amendments Mr. Justice Mahon is seeking? Has there been recent contact with the Department in relation to them?
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Amendments to the legislation.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Twelve months is very short. Moving on to the Air Corps, it had the highest number of complaints concerning maladministration. It also had the highest number of complaints concerning the non-selection of career courses. Do these figures indicate a system failure within the Air Corps? Can the fact that it has the highest number be explained in some other way?
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Deputy Devlin, you are online. Do you want to come in? No. I have a couple of questions. I go back to case No. 4 in your report. It deals with a female member of the Naval Service whose career prospects were limited because of being out on maternity leave and who therefore was not offered the opportunity to gain the relevant sea duties that would allow her enough experience to qualify...
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: She missed out on sea service duty because of being on maternity leave.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Progression.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Furthermore, in the IRG report it is noted in assessing the Defence Forces' equality, diversity and equal status policies that the policy documents available left significant room for improvement and that the document finds that women can feel sidelined, as you said yourself, in their career progression. It is your view that stuff is being done or changes are being made in that regard.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: I have another question about the Women of Honour. I do not know if you will be able to answer us, but does your office have any issue with the inclusion of interactions between the ODF and members of the Defence Forces relating to complaints of abuse? In their statement which accompanied their suggested terms of reference, they concluded by saying that the Defence Forces need to be...
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Yes.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Mr. Justice Mahon just answered the two questions I was going to ask next. Does the current process provide a speedy turnaround for complaints that are referred? Most of the complaints, given their nature, require a quick decision in order for justice to be seen to be done. Is the current system quick enough to get these complaints referred? Is there something else that could be done?
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: The 28-day wait is gone now. Complainants can go directly to the ombudsman.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: A quick resolution.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: Does Deputy Buckley wish to come in?
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: I thank Mr. Justice Mahon. Does he wish to make a final comment? Is there anything with which the committee can help him?
- Committee on Public Petitions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: I thank him and Mr. O'Neill for coming in. It has been very beneficial for the members who have been present. I will suspend the meeting for five minutes to allow the witnesses to leave.
- Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (29 Jun 2023)
Martin Browne: We have two petitions for consideration today. Petition No. P00008/23, stop legal netting of Atlantic salmon in Castlemaine harbour, from Mr. Danial Brosnan. The summary of the petition is that the petitioner advises that the continued legal netting of an endangered species, Atlantic salmon, in a special area of conservation, Castlemaine harbour, where Atlantic salmon are an actual...