Results 3,561-3,580 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Unless he is from Leitrim.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I welcome the clarification from the Minister. I read correctly from the beginning that it was related to section 8 and took that point on board in framing the amendment. I still stand by what I am saying. If we have the argument that in section 27 he or she is allowed to say whatever he or she likes to all the other Oireachtas committees, I cannot understand why we would then gag him or...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (17 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá mé an-bhuíoch di faoi teacht isteach leis an gceist seo - ceist chonspóideach na feamainne in iarthar na hÉireann - a fhreagairt. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to answer this question, which relates to the ongoing debate around seaweed harvesting rights along the coasts of Ireland. I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (17 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister of State and welcome that she has told us this work has been done in seven counties. My understanding from the PRAI is that anybody can get a copy of a folio of land if they pay the charges. Making the information available is not necessarily a data protection issue. Will the Minister of State make the information available? Can a map be made available showing where...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Ach an oiread le mo chomhghleacaithe, cuirim fáilte roimh an Seanadóir Ní Chathail agus guím gach rath uirthi ina cuid oibre anseo. Guím gach rath freisin ar an iar-Sheanadóir Jimmy Harte atá anois ag ligean a scíth. Last night's match proved that Jimmy Harte is still winning matches, which is a good sign. I wish him very well. I concur with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. Some things based on our recommendations in the report should be clarified and put on the record. My understanding from the presentation is that the Department is purely the administrator of the weekly allowance and that any increase in the weekly allowance is an issue for the Reception and Integration Agency and the Department of Justice and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank Ms Harrington for clarifying the position. The habitual residence prerequisite for child benefit seems quite unfair. Most citizens would balk at the condition and say all of the children of the country should be treated equally. I appreciate the stance and the position on it but is the interdepartmental group making any recommendations on changing it. Is it being discussed at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: My understanding is that all of the parties to the interdepartmental group will make recommendations which could lead to changes in legislation. Surely it would be an idea to put it on the table. Could we suggest when the Department goes back to the next meeting that it is something that could be considered? The group may decide not to do it but it would only be fair that it would consider...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: One of important aspects of the debate on this matter is that it was kick-started by the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children who said they wanted oversight of the system. I appreciate that the allowance is an issue and that the Department is the administrative body for it. On the issue of emergency needs payments, child benefit, etc., will Ms Harrington outline what appeals mechanisms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: If an ordinary citizen is unhappy with the level of an exceptional needs payment, he of she has the review by another competent officer and he or she goes to the social welfare appeals office. If he or she is still not happy, can he or she go to the Ombudsman to make a complaint?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: That is what I am trying to ascertain.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: A citizen has a right to go to the Ombudsman at the end of the process, whereas somebody living in direct provision can only go as far as the social welfare appeals office in the context of any dispute over what has been allocated. That is the nub of what the Ombudsman was saying to us. The Ombudsman should be available to everyone in the country, including those in direct provision. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On Deputy Ó Snodaigh's point about child benefit, for example, if a parent in direct provision feels that child benefit should be available to their child, he or she would appeal that to the Department and the Department would say that it is not available under legislation. He or she might appeal it to the social welfare appeals office and the Department would again say that it is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The HAP scheme is in its pilot phase and, obviously, people in direct provision will not be on the local authority housing lists. Will HAP take into consideration the length of time people have been in direct provision? They may have been in direct provision for five, six, seven or eight years when the HAP applications are being made and they have been waiting that long for accommodation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Is dócha gur cheart aitheantas a thabhairt ar maidin don fhógra atá déanta ag Peter Robinson go bhfuil sé i gceist aige na bróga a chrochadh suas ó thaobh cúrsaí polaitíochta de. In the context of the statement issued this morning by the Northern Ireland First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, that he will resign his position as leader of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: They are subject to even more austerity.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Many times we submit amendments and are told that we do not need to duplicate a provision that is already in some other item of legislation. I was going to let that sleeping dog lie in respect of the PAC but if it is already in Standing Orders, it is surely unnecessary to include it in the Bill. It seems to be a double whammy.

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On a point of order, I ask the Acting Chairman to clarify why the amendment has been ruled out of order.