Results 3,661-3,680 of 9,148 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (18 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: This is the same as a question the Minister dealt with earlier, but I want to develop it a little further. Undoubtedly, it is of considerable concern to the people of Ireland that we are involved in commerce with the arms business in Israel. I got the Minister's response to my letter. Regardless of the framework, we must make our own decisions in these matters.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (18 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Normally I would not disagree, but I am thinking of Russia. Currently, we have sanctions against Russia and our agriculture sector is facing the same sanctions reciprocally. Another example is the sanctions against Iran. I am sure there are other countries that face sanctions now. There should be severe sanctions against Israel. The reason there are not any sanctions against Israel is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (18 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: This is a helpful discussion. It shows the conundrum we face around our neutrality and our partnership with European countries that are members of NATO. It is destroying our neutrality when we take collective decisions. For example, we abstained on the vote in the UN on the need for a report into what one, being gentle, would describe as human rights abuses that were taking place in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Operations (18 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 12. To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding Ireland’s naval base allowing non-manned aeroplanes or drones to land. [34539/14]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Traffic Control Services (18 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 14. To ask the Minister for Defence if he granted permission for two F16 jets to fly across Dublin on 30 August for an American football event held in Croke Park, Dublin. [34542/14]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (18 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 23. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on his recent trip to the NATO summit in Wales. [34541/14]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Transport (18 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 34. To ask the Minister for Defence if there are plans to maintain or replace the Government jet. [34540/14]

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We are now in the throes of the usual pre-budget scenario - the flying of kites by various Ministers and shadow boxing between coalition partners. There is a sham fight between the Labour Party and Fine Gael while families watch and hope there will be an end to austerity. Last week various Government Ministers trumpeted the improved Exchequer figures but the key point is that those figures...

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: One would think the Minister was doing stand-up at the Edinburgh fringe festival. Anybody watching today is looking at him and his fellow comedians behind him making light of the reality and sheer distress of so many families who are getting these letters through their doors and making choices and decisions. It is hugely disingenuous of the Minister because he knows that every year we give...

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: What is shocking to people watching today is why the Labour Party continues to facilitate this agenda. This year once again Sinn Féin will provide the Minister with a fully costed budget with alternatives and choices for him to make. There will be no hiding place or stand-up comedy. There will be the reality he must face up to, with the electorate who will have to pay the bills come...

Order of Business (23 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: On promised legislation, last week TheJournal.iewebsite covered the family courts in an excellent series of reports. The suffering of families which must endure this family courts process was quite harrowing. In fairness, Ministers have, on a number of occasions, promised that the Government will bring in legislation to address this. The first Bill to which I draw the Minister's attention...

Defence Forces Mission on the Golan Heights: Statements (23 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I welcome the fact that time has been set aside to discuss this issue in the Dáil. We and the rest of the Opposition have called for this. All Deputies have been unnerved by recent developments in the Golan Heights. We all share real concern for the health and safety of Irish troops stationed there on the UNDOF mission. Irish Defence Forces personnel who have served on UN...

Defence Forces Mission on the Golan Heights: Statements (23 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Unfortunately, it has a knock-on effect. The arms embargo that was removed by the EU before we went out there undermined our neutrality in that equation. A similar point can be made regarding the emergence of ISIS. It is clear that interested parties in Europe and the US were supporting rebels in Syria who were heavily financed by the Gulf states, which are allies of Europe and the West,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (23 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 319. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to appoint the board of the National Disability Agency. [35654/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 2. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out her plans regarding the current direct provision system in view of concerns that it is archaic, inhumane and not fit-for-purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35740/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: There has been a long overdue focus in recent times on the direct provision centres. I welcome much of what the Minister's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said on the matter. We have been raising this issue throughout this Dáil session. The Minister's predecessor, Deputy Shatter, was deeply disappointing in his responses and attitude...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Of particular concern is the impact on children in these centres over a long period because of the cramped environment and the food. The food is outside of their cultural experience. I listened to some of the excellent journalistic reports on radio about deep-fried foods. This is food we recommend families should not be eating all the time. Yet this is what is being given to them every...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The other issue of concern I wish to raise in this area is that of accountability. When we are providing a public service there is freedom of information and accountability to the Ombudsman. However, in the case of the private businesses that provide these services on behalf of the State, these do not apply. Therefore, we cannot look at how the money is spent or the type of food or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 5. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of the implementation of the Garda Inspectorate report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35741/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am sure that, like myself and everyone else in opposition, the Minister is extremely concerned with regard to the recent revelations to the effect that Sergeant Maurice McCabe has apparently discovered more anomalies in respect of the way in which penalty points are being cancelled. In that context, my question relates to the Garda Inspectorate report published earlier this year. Are the...