Results 4,281-4,300 of 9,159 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Undocumented Migrants: Immigration Control Platform (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I had better clarify this. When this debate is reported on thejournal.ie this evening, and in respect of previous debates on this subject matter, I am saying that the majority of the comments will be in support of Ms Ní Chonaill's view. We have to be honest that her view is not some view on the fringes in Irish society. Large numbers of Irish people share her perspective. That is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Undocumented Migrants: Immigration Control Platform (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I will put the question again, because Ms Ní Chonaill obviously did not listen to it. My first point related to sentiment expressed on thejournal.ie, which I clarified for the witness. On my second point, I said that the suggestions I have heard in respect of possible Government policy do not include a proposal for an open-door approach. What is being proposed is the regularisation of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Undocumented Migrants: Immigration Control Platform (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: When representatives of Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, MRCI, appeared before the committee, they produced evidence that if we were to regularise the position of the 20,000 or so migrants who have lived here for more than three years, there would be a net economic benefit for the State. Internationally, likewise, there is a range of empirical evidence to show that regularising the status of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Undocumented Migrants: Immigration Control Platform (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I asked for empirical evidence which was backed up by research, preferably from a university, to support Ms Ní Chonaill's proposition that the State would lose out economically by regularising the position of immigrants. However, I will move on and put my final question. In Ms Ní Chonaill's view, should all of the hundreds of thousands of Irish emigrants working illegally in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Undocumented Migrants: Immigration Control Platform (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am asking Ms Ní Chonaill for reasons of consistency. If she is using international examples to back up her argument for asking migrants who have come to this country to leave, would it not be consistent for her to call for Irish migrants throughout the world who have gone to other countries illegally to work to be deported back to Ireland?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Undocumented Migrants: Immigration Control Platform (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I apologise, Chairman, but I must leave to attend another meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The committee is in public session. The committee is sitting today in its capacity as Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery that all mobile telephones must be switched off, as they interfere with the broadcasting system. I am pleased to welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank the Minister of State for his offer to send the transcript on to the working group. Our primary focus is on the issue of extending the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman and the Information Commissioner to the direct provision centre system. In doing that, we have had to examine the direct provision system itself. We are mindful that the working group has been tasked with that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Senator can ask three or four questions, but he should put one question at a time. Is that okay?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It is just to have a productive meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I shall allow the Senator to ask a final question now because other members have indicated a wish to comment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: There is a division in the Dáil. There are three Government and three Opposition Members present. We have an option here to continue, as we are paired off. Do the members agree to that or do they wish to go and vote? I am happy to stay. Is it agreed that we continue? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Is Mr. Dowling saying that, with regard to the European tendering process, there is no legal barrier-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The RIA is operating legally.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Is it Mr. Dowling's understanding that in terms of the legal framework, there is flexibility to factor in the issues that he has raised?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Yes, one question at a time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Is that the Deputy's first question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Deputy can put his question again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I have a suggestion for everybody present. I am mindful that the Minister of State agreed to come here before the working group reports. He said he would have preferred to come before us afterwards in order to have a more constructive debate on the outcome. I very much appreciate the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, has come today to allow us to get on with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank the Minister. We shall book a date in the autumn session on which to revisit these issues when we have had a chance to look at the recommendations of the various reports.