Results 4,761-4,780 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Tax: Discussion (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: So we are probably asking the officials the wrong questions and taking the wrong view of this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Tax: Discussion (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: We do not know that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I think it is 1,200 or 1,300 people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The first asylum seekers came to Donegal town in 2000. I was involved in the asylum support group in Donegal town at that time. As such, I have been involved through the entire process since asylum seekers have been here. It is interesting that the problems raised at the first meeting in Donegal town before the asylum seekers came were exactly the same as the ones being raised in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: All politicians, as I said. I refer to Mr. Tyndall's opening statement, which included a couple of requests for the committee. I would like to put them formally to allow the committee to support them in future. They were touched on earlier by previous speakers. On the examination of complaints about the asylum process, does he believe his remit should be extended to include the process?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Would that apply to emergency centres as well?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I do not know whether Mr. Garvey is aware that an emergency centre opened recently in Portsalon, County Donegal, which is a very isolated area. No play facilities are available for the children. The residents are finding it very difficult to organise transport to allow their children to access play facilities. Is the Portsalon centre on the radar of the Office of the Ombudsman?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Okay. I think that would be important because there is some difficulty there. When Mr. Garvey and his colleagues visit the centres and try to talk to the staff, do they bring interpreters with them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: That brings me onto another problem with the asylum system. RIA wants to get complaints about the system. If the system is not working right, it wants to hear about it. However, it will not accept the word of anyone who is not a resident. It does not want to hear from local support groups that are working with residents. I think that puts the residents in a very vulnerable position in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: If a resident who has not got a fair hearing from RIA subsequently gets a better hearing because the Office of the Ombudsman has raised the matter with RIA on his or her behalf, is that not a sign of a problem in itself?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: That is useful to know. I think there is a problem with local support groups. Although RIA supports the establishment of local support groups, it does not support the work they are doing to provide assistance to asylum seekers. I think that would be important. I was interested to hear what was said about getting medical cards because I know of a number of people who have not got medical...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: When an asylum seeker lands in Portsalon - it could be anywhere in the country, but I am using that as an example - and does not have a medical card, he or she must make contact with the HSE. Should RIA not have a responsibility in this regard?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: That makes sense.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Ultimately, the responsibility lies with RIA.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Does Mr. Garvey find that RIA accepts its responsibility in this area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I want to make sure I have covered everything. I will conclude by mentioning the question of the resources of the Office of the Ombudsman, which was touched on briefly earlier. If the office's responsibility were extended, would it have to enter into negotiations with the Department of Justice and Equality or the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: It has not been a problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Okay. That is all.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (26 Sep 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 6. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered the ruling of the Ombudsman regarding primary medical certificates (details supplied); the reason his Department has not made relevant amendments after the intervention of the Ombudsman; when he plans to bring the necessary legislative amendments to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38452/19]