Results 621-640 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I apologise for missing the presentations. Unfortunately, my absence was caused by the vagaries of Dublin traffic. I will make a couple of observations and ask a couple of questions. My wife who is a barrister at law is a widow to politics, while I am a widower to the legal profession. We heard about the need for members of the legal profession to gain sufficient experience to give...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: Dr. Cahillane's paper addresses diversity, an issue that has been well covered. My only observation in this regard is that the figures show that the lower courts have a higher percentage of female representation. Based on the time lag of between 15 and 20 years for appointment, to which Dr. Carroll MacNeill referred, I wonder if it is a good sign for the legal system and the Judiciary that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I do not wish to give the impression that I was suggesting the higher number of women in the lower courts would naturally trickle up to the higher courts. That was not my point. I was stating this was probably one of the many ways of addressing the issue. On diversity, Dr. Carroll MacNeill's comments prompted me to think about the role of class in representation among the Judiciary, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I have a question concerning ongoing education. It was mentioned that our judges are regularly sent to Scotland for additional training. When it comes to some of the decisions made by sitting judges - Deputy McGrath made reference to this and it is an observed knowledge I have - questions are often asked where there is a lack of understanding of a decision or its basis in, for example,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: Would that include registrars? One sometimes reads of registrars making decisions or registrars trying to make law.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: Is there any additional information that would be recommended to the committee on the issue of complaints, sanctions and removal of judges? Work has been carried out on this in the past. I read a report some years ago, following on from the resignation of Judge Curtin, on whether an alarm system should be set up to identify issues that might arise. This would not necessarily require the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: It possibly is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: Dr. Carroll MacNeill has made a very good point on lay members. I wonder if it is the selection of the lay members that is important. Does it require strong characters and individuals who will speak their minds or is it simply the custom and practice of the JAAB that perpetuates the current situation? What mechanism is available to this committee or the Government to change how that occurs?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I am pleased that the Minister referred to the arbitrary number of 13,000 gardaí. I am not aware of any study, independent or otherwise, of the optimal number. To put it bluntly, the figure of 13,000 is probably more political than for any other reason. When it is available, I would very much welcome an opportunity to debate the Garda Inspectorate's report to which the Minister...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: That is correct. I am addressing that subhead. The ICT side includes HR and payroll functions. I accept that the sum of approximately €40 million will form a separate budget next year. Have additional moneys been allocated as part of the subhead within Vote 20 to begin the process and does it include payroll costs?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I have a question on foot of what the Minister has just said. If one uses the Green Schools initiative as a comparison and with which the Minister will be familiar from her constituency, I presume she is referring to something along those lines, whereby the SEAI direction and assistance is being provided to work toward savings in respect of insulation and so on, that is, the small things-----

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: -----that home owners would know all about.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: Given that we were aware of this at this time last year when preparing the Estimates for 2014, did we not put the figure in the budget for this year? Were we aware of this? That is a question in itself

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: The additional vehicles have to be welcomed. I am aware from the Minister’s responses to parliamentary questions and statements in the Dáil that continuous funding for additional vehicles to cater for the demand is absolutely necessary and welcome. The 400 vehicles mentioned in the explanatory note under A.5, pertaining to transport, are for 2015. Is the supplementary budget...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: My question relates to the income generated from GoSafe. I wish to know the total cost and the additional expenditure. If these figures were available, they would be helpful.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I welcome the contributions from the previous two speakers which I consider to be constructive and the Minister can speak for himself in that regard. It is heartening to hear Members being constructive on issues such as this because the purpose of this Bill is to attempt to reduce insurance premia so that the figures which Deputy Finian McGrath outlined of 250,000 leaving private health...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: It must be worth saying one of the main purposes of the Bill, other than bolstering the authority of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, is to alleviate much of the uncertainty and concern in the public domain about An Garda Síochána. Unfortunately, the public perception of the force has been damaged in the past couple of years. We are familiar with the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (27 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: 52. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way she will address the situation whereby young persons aged 24 and under, whose parents earn over the threshold, are ineligible to receive jobseeker's allowance, therefore cannot avail of Government supported work experience schemes and subsequently cannot gain employment due to their lack of experience; and if she will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: 107. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on allowing Irish Water to fall under the remit of the Commission for Energy Regulation for the purposes of handling customer complaint referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40944/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Child Care Costs (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: 173. To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the high cost of child care facing many families throughout the country, his views on implementing tax relief for those faced with these costs; his plans to assist those who are struggling with these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45815/14]