Results 1,241-1,260 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (21 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: This is a very important issue and we must ensure this sort of heritage is looked after. I suggest, however, that it is not necessarily for this committee to make a statement of that nature because we are supposed to highlight issues of systemic importance, where there are problems with the system not working. I suggest the expertise for this sort of issue lies with the Joint Committee on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (21 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I concur with the points made by the Chairman. The voice of the citizen must be paramount in a democracy. A significant number of people feel disenfranchised at election time. I experienced this issue personally when I was abroad during a number of elections for which I would have liked my vote to have been counted. As a Legislature, we should ensure that a mechanism is established, where...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (21 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the petitioners for raising the issue. It seems like a small issue but it is quite important. I commend the secretariat on the background work done to get us the information which shows that there is a legislative loophole which has been closed in other jurisdictions. I would hope it will not impinge on something like the constitutional right to property. We have seen things like...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I welcome the Minister. The section deals with the dissolution of the Civil Defence Board. We agreed it makes sense, as it logical, but it is important to recognise the role board members have played. They have served well in a voluntary capacity. The board has done fantastic work around the country in difficult circumstances at short notice, for example, dealing with flooding or...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The section deals with the transfer of land and other property to the Minister. While Sinn Féin agrees in principle with the transfer back under the aegis of the Department of the role of the Civil Defence Board, there should be no diminution of the resources available, including staffing. It is important, because much of the work is voluntary and is done in reaction to crises in many...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister of State for his reassurances on the issue of property and that it is a case of business as usual. As with the transfer of powers to the Minister, we hope the staff made available to Civil Defence will not be reduced in the coming years. The staff numbers appear to be comparatively small. It is important that there be an adequate number of staff to support the many...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It is important in this section to recognise the role local authorities have played in regard to Civil Defence plans. Dialogue at local level and local expertise are extremely important in a crisis. In this regard, Senator Michael Mullins referred to flooding. Local knowledge is key if there is a dangerous accident or a big event taking place. The centralising of functions under the...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I hope the Minister of State will clarify for us that, as a result of the transfer of powers, there will not be any reduction in the level of grants paid to the local authorities to help them in their responsibilities in terms of civil defence. I know there is a budgetary process in terms of the ongoing moneys available, and that this will be negotiated on a year-by-year basis. However, I...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Thar ceann Shinn Féin, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an mBille seo. Tréaslaím leis an Aire Stáit, leis na feidhmeannaigh ón Roinn a bhfuil tar éis an obair seo a dhéanamh agus, go mórmhór, le muintir an Cosaint Shibhialta ar fud an oileáin a dhéanann obair na gcapall ag am na géarchéime, sa chuid is mó, chomh maith le féiltí agus ócáidí éagsúla. Bíonn siad ag...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire. Táim thar a bheith sásta gur é féin atá anseo leis an cheist seo a fhreagairt. Tá gach duine ag faire na bpinginí maidir le cúrsaí buiséid agus mar sin de, agus ní haon iontas an tAire ina measc. Táim cinnte go bhfuil sin á dhéanamh aige. I welcome the Minister to the House. I appreciate that as the senior Minister in the Department he...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Táim thar a bheith buíoch don Aire as an bhfreagra sin. It is good to see there is tight management and that the Minister is confident that the moneys will be spent and spent well. I note that the Department has suffered a huge decrease in funding in recent years. I note for the Gaeltacht and the islands there has been a 64% reduction in the spend. From my rudimentary knowledge of these...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Tá céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Díospóireacht iontach tábhachtach é seo agus fáiltímid, go ginearálta, roimh an mBille seo atá á thabhairt chun cinn ag an Aire. Go deimhin, bhí páirt dlúth ag mo chomhghleacaithe, na Teachtaí Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin agus Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, ins an plé ar fad a bhí ann maidir leis an mBille. I welcome the Bill and commend the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Plé le Cathaoirleach Ainmnithe Údarás na Gaeltachta (27 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Community development.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Plé le Cathaoirleach Ainmnithe Údarás na Gaeltachta (27 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh Iníon Uí Ghallchóir agus tréaslaím leí. Cé go raibh mé cáinteach go leor ar an bpróiseas cheapacháin a bhain le bord Údarás na Gaeltachta agus an athrú ar an bpróiseas toghchánaíochta, níl locht ar bith uirthi faoi sin agus ba mhaith comhghairdeas ó chroí a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Western Development Commission: Discussion with Chairman Designate (27 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I welcome Mr. McGuinness and thank him for his presentation. I wish him all the best in his role, which is an important role. As a Galway and Connemara man, I know that the west of Ireland has lagged behind in development terms for many years. I note there are a number of important projects to be brought to a conclusion, including the West on Track project, continuation of the M17 and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Western Development Commission: Discussion with Chairman Designate (27 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I wish Mr. McGuinness the best of luck.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Refugee Accommodation (28 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Táim thar a bheith buíoch de as teacht isteach chun an cheist seo a fhreagairt. The Minister of State may be aware that I have raised the direct provision model on a number of occasions. This is an issue of major concern to me. It not appropriate for the long-term housing of refugees seeking asylum in the State. There are major issues concerning the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Refugee Accommodation (28 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Yes. I thank the Minister for his reply. I have read the value for money report but it does not say much about the human element, which is sadly lacking in the direct provision system. The Minister of State stated that residents receive a weekly direct provision allowance of ¤19.10 per adults. I have a receipt from one of the asylum seekers of his payment from the Department of Social...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: What Minister sanctioned those? Would he be a Labour Party Minister?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Nov 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Ba mhaith liom díospóireacht maidir lenár gcuid acmhainní nadúrtha. At a time when we are seeing serious fiscal restraint, many people, particularly along the west coast, are asking what we are doing about exploiting our natural resources. A report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture said the oil and gas licensing regime should be...