Results 1,421-1,440 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (4 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: 22. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in the face of massive public opposition he will consider at least the partial undergrounding of the EirGrid cable network. [51690/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Traveller Accommodation (5 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: 5. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, in view of the €50 million underspend by local authorities relating to Traveller accommodation discussed at committee level in May and the current crisis in Traveller accommodation, he will now exercise his powers under section 111 of the Housing Act 1966 to order local authorities to perform these housing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Traveller Accommodation (5 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: The State has failed the Traveller community and probably never more so than over the past few years with austerity. In light of the €50 million underspend by local authorities on Traveller accommodation, will the Minister exercise his powers under section 111 of the Housing Act 1966 to order local authorities to perform their housing functions within a specific period of time, or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Traveller Accommodation (5 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: The State's efforts in this whole area have been toothless and ineffective. The Minister spoke about private accommodation being available to Travellers. Since the recession, the State has reduced capital spending for construction of social housing for all people, sending people into the private rental market and expecting them to organise housing through that means. This causes major...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Traveller Accommodation (5 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: If the Minister is saying that what I said is not true, will he tell me why 11% of Travellers are homeless, why they have a suicide rate of 10% and why psychologists say that Government policies are adding to their identity problem and causing mental health issues as well as depression and suicide? Will the Minister consider the Irish Traveller Movement's position in which it argues for a...

Other Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: Does the Minister accept that the refusal of the Government to build social housing has a direct impact on the homeless numbers? Given the scarcity of private rented accommodation in Dublin city in particular at the moment, rents are increasing and the number of units available is going to fall. We are not going to see a serious number of new units coming on the market in the near future...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: The changes proposed by this Bill are to be welcomed, although they come a bit late for many workers. The Government has known about the crisis in defined benefit funds for quite some time; therefore, the fact that it is now finally intervening in an increasingly volatile situation comes as a relief, not least to those in troubled defined benefit schemes. Sadly, the protections afforded to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: 68. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will reconsider the refusal of his predecessors to order a wider investigation under section 106 of An Garda Síochána Act into the general practices, policies and procedures of An Garda Síochána in relation to Corrib Gas, in view of the recent serious allegations regarding the delivery of alcohol to gardaí; if he...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: In 2008 the Morris tribunal completed its work cataloguing corruption, systemic failures in senior Garda management and working practices and the failure of accountability systems. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 was presented as the answer to many of these problems but instead the force has been over-centralised and politicised since then. The Morris tribunal did not just identify...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: Will I tell him now?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: I do not suppose the Minister's sums include the cost of the alcohol supplied. There has been a high incidence of complaints in this area. A total of 111 complaints were made in 2007 to 2008 but no charges have been brought. It is clear there is a systemic problem in terms of Garda policy and procedure. The section 98 investigation will not address that but a section 106 investigation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: I believe the majority of gardaí do a very good job but, sadly, a section 98 investigation will scapegoat a couple of individuals whereas a section 106 investigation will tackle the underlying problems. A section 98 investigation will more than likely blame individual gardaí for decisions made by a higher authority. First, does the Minister honestly believe it is satisfactory that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: I disagree completely.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: I do not think the State should have spent €16 million defending Shell.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: We were there a few weeks ago and met a lot of decent people.

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: The Minister says he is interested in transparency and accountability in respect of how our police force operates. Given that, is he concerned about the fact the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission special report this summer pointed out that many of the recommendations of the Morris tribunal have still not been implemented? Is the Minister also concerned about the criticism by...

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: She does not have a name anymore.

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: The Minister is not answering the question.

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: The Minister is not answering the question.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Culture (10 Dec 2013)

Mick Wallace: 74. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that the recognition of Traveller ethnicity has been repeatedly called for by the UN in order for Ireland to comply with its obligations under the ICCPR, when and how he intends to recognise Traveller ethnicity; the official steps or progression his Department has made over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement...