Results 1,521-1,540 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will not accept the amendment because section 35 already deals with these issues.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As Senator Bacik has outlined, the entire thrust of the Bill is that the best interests of the child or unaccompanied minor is absolutely to the forefront of what we are trying to achieve. I understand the sentiments behind the amendments that were tabled and have no issue with them. However, we have confidence that the Bill is robust in that respect and will serve the best interests of the...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am minded that many of these amendments are focused on the status of children. I am not in a position to accept the amendment because the Bill reflects the EU directive where a stateless person is not defined. However, I concur with many of the sentiments that Senator Ó Clochartaigh has outlined. The entire composition of the working group that was established to investigate and...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We should try to hold onto that and build on it because we cannot be complacent in that regard. These are my comments on the amendment but my commitment to the Senator, in terms of the payments, is that there will be clarity on that matter from the Department of Social Protection very soon.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Again, I concur with the sentiments expressed by Senator Ó Clochartaigh and understand the motivation behind his amendment. However, the technical reality is that children in direct provision are currently in a legal lacuna, as no application for protection can be made on their behalf, but section 15 (3) of this Bill addresses that issue.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I reject that assertion because I have visited approximately 14 direct provision centres and statistics show that since the publication of the working group report, its recommendations are being implemented. The number of asylum applications that have been processed and leave to remain permissions granted has grown by around 60% in that period of time. The recommendations of the report are...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: They are very different things.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Changed and scrapped are two very different things.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I can speak on amendments Nos. 10, 36, 39, 49 and 215. I will first make some general comments about some of the contributions that have been made. I have to concur with much of what Senator Bacik has said. This legislation is trying to clean up an area of public policy that has robustly failed over quite a prolonged period. We have had a Bill kicking around the place for 12 to 15 years....

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On amendment No. 10-----

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On amendment No. 10, I unfortunately cannot agree with Senator van Turnhout’s proposed amendment, which links into the recommendations of the working group. While the recommendation is desirable and I fully support its intent, the working group did not consider the potential impact on other areas of this Bill, including the fact that the Bill refers to the protection process and...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Not at all.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Senator cannot do that.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: If Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke to the Bill-----

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Senator clearly does not understand what he is talking about. I am embarrassed for him.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am embarrassed for him. He does not know what he is talking about.I cannot debate an issue with a Senator who does not know what he is talking about.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Senator does not have a clue what he is talking about.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is the International Protection Bill. It is not a Bill that deals with the direct provision system. I will try to explain it to the Senator in the simplest possible terms. The direct provision system is one in which a person resides while awaiting a decision. The International Protection Bill is about the system through which the person can get that decision. They are two very...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Unfortunately, I cannot accept this amendment as the Bill already provides for the service of documents to legal representatives where appropriate.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is a minor amendment which deals with the revocation of the list of statutory instruments which are part of the existing legal framework for international protection. An additional four statutory instruments are added to the list by the amendment.