Results 17,761-17,780 of 33,581 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: It was not successful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: What reasons were given?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I read Ms Keatinge's submission in detail. There are 10,518 homeless people and it is becoming more difficult. Even before that, when I was a councillor in a previous life, it was increasingly difficult and appeals were a nightmare. There was a lack of openness and accountability. Ms Keatinge is suggesting an alternative dispute resolution mechanism and I worry that will add another layer...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I am not talking about the courts. I am talking the internal system in the council. There is often no information to tell someone that they can appeal a decision, how to do so or what the time limits are and so on. Is that not where improvements are needed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I see.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: The resource centre is giving help on the scheme of letting priorities which, on occasions, is a Kafkaesque nightmare and on appeals. Is that where the resource centre is focusing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: That comes back to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government setting proper procedures, rather than each local authority approaching the matter in an ad hocfashion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Will our guests' organisations be making submissions on the housing and planning and development Bill?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: What is being outlined in the planning and development Bill would be of concern to me. The courts have been proactive in talking about the trinity of planning laws comprising the local authority, the developer and the engaged citizen. There is a theoretical emphasis on the importance of the citizen, which this proposed Bill seems to curtail.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I am concerned about that. We had a presentation from Science Foundation Ireland some time in the past 12 months which put an emphasis on policy based on evidence. It seems to me there is a mantra about serial objectors to planning permission without any evidence at all. I do not see any evidence coming forward, or an analysis of what the problems in planning are. Would our guests agree...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: It is a particular narrative.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: The area of confidentiality on the settlement of cases is important and there would be learning opportunities if there were not confidentiality clauses. I do not think any Department involved in any litigation should insist on a confidentiality clause because there can be no learning in that case. It should be up to the affected plaintiff to seek a confidentiality clause if they want it,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: It is a seriously defective strategy because it prevents the learning of lessons and ends up costing more to the taxpayer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: My final point is about taking cases. There were serious questions as to whether we are complying with our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Are there avenues for any of our guests to pursue with clients and take a case, or have they done that, in relation to access to justice and the courts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: And yet Ms Wall is highlighting our non-compliance with our obligations under those instruments as a serious problem.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (12 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: 9. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cad é stádas Bhille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2017; cén dáta a fhoilseofar an Bille; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [51989/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (12 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Mar is eol don an Aire Stáit, tá dráma Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla ar siúl ar feadh breis agus bliain anois. An bhféadfadh an Aire Stáit cinntiú go bhfoilseofar an Bille inniu?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (12 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Faraor, leanann an dráma ar aghaidh. Níl an Bille le foilsiú inniu ach go luath - amárach nó an tseachtain seo chugainn. Tuigim go bhfuil a lán oibre déanta ag an Aire Stáit agus go n-oibríonn sé go crua ach d'fhoilsigh an coiste ár dtuarascáil i mBealtaine 2018. Roimhe...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (12 Dec 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Fós tá beagáinín neamhchinnteacht i gceist. Táim ag glacadh leis go mbeidh sé foilsithe amárach agus go mbeidh sé os comhair na Dála an tseachtain seo chugainn don Dara Céim. Tá ráflaí ann go bhfuil an Bille thar a bheith lag. Níl mé ró-tógtha le ráflaí ach táim ag éisteacht le daoine...