Results 181-200 of 944 for speaker:Tom Clonan

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2024)

Tom Clonan: I echo the expressions of sympathy to the family of our former colleague, Senator O'Mahony.Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. I echo the condemnation of Russia's attack on the children's hospital in Kyiv. It was part of two waves of missiles that were fired at Kyiv yesterday. In the first wave, the Russians fired what NATO designated AS103 Kodiak missiles. These are very...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister very much for coming in. This Bill has arrived at a very particular moment in the development and transformation of the Defence Forces. From an operational perspective, when I retired back in 2000 the Defence Forces did one thing for one agency, and that was peacekeeping for the United Nations. Now they do peace enforcement, peacekeeping for the United Nations and for...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (26 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (26 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber. Domestic violence statistics in Ireland are shocking. Some 14% of women experience physical violence in the home and in relationships and 6% of women experience sexual violence in the home, including sexual assault and rape. Almost one in three or 31% experience psychological, coercive control in the home setting. I know more information is...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (26 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: Hear, hear,

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (26 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: Hear, hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I did a rough estimate based on that. There are approximately 60,000 students in each year. Given that about 60,000 sit the leaving certificate every year, I extrapolated from that. From junior infants up to sixth class, there is a cohort of about 60,000 nationwide in each of those years. At primary level, that would give us a total of 480,000, almost half a million, pupils and at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I heard the Minister of State speak about this in the audiovisual room the other day.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: The Minister of State referred to a prevalence estimate of 3.8%, which is as near as makes no difference to 4%. Based on my calculation, it means there are approximately 48,000 people in the system who are on the spectrum. There is a huge range of need within that. I ask again how she would characterise the capacity to meet that need. Is the system in crisis or is it doing fine?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I am asking the Minister of State how she would characterise the situation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: The Minister of State is using passive language in talking about parents who "cannot find a place for their children". In fact, there are no places.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank Mr. McLoughlin for his response. I am grateful to the Minister of State for her frank assessment of the current situation as a crisis. I know it is not a crisis of her making. The correspondence I receive certainly speaks of a crisis for families. They appreciate hearing it framed in that way. I wish her the very best of luck with meeting that need in the coming years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I had a commitment and had to leave the room so if I ask a question that has already been answered, I ask her to forgive me. The Minister of State stated there were 3,000 special education classes. Is that just at primary level or is it primary and secondary level?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: Does the Minister of State not characterise the situation as a crisis?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I am not going to comment on the judgment that was delivered in a recent high-profile case. Instead, I will address the question of the role of commissioned officers. Under Defence Forces regulation A7, paragraphs 55 to 58, they are required to attend court in an observer role but they are not required to disclose any information concerning the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: In the context of the commitment to zero tolerance for violence against women, as a matter of priority, the Tánaiste and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence should immediately amend these paragraphs of the Defence Forces Regulation, DFR, A7, in that membership of the Defence Forces, in cases of violence against women, should not be a mitigating factor. It should be an...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I wish to quote Ms Justice Ann Power from the opening statement of the tribunal of inquiry into the Defence Forces, which covers issues of discrimination, harassment, bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape of male and female members of Óglaigh na hÉireann. It is a culture that promotes class discrimination, promotes discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the witnesses very much for coming in this evening. I have a number of questions for them. In the evidence, a number of significant challenges were set out for St. Michael's House. It was stated that the number of individuals in residential settings is 450. If I heard correctly, in the coming years an increase of 137% is expected. I do not know over what time period the 137%...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I apologise but will Ms Reynolds confirm that the number with regard to 130 to 150 people between now and 2028 is extra on top of the 84 on the waiting list for St. Michael's House and that in total the number would be 230?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: Does St. Michael's House have the capacity to meet these needs?