Results 2,021-2,040 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Pre-European Council: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: We often hear in here how the EU fiscal rules have prevented us from borrowing money at less than 1% of market rate to invest in infrastructure. If that is the case then it is long past time for the Government to challenge it. If the Government has not raised the housing crisis in Europe, I wonder why that is the case because our failure to address it properly is nothing short of shameful....

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: From the Seanad (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: The legislation is welcome. We are conscious that almost 320 cases were referred to the independent review mechanism. While they are historical and I acknowledge that the Bill will not deal with cases retrospectively, the lack of communication and information had a huge bearing on the displeasure of those involved. There was so little satisfaction in those cases and we are hopeful the...

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: From the Seanad (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: It might have been the day that they went to the pub.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: Likewise. We all want a better system for the appointment of judges and one that is clean, transparent and accountable. Sometimes people confuse bureaucracy with good regulation. One does not need more bureaucracy to have good regulation and practice. Members confuse the two dimensions a lot of the time in the Dáil. In the normal run of things if a Deputy made the same proposal it...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: That makes sense.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: I am perfectly happy to listen to the Minister first. If he would rather that I spoke first then I will.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: I am inclined to agree with the Minister's last point. For example, at the moment if we avail of a former judge to chair a commission - and we are running out of them for commissions of investigation currently - we still regard them as being legal. If they are a former judge, we assume and we see them more on the legal side than on the lay side. I would agree with the Minister's point in...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: Deputy O'Callaghan should continue.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: My proposed amendments are amendments Nos. 84 and 85 which are in this grouping of amendments. Their purpose is to remove the notion that the chair has to be a lay person. We are proposing a situation in which the chair will be picked by the committee. There is too much focus in the Bill on always having a lay majority. For example, the proposed amendments to sections 18(5), 19(2) and...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: There are many matters that relate to amendments Nos. 84 and 85 in my name. For example, we have tried to create a bit of balance by saying it should not be obligatory to have a lay chair. We have proposed having six legal members, six lay members and the Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, who is a hybrid of the two. He or she is selected by the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: 53. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the number of personnel exiting the Defence Forces excluding mandatory retirements since 2015; if he is satisfied that the Defence Forces can still attract recruits at the number required; the steps he is taking to ensure that a career within the Defence Forces offers financial stability and job security; and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Data (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: 98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average wait times for National Educational Psychological Service assessments in each county in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and the number of NEPS psychologists employed in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by county, in tabular form. [44103/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grants Data (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: 108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of overpayments of SUSI grants for students nationally in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 with accrued values (details supplied); the number of overpayments of SUSI grants for students attending the IT Carlow Wexford campus in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 with the same accrued values; and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (18 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: 110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of eligible students under the school transport scheme who applied for the 2017-18 scheme who did not receive a seat in each county, in tabular form; if a feedback system exists between Bus Éireann and his Department to monitor the excess number of eligible students who apply for the scheme and do not receive a seat; and if he...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (17 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: 42. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that the funding increase afforded to Tusla in budget 2018 will improve the current functioning within Tusla with regard to its child protection policy and with regard to operations of family resource centres throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43743/17]

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (17 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: The Minister for Finance announced €40.6 million extra for Tusla in the budget. Presumably the vast majority of this increased funding will be swallowed up by the effects of the introduction of mandatory reporting of child abuse concerns from January onwards. How much additional funding in reality will be made available to improve the fulfilment of Tusla's child protection policy?...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (17 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: That sounds good. I hope it turns out as well as the Minister would hope. As she is aware, Professor Geoffrey Shannon was very critical of the lack of serious out of hours services. He pointed out that because of the lack of facilities available to Tusla, the private sector was being relied upon, especially during the out of hours period. He pointed out that, especially with respect to...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (17 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: With regard to resources, there are five family resource centres in Wexford, namely, in Gorey, Raheen, Taghmon, Ramsgrange and the Southend centre in Wexford town. They are all located in areas where there is significant need. I have been told there is talk of them each getting an extra €10,000. They have said the extra €10,000 would certainly be welcome but it would merely...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (17 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: 49. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the overall performance of Tusla; her plans to conduct a review into the operations of Tusla with regard to its child protection policy, in view of the report by the UN Special Rapporteur (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43742/17]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (17 Oct 2017)

Mick Wallace: 103. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the selection process regarding trade experts who will serve as members of the various CETA committees; if these experts will come from industry, academia or otherwise; if she has a role in the selection of members of committees; the number of these experts that will sit on each committee; the length of time they will spend on the...