Results 2,521-2,540 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: 174. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when persons (details supplied) in County Clare will receive their pre-clearance and visa approval to return to Ireland from Vietnam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46875/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: 256. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive their EU Digital COVID Certificate given that they have been vaccinated since March 2021 in Qatar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47137/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: No, that was not a problem, Chairman. I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to speak. I congratulate Mr. Fraser on his appointment as an Irish Ambassador and I understand that he is the third non-career diplomat to be appointed as an ambassador. I may be incorrect on that point but I am aware of two other such appointments. Senator Craughwell raised the process and I do not wish to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: Would Mr. Fraser accept that it is very hard to apply for a job that is not advertised?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: That is fine. It is not possible to apply specifically to be a head of mission, however.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: If the Chair will indulge me with some more generosity, I will return to the specific subject matter of this meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: Mr. Fraser said earlier that he did not alert the Taoiseach about this matter because he did not see it as being a big issue, as Dr. Zappone had carried out work for the Department of Foreign Affairs previously and she was a senior political figure. I share that view, but my views are irrelevant. Mr. Fraser went on to say then that he did not think that the names were available to anybody...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: Mr. Fraser very much gave me the impression that he made an active decision that there was no need to alert the Taoiseach because it was not a big deal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: That is fine. I thank Mr. Fraser for his answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: I am not sure if the Chair will allow me to return to this matter, but given Mr. Fraser's broad experience in the Civil Service, would he think that it would be a good idea for all positions across the Civil Service to be advertised to internal and external candidates? That would include posts as head of mission, Secretaries General of Departments etc.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: Except for heads of missions overseas.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: Does that include the post of ambassador?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: Indeed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: The Chair's old colleague, the former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, went straight into the European External Action Service as ambassador to the United States. By his own account, and some others too, he was reputed to have been a success. There is something to be learned from that experience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: That is fine. My understanding is that people apply for third secretary positions and the people in those posts perform a great service for the State, but they are relatively junior positions which are relatively-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: I thank Mr. Fraser.

Housing for All: Statements (28 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: I have listened to the debate so far and the one issue that has seemed to unify both sides of the House is an emphasis on derelict sites and dereliction. I wish to very much focus on that issue. All Members accept there is a dire need for housing. My county of Clare is no different from any other in that regard. I wish to focus on dereliction because many Deputies spoke about the number...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: In 1984, Patrick Nugent died at Bunratty from injuries sustained. The following year the jury at his inquest stated that it was far from satisfied as to the circumstances under which Patrick Nugent sustained the injuries which caused his death and called on the Minister for Justice to investigate the matter further. It took until 2017 for an inquiry to be established by Judge Clyne. He...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Sep 2021)

Michael McNamara: What about the Deputy's own intentions?