Results 2,601-2,620 of 4,305 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: Another issue has arisen in recent times, now that people in the asylum process are allowed to work and can gain employment. That is one of the most positive developments for several reasons. Many people in the asylum process worked previously. They had little part-time jobs. Nobody knew about it; they got a little bit of cash in hand and the people who employed them were delighted to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: The current position is that an asylum seeker must be in the process for nine months before he or she can apply for work. That seems a long time. People go through the process in approximately 14 months, or in more recent cases ten or 11 months. They will almost have passed through the system by the time they can seek a job. In many cases the work they are looking for is low-skilled...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: My other question concerns where the different people come from. Reference is often made to the idea that people from Africa are different from people from other places. That is a nonsense, but it has been put out there. Does the Ombudsman monitor which nationalities make more complaints or have more difficulties in the process? Is that something the office has examined?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: Does the Office of the Ombudsman have much contact with the countries these people come from? Does its staff try to learn from experiences in other places? What level of contact does the office have with other European countries to monitor how the process is evolving there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: In that context, do issues arise where a person from a particular country is living in Ireland and a family member is seeking asylum in a different EU jurisdiction? I have come across one situation where people in this position have been trying to bring the family unit together. Does the Ombudsman have a role there or any advice in that respect? I understand that so far it is not allowed.

Agrifood and Rural Development: Motion (24 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: I commend the Rural Independent Group on bringing forward this motion. One of the key elements of the beef crisis, which is one of the things that has led to the focus on this, is the suckler farmer. Suckler farmers in the west of Ireland are under significant stress. When one looks at the economics of it, one can see that they do not work very well. I commend the Chairman of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (24 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: 383. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the rules of the BEAM scheme will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38218/19]

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: As the Tánaiste is aware, the Brexit situation is getting worse, not better. That is the general consensus. We saw the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, here in Dublin last week. His visit was all bluff and bluster. In the European Parliament today, Nigel Farage engaged in a very similar act, which played out as if his party's MEPs were in a theatre, rather than discussing...

Agriculture: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: We had statements yesterday evening on this. Clearly, the anger at the picket lines at the factory gates has not abated. Many have spoken about the issue, at the core of which is the price. The base price is what they are talking about. While I accept the notion that the producer organisations comprise a route to deal with this, it will be difficult for every farmer to have that route....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Commissioner and his colleagues for the presentation. Much of what is in the new model for policing is a reflection of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I see that dotted throughout. I refer particularly to the new divisional boundaries. A lot of that is set out in recommendations Nos. 21 to 26 and the report's fifth...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: What is the current strength and how does it compare to that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: What about the resources agencies will require to meet the large burden placed on them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: If there are to be courts services, prison services or agencies looking for additional money from the package of money that comes through the Department of Justice and Equality, will there be a reduced allocation for An Garda Síochána because agencies will take on its work? That is the danger I see. Since there are recommendations to have a ring-fenced budget for the recruitment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: With regard to an associated issue, the training of gardaí, it is welcome that there are many new recruits and that the service has been strengthened in that respect. There are recommendations that suggest a movement towards a degree-level qualification in policing studies through universities. Does that movement mean a phasing out of Templemore? Does the Commissioner envisage this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: There are now four regions. With regard to the movement of gardaí within regions, the issue of new recruits who may, for whatever reason, wish to apply to be within commuting distance of their home, because of elderly parents or otherwise, arose recently. Deployment in Dublin may not have suited a garda from west Mayo, for example, and he or she could apply to be closer to home. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: The Road Safety Authority expressed concern over road safety not being front and centre under the new model of policing. Perhaps there is an opportunity to explain the position of this. Road safety is one of the key areas in keeping people safe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: It is welcome that the Commissioner will soon meet the RSA and that there is movement in that regard. Chapter 13 of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommends that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, be superseded by a new complaints body. Has there been any progress in that regard? Where does the Commissioner see that going? It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: Is it appropriate for that role to remain within the organisation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: I am referring to oversight of performance.

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: The problem is that the system is broken. That has been the case for quite a while. The Minister is aware of that, as is everyone who has been involved in the situation. It goes back 25 to 30 years since we had the consolidation of all the small meat processing plants around the country into the hands of a very small number of people. That created a situation where we were told that the...