Results 2,841-2,860 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Budget 2018 was an opportunity for the Government and Fianna Fáil to make a real difference in the lives of those who are living with a disability in Ireland. Priority should have been given to increasing disability incomes to help move disabled people out of poverty. It should have been about increasing personal assistant hours, so vital for the independence of those living with a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank the Deputies and Senators for their attendance. I am sure others will join us. I ask everyone present to switch off all mobile phones, please, as they interfere with the sound recording system in the committee rooms. The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the wards of court system in Ireland. I welcome Ms Mary Farrell, the representative of the Justice for Wards Group. Ms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We thank Ms Farrell and Justice for Wards for the written submission and documentation which has been referenced. I commissioned a report on this issue from the Oireachtas Library and Research Service and it has also been circulated to members. On my own behalf and that of committee members, I thank the Oireachtas Library and Research Service.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Mr. Farrell for her responses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We do not want to overload the witness with questions. We will return to Deputy Ó Laoghaire and take those two questions now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Does the Deputy have a further question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Please do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Deputy Wallace is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I will make a small point that might share a little light on this. The Comptroller and Auditor General's role is in regard to the expenditure of public moneys. These are private moneys and we have got to try to find a way to overcome that obstacle that is part of the difficulty. The Comptroller and Auditor General is, of course, working very closely with the Committee of Public Accounts....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is a precedent which we could address and try to build on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: My understanding is that the officer corresponding to the Comptroller and Auditor General in this jurisdiction, north of the Border and in England and Wales does have that oversight power.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I do not want to rob the Senator's moment. He can repeat it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Thank you. Each of the members have engaged with Ms Farrell. I have no doubt that her colleagues in the Visitors' Gallery will agree that she has been an excellent advocate for Justice for Wards and I commend her on her contribution here today. We will produce a report. When we suspend for a minute we would like Ms Farrell and her colleagues and the Courts Service to join us for a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That is apparently its subtext reference. I concur with Senator Black that some of the language employed in the past was inconsiderate in any quarter, and certainly for us today that would be the case. I recognise that there may be siblings in the group here but most are parents of children who, to all intents and purposes, for whatever reason or event in their lives, are children for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Ms Farrell and all her colleagues who have travelled from all over the country to be present. We will suspend the sitting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We have been trying to have the level of heating reduced. For a change, the heat is not generated by heavy debate. We will continue our discussion on the wards of court system with the witnesses from the Courts Service. I welcome Ms Geraldine Hurley, head of superior courts operations directorate. She is accompanied by Mr. Seán Quigley, head of resource management and accountant of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I want to indicate, before the witness answers, that if the representatives from the Department would like to come in on any particular point raised they can indicate to me and we will follow on from the Courts Service respondent.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Before coming back to Deputy Daly, would the representatives of the Department of Justice and Equality like to pick up on the point on the Comptroller and Auditor General and legislation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Mr. McKenna. Was there anything else he wanted to mention?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Wards of Court: Discussion (11 Oct 2017)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Go raibh maith agat, Deputy Chambers. I call Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.