Results 3,221-3,240 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Senator does not have a clue what he is talking about.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is the International Protection Bill. It is not a Bill that deals with the direct provision system. I will try to explain it to the Senator in the simplest possible terms. The direct provision system is one in which a person resides while awaiting a decision. The International Protection Bill is about the system through which the person can get that decision. They are two very...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Unfortunately, I cannot accept this amendment as the Bill already provides for the service of documents to legal representatives where appropriate.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is a minor amendment which deals with the revocation of the list of statutory instruments which are part of the existing legal framework for international protection. An additional four statutory instruments are added to the list by the amendment.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I totally understand the motivation behind these amendments. I do not, however, agree with them. In respect of amendments Nos. 13 and 14 this section in the Bill is in line with the EU qualifications directive. The list contained in section 7 of the Bill is not exhaustive. Amendments Nos. 201, 203, 204, 211 and 212 relate to permissions given to family members of qualified persons. The...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will not accept the amendment, although I appreciate the sentiment behind it because the list provided for in the Bill is not exhaustive and is in line with the European Union asylum qualification directive.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Bill is in line with the European Union asylum qualification directive. Whatever is in it, we are in line with. The list as provided for in the Bill is not exhaustive and, therefore, it can be used a defence or a ground for asylum application.It is not listed because having a list of such groups would indicate that any element that was omitted would not be grounds for such an...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are not accepting the amendment, as all applicants are entitled to legal assistance within the meaning of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: These are largely technical and drafting amendments. There are some differences between each one, which I can go through in detail if Senators require. In general, these amendments are technical in nature and their purpose is more appropriate drafting.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I can speak to amendment Nos. 22 to 25, inclusive, together?

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We cannot accept the proposed amendment as we are concerned that the suggested amendment is too narrow. A child may be accompanied by a responsible person not covered in the text of the suggested amendment.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I unfortunately cannot accept the proposed amendment. The purpose of this provision is to stop applicants making claims on behalf of their children in their own right after their own cases have been completed, in an effort to frustrate the process and delay their removal from the State.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will not agree to the amendment as a person arriving at the frontier of the State who is an unaccompanied minor will be referred to the Child and Family Agency which will decide what is in his or her best interests. It will make a decision on his or her behalf based on the information and legal advice available to it.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I have huge sympathy with the amendment as laid down. With all the groups I deal with in regard to my equality brief, be they Travellers, migrants or in the gender equality or LGBT sphere, the issue of work is central to people's sense of self-worth and I agree we are out of step with international best practice when it comes to allowing asylum seekers access to the labour market. This has...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I do not.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I do not.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will speak to the amendment again. On one hand, there is a suggestion that we have not done anything while on the other hand, there is a suggestion that this is being rushed through. As Senators have said, I assumed this position in July 2014. Since then, regardless of the number of visits I have made to individual centres, we made two cast-iron commitments in the statement of Government...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----we do not have hierarchies of recommendations. We go through recommendations and take every single one of them very seriously and-----

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are implementing the report and its recommendations.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: If Senators want to join me in visiting the centres I visit, they will see the difference that is being made, the percentage of applications that are being processed in a favourable manner, the number of deportation orders that have been quashed and the fact the implementation of the working report group is being felt in centres throughout this country by people affected by this. There has...