Results 3,501-3,520 of 6,558 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: 756. To ask the Minister for Health the procedures and next steps for the winding-down of the Punchestown Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction testing centre, including details of the re-allocation of all the existing staff of the testing centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27982/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: We are holding this meeting in a hybrid format. Some members may be participating remotely from their offices in the Leinster House precinct. Apologies have been received from Deputy Pa Daly, who is abroad on parliamentary business, but is being substituted for by Deputy Réada Cronin. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Senator Barry Ward send apologies. Senator Lynn Ruane may join...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: We will wrap it up there to be fair to everybody and to be consistent. We will move on to the next speaker. Mr. Smyrl will have time to come back in and elaborate on all those points as the meeting unfolds. Ms Ansbro is up next. She has the floor for three minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: I welcome Mr. Murray SC to the proceedings and he also has three minutes. Mr. Roger Murray:I thank the Chairman and members for the invitation to attend in order to share my experience as a lawyer of 25 years in terms of my interaction with the coroner service. The committee's work is of vital importance. The coroner service is an underappreciated keystone of democracy and the rule of law....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: No, because we allow only one speaker per organisation or group. I assure Mr. Murray that Mr. O'Malley will have ample time to comment over the course of our proceedings. We have learned from experience that it is better to have questions and answers for the bulk of the meeting, so opening statements are short for that reason.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: I thank all of the witnesses for their opening statements. Now I will open up the meeting so members can ask questions and contribute in the order that they have indicated. Some of the committee members are physically in this room and others are online. I ask members to indicate whichever witness or witnesses they want to respond to their questions. I advise all of the witnesses that if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: Consensus has broken out among the committee. That concludes Deputy Kenny's slot for this round. I call Senator McDowell.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: I thank Professor Cusack. He will have ample time to engage with the committee in the course of the hearing. His submission is noted and will be published on the committee's website. He can elaborate on the submission as the meeting goes on. That is the way we tend to work. Mr. Smyrl is also welcome before the committee. He has three minutes to make his opening remarks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: Reference was made to being paid per item. What is an item? Is it a letter or a hearing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: What are the items?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: I thank Professor Cusack. That answers the question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: That makes sense. I am just looking at the other side of it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: I will refer to the panel momentarily, but I echo the point that was made a few times about other jurisdictions doing this better and differently and how exactly that is administered. That could be an illustrative point for our findings from today. Does Deputy Costello wish to direct his questions to any particular witness?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: Ms Ann Murphy of the Irish Examinerwas mentioned. Ms O'Mahony has been in touch with her. Ms Murphy has given good coverage to this issue in the Irish Examiner. She filed a written submission to the committee that was very helpful to us. She was not in a position to attend today's meeting but she made a significant contribution, which will form part of our deliberations when we produce...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: Before we get into a response, the Senator makes a good contribution but the report produced to today's hearing is on the generalities of the system as opposed to any one specific inquiry. I understand that Oireachtas Members will, of course, have an interest in particular inquiries. That is natural and part of our role. However, we will avoid a specific discussion because we do not want...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

James Lawless: What is rare is wonderful - in these Houses anyway, perhaps not in the witnesses' areas. I am conscious that Mr. Smyrl has not come in yet. If he wishes to take the opportunity to come in now, he may address a number of the points raised.