Results 3,761-3,780 of 5,902 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Birth Certificates (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: 842. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the birth certificate application of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31421/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: 892. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the carer’s benefit allocation of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31419/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: 1066. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the current backlog will be addressed in the SOLAS administered apprenticeship program as in the case of a person (details supplied); the plans in place to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31572/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: 1163. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the processing of working visas (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32048/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Business of Joint Committee. (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: I thank Senator Davitt, who is substituting for Senator Gallagher. He is welcome. His being here is much appreciated. We have received apologies from Senators Gallagher and Ruane. Deputy Niamh Smyth is at another meeting but she may be able to join us later. In the event that she is not able to join, she sends her apologies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: The purpose of this meeting is to resume our engagement on the general scheme of the judicial appointments commission Bill 2020. We are engaging with stakeholders who made written submissions on the general scheme. This is the second instalment of our engagement on this matter. We had a previous engagement about four weeks ago with a number of other witnesses. I thank Deputy Carroll...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: I wonder if all of those not currently contributing could mute their microphones. There is interference coming through. I apologise to Mr. Herrick for interrupting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: I thank Mr. Herrick for his concise and targeted opening. I now call to our next witness, Mr. Condon from the Department of Justice. He is very welcome. I look forward to the engagement with him today. Mr. Condon has five minutes to address the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: Before I call on members, I will start the ball rolling. My first question is for the ICCL but Mr. Condon should feel free to answer if he wishes. It strikes me that one of the deficits in the arrangements we have had for the past 25 years, since the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board was created, is that it appears to act as a sort of Garda vetting mechanism rather than an actual...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: Do we need a change to the Constitution to allow that or can it be done within the current framework?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: I agree. Can we do more or is it a necessary prerequisite to have a referendum in order to do more? Perhaps Mr. Condon could advise on that. What is the Department's position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: My understanding from previous discussions was that the reason the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board could not prioritise or rank candidates to date was that the Constitution mandates that the Government enjoys absolute discretion, and that fettering said discretion may be a constitutional issue. That is what I have heard to date. Does Mr. Condon not feel that is an impediment to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: I thank Mr. Condon. I have two questions that relate to his submission. I will then move on to other members. Mr. Condon stated there was, "a recognition that the involvement of laypersons in the process should be increased". He later said, "There will be an equal number of laypersons and judges". I presume that means an equal number of laypersons and legal people. Why is that? It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: I have a final question before I open it up to the floor. Mr. Condon mentioned the 2017 Bill, on which there was much engagement over the course of the previous Dáil. Obviously, we are a new committee and a new Dáil. It is, therefore, a new Bill and we will move forward on that basis. What were the lessons learned? What has Mr. Condon carried forward from that? Has anything...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

James Lawless: I thank both witnesses very much for those details. I will move on to the next speaker. Deputy Martin Kenny had his hand up first. Senator Ward will be up after Deputy Kenny; he may wish to focus on that. Deputy Kenny has the floor.