Results 3,961-3,980 of 8,984 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: This Bill introduces a number of welcome provisions to existing legislation. Sinn Féin welcomes in particular the move to end discrimination with regard to rent supplement and the restrictions placed on interpreting of section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998. As for the amendment of section 37 of the Act of 1998, Sinn Féin welcomes the attempt to ensure the language of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We will have to suspend the sitting because there is a vote in the Dáil. I apologise for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We are dealing with our committee's report on the extension of the remit of the Ombudsman to include the direct provision system and are joined by officials from the Department of Social Protection. I remind all those present to be careful with their mobile phones because they interfere with the sound system and it drives our media outlets mad when they have to edit the material. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank Ms Harrington and appreciate her presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We are probably not going to get agreement on this point, but Ms Harrington will take on board the points made by the Deputy. He makes an important distinction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I will now call Senator Ó Clochartaigh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I will allow the Senator to ask a supplementary question later because other Deputies also have questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Members probably will get another four or five minutes but a vote has been called in the Dáil and I will be obliged to suspend the meeting. As all members present are from the Opposition, that would be four Opposition votes and there is no opportunity to pair. The Deputy should proceed as we will get another question in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: When we get the response to that question, we will conclude the meeting. Ms Harrington may proceed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am sorry but we must go.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: If that is agreeable to members. As Senator Ó Clochartaigh has also indicated, we will come back. I am really sorry about this but we must suspend for 15 minutes. It always is an embarrassment when one must break up a committee meeting for a Dáil vote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We will resume in public session. I invite Deputy Boyd Barrett to continue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am conscious that the witnesses need to leave by a quarter past to catch a train. Is it okay if we wrap up now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank the witnesses for their patience as we had to suspend twice. I hope they make that train and appreciate them coming in.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Partnership Agreements: Motions (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I listened to the Minister of State's presentation. I have read the CONCORD assessment which, as the Minister of State is aware, is the umbrella group of NGOs across Europe working in development aid and assistance. From reading its paper and listening to the Minister of State's presentation, one would almost think there were two different agreements. I must to put a number of issues to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rural Crime: Irish Farmers Association (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The joint committee is involved in an ongoing dialogue on the issue of rural crime. A few years ago the IFA carried out a survey in which one in three respondents said he or she had been the victim of crime in some way. There was an issue with the recording of crime and a sense that some crimes were not taken seriously. Other surveys produced similar findings for rural areas, but the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rural Crime: Irish Farmers Association (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The impact of cross-Border crime on rural communities has been issue in my constituency of Donegal North-East, which is a Border constituency, from time to time. The IFA has taken up some very good initiatives in the county. I refer to the marking of farm machinery, etc. What level of co-operation exists between the IFA and the Ulster Farmers Union? Is a joint approach being taken? We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rural Crime: Irish Farmers Association (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My final question relates to joint policing committees. I want to get a sense of the role played by community alerts and text alerts. A delegation from Muintir na Tíre, which is a fantastic and important initiative in rural areas, attended a recent meeting of the joint committee. With regard to joint policing committees, I have concerns about the ability of community organisations and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Property Services Appeal Board: Chairperson Designate (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Mr. Ensor is very welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Property Services Appeal Board: Chairperson Designate (18 Nov 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I want to get a sense of his vision for the board. He spoke about natural justice. We particularly think of the establishment of the position of Ombudsman as a very positive development in Irish democracy in recent decades. It is important that people have a right to appeal and it is good that the board will be entirely independent.