Results 3,961-3,980 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (Resumed) (18 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Táim an-sásta go bhfuil mé ag fáil deis labhairt ar an ábhar fíor-thábhachtach seo. Tá go leor ábhar i gceist leis an rannóg áirithe seo agus go leor ábhar go bhféadfaimid a phlé, ach díreoidh mé ar chuid acu sin. Táthar ag glacadh leis go gcaithfear gearradh siar a dhéanamh ar an Roinn Coimirce Sóisíalaí. An bun-difríocht...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received: P00029/12, P00033/12, P00038/12 and P00053/12 (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Aontaím leis an Cathaoirleach. On the face of it, this looks like a relatively simple petition but it could be much more complex than we realise. The petitioner is not asking for anything personal in this scenario. The required action is a review by the social welfare services of the method of assessing pension and the right to include credits for years spent in the home as a mother...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received: P00029/12, P00033/12, P00038/12 and P00053/12 (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The Bill that has come before the Seanad lists the Central Bank as an exempted body under the Bill. It is therefore exempt from the Ombudsman’s remit. It would be appropriate to ask why it is exempt when the Bill comes before the committee. There may be commercial or other reasons but we need to tease that out instead of going back to the Central Bank at this stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received: P00029/12, P00033/12, P00038/12 and P00053/12 (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I agree with the Chairman but it might it worthwhile getting a short note from the Ombudsman on whether she considers it appropriate for the Central Bank to come under her remit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received: P00029/12, P00033/12, P00038/12 and P00053/12 (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I concur what has been said. We ought to communicate to Mr. Cuddihy that we regard this as an important petition but the committee may not be the vehicle to deal with the issues arising because of the nature of the petition. Perhaps a discussion with his local representatives and the Minister may be useful. In our reply to Mr. Cuddihy we need to thank him for his petition. It is important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received: P00029/12, P00033/12, P00038/12 and P00053/12 (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Ba mhaith liom mé féin a dhearbhú agus aitheantas a thabhairt gurb é seo an chéad aighneacht atáimid ag glacadh leis. Tá sé feiliúnach go dtabharfaimís aitheantas don fhoireann atá ag obair leis an gcoiste, a bhfuil go leor obair déanta acu chun an córas seo a chur le chéile le gur féidir linn teacht go dtí an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received: P00029/12, P00033/12, P00038/12 and P00053/12 (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Arís, ardaíonn sé seo ceist an-suimiúil ó thaobh eolas atá ar fáil don phobal. This raises an important issue about transparency and openness, especially in the current atmosphere. It calls for the powers of the Ombudsman and Freedom of Information Acts to be extended to the Central Bank. There has been much debate in the Seanad in the past couple of...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Can I speak on the Bill?

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I reiterate that we welcome the Bill. I want to be clear about that, notwithstanding any debate we have had today. This is a positive Bill and a positive day. The Ombudsman made clear that it was 25 years in the coming. Numerous Administrations have promised to bring forward this Bill but the Minister is to be commended on doing so, of that there is no question. There is no question...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I have a certain sympathy with the Senator's comments. In an ideal world we would all like for no agencies to be exempt from the oversight of the Ombudsman. I understand that a number of agencies have been included now because commercial interests must be included in the exemptions list. It is extremely regrettable that organisations that come under the aegis of the Department of the...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: There is no need for that comment, Minister.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I cannot leave that last contribution made by the Minister unanswered. It is regrettable that he has introduced such a tone to the debate. We have had a robust debate and I did not intend to preach to anybody. It is my job to demonstrate robust opposition and I made worthy recommendations. That is all that my party has done here. Our arguments have been backed up by statements made by...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: If the Minister has any specifics then he should raise them.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: If he has any specific evidence then he should bring it to the attention of the relevant bodies, as opposed to taking personal potshots at the end of the debate. We have had a constructive debate and I will defend my party's right to table any amendments that will help the people like those mentioned in the report on the Prison Service today. I will also help the asylum seekers I met in...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Táim ag rá go bhfuil an oifig iontach dearfach don Ghaeilge agus go bhfuil foireann iontach acu agus scéim réitithe acu. Ach tá an scéim a bhí acu imithe in éag le ceithre bliana.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Sílim go bhfuil an an t-úrlár agam, a Chathaoirligh, muna mhiste leis an Aire. Tá gearán déanta le roinnt blianta anuas. Bhí Oifig an Ombudsman ar an liosta des na heagrais nach raibh an scéim daingnithe acu le cupla bliain anuas. Tá sé á dhéanamh faoi láthair. Bhí an obair réitithe ag an oifig ach ní raibh an scéim á cur i bhfeidhm. Níor fhreagair an t-Aire an pointe...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Tá. Is mar gheall ar an rud sin atá mé ag moladh an leasú seo. Má tá Roinn an Aire ag tabhairt treoir dos na Ranna éagsúla nach gá dóibh cloí le hAcht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, tá gá leis an leasú. Sin bun agus barr an scéil. Tá sé ráite ag an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí, i gcomhfhreagras a chuir sé ag an gcoiste fo-mhaoirsiú, nár ghá don Roinn cloí le rialacháin an...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: "Treoir" an focal a d'úsáid mé, i gcead don Aire.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Táimíd ag tacú, go ginearálta, le prionsabal an Bhille, go bhfuil an leathnú seo ag cur leis an reachtaíocht chun na heagrais a chomhnascadh. Bhí caint ann go raibh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga le comhnascadh le hOifig an Ombudsman. Táimíd ag súil nach bhfuil sé sin ag dul a tarlú. Ní léir dom go raibh aon chomhráití ar bun. Chuir mé ceist ar an Ombudsman faoi sin agus...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (17 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: When I raised that point with the Ombudsman last week, she said there had been no discussions with her about the possibility of the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga being subsumed into her office. I would like the Minister to confirm that this will not happen and that it is not on the agenda. Various cases have been made to explain why it would not make sense and there has been a huge-----