Results 4,081-4,100 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I appreciate what the Minister has said. However, it would be a mistake to give the Minister the space to think about it because he will need that role for the Ombudsman. For example, if the Minister for Justice and Equality sets up a redress agency for the Irish Prison Service and the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, there will still be a role for the Ombudsman in overseeing...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: In fairness, the Minister said he was working closely with the Ombudsman, that she seconded a person to his Department, that he is in broad agreement with all the principles. In the Bills digest in 2008 on the Bill, that was her major point of contention. She said the Bill would not extend her remit to complaints regarding decisions on immigration and asylum matters and she was most...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I would like to come back to that issue. It is important to note that as the Minister has said, we are speaking to the amendments which refer to the exemptions. It will be noted from my contribution on Second Stage that we certainly congratulated the Minister for bringing the Bill forward and noted the extension of powers. It is important to say that as the Minister has raised the issue....

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister for his reply to my question. I do not fully buy his answer, however, because, as a member of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions, I understand the Ombudsman's role as the last chance saloon for people with grievances. Such individuals are directed to pursue other avenues of redress before they approach the Office of the Ombudsman. It would be...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: One of the major questions we have about the legislation relates to the recommendation made in 2008 by the Ombudsman regarding an extension of her powers. She was critical of the previous Bill, saying: "It is my understanding that the Bill will not extend my remit to complaints regarding decisions in relation to immigration and asylum matters. I am most concerned by this." She went on to...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I am doing so. The authors of the report claim that the sustained and prolonged restriction of human rights and civil liberties inherent in the direct provision system amount to child abuse. These are very serious allegations based on numerous complaints. The Ombudsman has said that the people who made those types of complaints, which have been catalogued by the Irish Refugee Council,...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It talks about exemptions. I am bringing it up in the context of-----

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I was going to deal with it at the appropriate time but it came up through what was being said by-----

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On a point of order, would the Acting Chairman clarify whether we are speaking on an amendment or the group?

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: As far as amendment No. 18, is it?

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On a point of order, are the amendments being discussed as a group or individually? The substantive amendments are amendments Nos. 20 and 33 to 35, inclusive.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Yes, but as Senator Sean D. Barrett said, they cover many areas. I would not have an issue if we were to have smaller groupings, say, one group up to amendment No. 18, with amendments Nos. 20, 33 to 35, inclusive, as a separate grouping.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I am suggesting we break the amendments into two groups ? amendments Nos. 2 to 18, inclusive, and amendments Nos. 20 and 33 to 35, inclusive.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: No.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It is a matter for the House to decide how the legislation is to be taken.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: While I appreciate the comments of the Minister, I am in general agreement with Senator Sean D. Barrett. On a number of occasions I have experienced groups of amendments being rushed. I would much prefer if the amendments were not grouped. The Chair should use his abilities judiciously to ensure Senators do not repeat themselves when speaking on different amendments.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It is one the Acting Chairman is able to meet.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On a point of order-----