Results 4,221-4,240 of 8,978 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: He is angry at moaners and whingers who just do not get his gift to the Irish people of being in office.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: What makes me angry is being told by people who have lived in this city all of their lives that when they walk around the city centre and see all the shop fronts full of people sleeping, in the pouring rain and freezing cold, that it is the worst they have ever seen - the worst in their lives. What makes me angry is that we paid huge amounts of money to developers for turn-key housing at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The committee is now sitting in public session in its capacity as the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions. I wish to apologise to the Ombudsman, Mr. Peter Tyndall and his team for the delay. We have in these Houses an unfortunate practice where committees sit while the Houses are sitting. This is not the case in other administrations. If Mr. Tyndall had any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Before I let my colleagues in, I have a few questions to ask. I commend the Ombudsman on the Learning to Get Better report. I know that from the get go, this is an issue he has committed himself to changing. I commend him and his team on the progress he has made. However, I would relate to him my experience. As he knows, it has changed from dealing with individual hospitals to dealing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The committee will compile a report on the waiting times people experience when they engage with Departments and other public bodies. We are monitoring our own experience as part of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I call Senator Ó Clochartaigh, following whom I will put a few questions and then call Senator O'Keeffe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Obviously, the Ombudsman and his team will work diplomatically to find solutions. Where they feel this poses a problem, we encourage them to report to this committee. We are more than happy to follow up on cases. We see it as a core part of our responsibility. With regard to some of the issues the Ombudsman has raised today, I propose that we write to the Minister for Public Expenditure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We are on the same wavelength because that was the next point I was going to make. With the agreement of members, we will write to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on resources for the Ombudsman's office, as has arisen today. Second, we will write about clinical judgments and, third, about direct provision. Considering that our committee and the judicial working group have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I appreciate your guidance on that. What we will do regarding the first clarification point is state we are aware that discussions are ongoing and that we encourage a positive approach. Second, we will refer to our committee's findings and obviously those of Mr. Justice McMahon and the working group. When the Ombudsman for Children appeared before us, we dealt with professional legal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I propose that we send the full transcript of today's hearing to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, drawing particular attention to the matters of extending the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman's office to cover direct provision and bringing the immigration system in line with Mr. Justice McMahon's report and the committee's report. I also propose that we note the ongoing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The refugee crisis is not recent. Several years ago, I visited refugee camps in Lebanon that had been occupied for decades by Palestinian refugees. These Palestinian refugees were taking in family members who were refugees from Syria. Refugees were taking in refugees. I have seen at first hand the lack of resources provided to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey which are predominantly dealing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Perhaps I missed it, but I do not think Mr. Kirrane answered my first question. What is the specific contribution of the European Commission? For example, the overall budget is tens of millions. What percentage of that will be covered by the European Commission and the European Union?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My maths is not great, but 4,000 potential refugees multiplied by €6,000 is €2.4 million. Am I correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Sorry, my maths is not great, as Mr. Kirrane can see. What percentage is that of the overall cost? I ask because we need to be able to say to citizens the housing crisis and unemployment will be addressed by Government but that this is a separate budget that is part of our international responsibility. Ireland contributes hundreds of millions of euro every year to overseas aid, for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It is a work in progress.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The second question relates to best practice. Mr. Kirrane spoke about working with NGOs. For example, the Community Workers' Co-operative has published a very good submission on good practice in terms of integration, assimilation, and interacting with local communities in advance. One model that was brought to my attention was in Southill in Limerick with the Congolese or African community...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My final question relates to direct provision. It is universally agreed that our direct provision system is a poor one because of the length of time people must remain in it. Uniquely in the European Union, we do not allow asylum seekers to work. That means in some cases people have been stuck for more than ten years without the right to work, which is a poor record. We now have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I have a question, but I do not know whether Mr. Kirrane will be in a position to answer it. Is he aware of any intention to opt into the directives that would permit an asylum seeker to work after being here for nine months, as is the case in the rest of the European Union?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: That is fair enough. I will put it to the Minister. We have a debate on Thursday, so it is fine.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 109. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on Glenties courthouse in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33487/15]