Results 4,741-4,760 of 8,986 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Are members agreeable to the proposal?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I note the Senator's disappointment. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do today to facilitate members' right to put questions in Irish. As I said, if the Senator submits a question in Irish after the meeting, we will ensure he gets a response in due course. I am pleased to have an opportunity to congratulate Dr. Muldoon on his appointment. I understand he has an indepth knowledge of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank Dr. Muldoon for his presentation. In relation to the issue of legal professional privilege it is most helpful that Dr. Muldoon is before us here today. I am particularly mindful of the March 2012 report by the then ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, and it was on the operation of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. Section 4 of that report deals with investigation of complaints procedure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Are there not already sufficient safeguards regarding confidentiality in the existing legislation? Dr. Muldoon has dealt with this but perhaps he would like to add to it. At what stage in the process is legal professional privilege claimed? Is it during the investigation or when a report is mooted or published?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It is of course the Senator's right, particularly during Seachtain na Gaeilge, to conduct his business in his native language. As I pointed out and the start of the meeting, we will e-mail the question to the witnesses and we will obtain a response. The fact I do not have fluent Irish has left me at a little disadvantage here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Before the Ombudsman for Children responds, the committee is conducting a review of the direct provision system and we have visited four direct provision centres, two of which are for single men based in Galway and Limerick, and two others, in Mosney and Clondalkin, which are for families. The Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, will come before the committee, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: In the interim we want complete oversight for the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Before Dr. Muldoon responds, I should have asked him whether he is happy for his presentation to be published on the Oireachtas website and to be circulated to the media?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I apologise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: As I pointed out at the outset of the meeting, we have heard from the various sectoral Ombudsman offices. We will be putting together a report on their perspectives on the implementation of their recommendations, any lacunae that might exist in the law and how we can strengthen the current legislation. Dr. Muldoon identified a number of issues in that regard. We are also investigating the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I presume that if recommendations are not implemented, Dr. Muldoon has the option of submitting a special report to the Oireachtas. This committee takes seriously its role of following up recommendations where they are not implemented. In some cases we brought in Ministers and Secretaries General. We corresponded with the Taoiseach on the lost at sea scheme, in respect of which the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am not certain that my next question applies to the Ombudsman for Children but I am putting it to every Ombudsman. Where public services are delivered by a private body, such as through outsourcing of Government services to private agencies, they are still being delivered on behalf of the public. Does Dr. Muldoon have oversight of that area and does he have any concerns about it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: This is a light subject.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I have a linked question. There are many reports of repossessions across the State and various courts being clogged by cases. Has Dr. Muldoon concerns about the implications of repossessions and not having roofs over people's heads for children?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank the Ombudsman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: On behalf of the joint committee, I thank Dr. Muldoon and his team for attending today. Whenever we complete our report, we will launch it and invite his office to be present to hear our recommendations.

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am delighted to see this Bill before us today. It has been a long road and it is much overdue, but it is great to finally have it here before us. The starting point for Sinn Féin on all issues of human and civil rights and equality is the Proclamation of 1916. It may be almost 100 years old but it is the mission statement for every generation of Irish citizens. As an Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Applications (10 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 257. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding 60% grant-aid for farm buildings, in respect of a person (details supplied). [10029/15]