Results 5,481-5,500 of 8,978 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Public Sector Management (Appointment of Senior Members of the Garda Síochána) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I commend Deputy Ross on his Bill. Given the various scandals that have emerged in the administration of justice, we need to challenge the political control of policing and particularly the appointment of senior police officers by a Minister and, in turn, backed by the Government. We have seen various examples of this. The former Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, announced the closure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: This committee meets every Wednesday and when it convenes we will deliberate and take a number of actions on this issue. I do not wish to pre-empt the committee's discussions. We will correspond with the delegates to inform them of the actions that have been decided upon. Further correspondence and dialogue will be necessary and we will report to the delegates. I thank Dr. Horgan, Dr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Before I let Deputy Boyd Barrett back in, Dr. Lannon wrapped up earlier with five recommendations or suggestions. While I have noted those here, will he forward those recommendations to the committee so that they can be included in our deliberations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: That is fine. I call Deputy Boyd Barrett and then I will allow Deputy Kirk back in again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I ask the Senator to be more specific, for the benefit of our witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Indeed, and we must clarify this for the benefit of our witnesses. The Department's letter states that Ireland has co-operated fully with investigations into the practice of extraordinary rendition carried out by the temporary committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transportation and illegal detention of prisoners, the TDIP committee of the European Parliament...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Is it agreed that the executive summary of the report and the submissions given today be published on the committee website? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Have the witnesses been told by gardaí that they have been told by the Attorney General that they cannot pursue the complaints reported to them? Is that essentially what they understand to be the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We will deliberate after this meeting on what our next steps will be but I am sure we will want to clarify that with the Garda Commissioner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The committee is considering petition No. P00072/12 from Dr. Edward Horgan and others in relation to landings at Shannon Airport. I ask members, delegates and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or left in safe or flight mode as they interfere with the broadcasting system, even in silent mode. I welcome Dr. Edward Horgan, Ms Margaretta D'Arcy and Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: In regard to what Ms McManus was saying towards the end of her contribution, perhaps we should correspond with Ms Paula Bradley, the MLA chairperson of the Assembly group that looks at this. Perhaps we might correspond with her group around the very issue which has just been raised.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I appreciate Mr. Heylin cannot challenge Government policy on this. In terms of the Department's responsibility to this plan, if we are to implement the objectives of this plan, the direct-provision centre environment is not appropriate to support women and children adequately. It strikes me that we are not really serious about this plan if we insist on having women and children live in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My final questions are for Mr. Byrne and Commandant Lawlor. In 2001 research carried out by Dr. Tom Cloonan, who was then a serving member of the Defence Forces, found an alarming level of sexual harassment of female soldiers, right up to reports of allegations of attempted rape. At that time there was clearly a serious problem. He has written a book, Whistleblower, Soldier, Spy, which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The commandant's contributions today will send a very clear signal to women that they have a place in the Defence Forces. I thank the commandant for her tremendous contribution today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My first question which is related to the immigrant community is to Mr. Heylin and Ms Mbugua. There is widespread criticism of direct-provision centres as a model. Is that the best place to have families that have endured the type of experience about which we are talking in terms of domestic violence and sexual violence? What is the Department's view on that? Is there an intention to...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: In my view Deputies should not make representations around matters such as transfers and overseas postings. That should be a matter for the command structure, based on merits and so on. There is a perception among members of the Defence Forces that they cannot make any representations to public representatives and there is a huge fear around that. It is important to make it clear, for...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 8. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to ensure that members of the Defence Forces can make representations directly to their elected representatives. [25792/14]

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Something that frustrates public representatives is the inability of members of the Defence Forces to make representations directly on issues of concern. The people are proud of our Defence Forces and we owe them a great debt for all they have done for us. The least we can expect is for members of the Defence Forces to have the ability like any other citizen to make direct representations...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Fatalities (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I welcome that confirmation and the Minister's intervention following the submission of this question. When I met with the family, I also met with a number of members of the Defence Forces who served in Lebanon at that time. They have a detailed understanding of the issues involved in terms of the initial investigation by Colonel Savino. The colonel did not interview any of the team on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Fatalities (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: To clarify, the Minister agrees that a couple of members of the Defence Forces who were there that day can be at that meeting. That will be immensely helpful to the family. I appreciate that if that is what the Minister has agreed. Second, and this is an issue on which I will probably follow up in correspondence, there were ongoing efforts over the years to try to engage with the...