Results 6,301-6,320 of 8,986 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Health Services: Motion [Private Members] (28 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: As a representative of Donegal North-East, the best example I can give in dealing with the substantive issue in this debate is the case of Letterkenny General Hospital. As Deputies will know, a serious flood last year affected the hospital's new three-storey building as well as the older part of the hospital. Approximately 40% of the hospital's floor space was contaminated by flood water....

Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: They have not changed, they remain exactly the same.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 405. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances in which a person may engage in voluntary work in their local community for the purposes of developing their own skills and benefiting the local community and continue to claim jobseeker's payments; if this facility is limited to voluntary work done within the jurisdiction; her views on whether this discriminates against those...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Rebates (23 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 52. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the terms of the new diesel rebate scheme, private forecourt fuel retailers are going to lose significant volumes of their sales as they are ineligible under the strict conditions of the scheme unless they have a fuel card system in place; the knock on effect on fuel distributor businesses; and the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Rebates (23 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 53. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that those fully tax compliant and legitimate road transport operators, who do not purchase their diesel through a fuel card or through bulk deliveries over 2,000 litres, cannot avail of a diesel rebate under the new diesel rebate scheme; and the measures he intends to take to address this anomaly that will cost a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (23 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 191. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to review the current stipulation that privates and corporals in the Defence Forces must retire after 21 years service. [3375/14]

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: That announcement was welcome but we will monitor progress closely. We will table parliamentary questions and we will raise this issue again and again in the House until all the legislative provisions have been implemented. If the Government parties takes the decision to vote our Bill down, we will hold them to account throughout the year. We will pursue this legislation until it is...

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I wish to deal with the reasons given yesterday by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, and reiterated today by the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, with regard to the human rights issue. I am very disappointed and it is a missed opportunity that it will not be incorporated into the Charities Act 2009. The reasons given are to do with technical issues for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: During our deliberations, a number of issues arose that we would ask the Equality Budgeting Campaign to clarify in advance of the presentation so as to help our consideration. Is that agreed? Agreed. Petition No. 00075/12 is from Ms Melissa Halpin seeking the revocation of a foreshore licence granted to Providence Resources plc to drill in Dublin Bay. It also seeks a public inquiry into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Yes. I confirm that the Deputy did not participate in this or the previous discussion on the matter due to a declared interest. Petition No. 00077/12 from Ms Patricia O'Leary proposes that it should be possible for all foreign driving licence holders to swap their licences for Irish licences. The petitioner is of the view that people coming to Ireland can only transfer their licences for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Did an issue also arise concerning the equivalence? When we send the petitioner the Minister's letter, we might also add a few explanatory points.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Is that agreed? Agreed. Petition No. 00015/13 from Mr. Niall Kelly calls for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the Financial Services Ombudsman to fall under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. We have had a chance to deliberate on this petition. I open the discussion to the floor. Deputy Flanagan wishes to make a recommendation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Is that agreed? Agreed. Petition No. 00024/13 from Mr. Kevin Sharkey relates to recruitment policy at RTE. The petitioner is of the opinion that there is a policy within RTE to the effect that the station should only employ white people. The committee previously considered this petition at its meeting on 11 December 2013 and agreed to write to RTE seeking a response to the issues raised....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The first petition is No. 00062/12 from Dr. Clara Fischer on behalf of the Equality Budgeting Campaign calling on the Irish Government to introduce equality budgeting. As the committee has already deliberated on this matter, I invite members to make their recommendations.

Leaders' Questions (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Look at the mess that has created.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I reserve the right to bring forward amendments to this section on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Minister made a legitimate point with regard to the unintended implications involved so the amendment needs to be reworded. I will not move the amendment but I will resubmit a reworded version on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I move amendment No. 7: In page 8, to delete lines 24 to 35.I take on board the fact that if a person is the subject of a 1 cent fine, it clearly cannot be repaid over a period of 24 months. However, there are individuals who may be fined €100 and who would not have the ability to pay upfront. I accept the Minister's point with regard to extending the period to 24 months and, as a...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I move amendment No. 4: In page 8, line 4, to delete "12 months" and substitute "24 months".I welcome the Minister to the committee. This Bill is very much welcome, particularly in the context of the report on overcrowding in Cork Prison that was published some weeks ago. Unfortunately, many judges continue to imprison people for non-payment of fines, a practice which causes great...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I refer to an issue which the Minister and I might discuss later. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has raised concerns about the attachment order in that it could possibly facilitate the dismissal of an employee or could lead to discrimination in the future. It suggests that we should consider amending the Bill to protect the rights of persons served with an attachment order. I ask the...