Results 6,601-6,620 of 8,984 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Revised Eligibility Criteria for State Pension (Contributory): Discussion with Minister for Social Protection (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I must interrupt the Minister as a vote has been called in the Dáil.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Revised Eligibility Criteria for State Pension (Contributory): Discussion with Minister for Social Protection (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I will open the discussion for questions. Senator O'Keeffe is indicating.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Revised Eligibility Criteria for State Pension (Contributory): Discussion with Minister for Social Protection (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I remind all of those present - including members, the media and those in the public Gallery - that mobile phones and BlackBerrys must be switched off completely because, even in silent mode, they interfere with the sound recording system. I am pleased to welcome the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, and her officials, Ms Patricia Murphy, principal officer, and Ms Vera McGrath,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Gambling Control Bill: Discussion (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Mr. Hickson raised the issue of the regulator being independent from the Minister and said that is an important matter. I do not have any objection to that but will he elaborate on why that is so important?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Gambling Control Bill: Discussion (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: That is the key. Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Gambling Control Bill: Discussion (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We were trying to keep them out of our backyard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Gambling Control Bill: Discussion (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I want to tease out the issue of profitability, as there was a 2.5% figure mentioned. Is there not a mathematical equation surrounding this? The witnesses are definite that from every €100 spent in the facility, €88 is given out, but that does not seem to add up. Is there a projection of the profit to be made with bookmakers and casinos? The perception with the public is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Gambling Control Bill: Discussion (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: That is fair enough and the answers are good. The public would be shocked but there we go.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Achievements of Irish Presidency and EU Justice and Home Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Justice and Equality (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Last week, Dr. Gavin Barrett came before the committee to advise us on the opt-out by Britain from a range of justice measures. Will the Minister outline the perspective of the Government on this matter? Does it harbour any concerns about the knock-on effects of what is proposed? Is it engaging with the British authorities on the matter? Dr. Barrett provided a comprehensive overview. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 54. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm that, considering Ireland’s aid promise is made as a percentage of our national income, when the Government speaks of consolidating the overseas aid budget, he is referring to consolidating not the euro amount, but the ODA/GNI percentage. [41150/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (2 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 72. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has read the recently published Red C Poll, commissioned by PANA, which details Irish persons attitudes to neutrality and the war in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41151/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Penalty Points System (1 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The 71% of citizens who paid their fine and took their penalty points on the chin must be appalled to discover that up to one in five of those facing the same sanction managed to get away with it. It is clear, given the massive scale of such practices, that they arose largely due to maladministration. However, there are cases which give cause for serious concern. We have had allegations,...

Topical Issue Debate: Penalty Points System (1 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: As the Minister knows, the Comptroller and Auditor General reported on his findings in regard to the fixed charge notice system. The outcome is absolutely shocking. What he has revealed is that because of clearly widespread maladministration and very poor procedures, one in five motorists facing fixed charge notices are getting off. We are talking about 42,000 cases a year, and half of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 125. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts he has made to increase access for tourists to sites of interest particularly in urban centres and to improve access to Dublin Airport. [40907/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Events (1 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 145. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to Ireland hosting the Homeless Football World Cup; the supports that are currently being given to the Irish Homeless World Cup team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40901/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Transfers (1 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 499. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the road safety regulations Gardaí must adhere to whilst transporting prisoners to prison; if he will confirm that these regulations are adhered to, considering the practice of transporting recently convicted prisoners from Donegal to Castlerea Prison, County Roscommon in the back of a Garda van without a seat or a seat belt. [40804/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (1 Oct 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 500. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason over 38% of Garda summons issued between January 2009 and December 2012 were not served (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40854/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Ombudsman (26 Sep 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank the Ombudsman. Before I bring the meeting to a conclusion, I ask members to stay on for a couple of minutes in private session to deal with some correspondence. The joint committee is very grateful for the attendance of all three witnesses today and I reiterate we are very proud of the Ombudsman's achievement in being elected to that office. We look forward to watching her...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Ombudsman (26 Sep 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The appeals process has been exhausted.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Ombudsman (26 Sep 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank Deputy Harrington. I go along with those comments. As Chairman I am pleased to report that often it is the Government members of this committee who are more vociferous in challenging the negative implications of Government policy. It has been my experience that the committee has responded to the Ombudsman's appeals and approached the issue in that way. It is also a new...