Results 6,801-6,820 of 8,986 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Tánaiste has got to reflect on this issue. This is Orwellian stuff. All of us got e-mails last night from teachers and principals across the State describing clearly the real impact on the children involved in their schools. This is defending the indefensible. I will read from the Labour Party manifesto for the last election. It states, "Labour will support schools, parents and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Does Mr. Egan wish to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: This has been a useful exercise. I thank Mr. Walshe for making himself available to discuss the issues arising from his petition. I also wish to thank Ms O'Brien and Mr. Lynch of the INOU and Mr. Egan and the team of officials from the Department. We are grateful for their attendance and for their co-operation in dealing with members' questions. I propose that we adjourn until 4 p.m....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I should have explained that, predictably, many of the questions will be for Mr. Egan, but if Ms O'Brien or Mr. Walshe want to respond to a question they should feel free to indicate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I invite Mr. Oliver Egan, assistant secretary in the Department of Social Protection, to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I apologise for interrupting Mr. Egan but he may have misunderstood the reason for this meeting. We invited the Minister for Social Protection but Mr. Egan is here instead. The reason the committee accepted this petition is because of the general policy issues it raises rather than the specific case. I ask him to deal with the policy issues, not the case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: There may have been some crossed wires. Anybody we invite before this committee, be that a senior official or a Minister, is asked to deal with general policy issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I apologise for the confusion. This meeting marks a milestone in that it is the first time a petitioner has appeared before us. We discussed a number of petitions with relevant Ministers and Departments but it is the first time a petitioner came to the committee to present evidence. Where specific cases are brought to the attention of the committee, we try to refer petitioners to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The committee will consider petition No. P00042/12 from Mr. Kevin Walshe concerning the back to education allowance scheme. The committee will deliberate on the general policy aspects and development of the scheme and take evidence from Mr. Kevin Walshe, the petitioner, Ms Bríd O'Brien and Mr. Robert Lynch, head of policy and media and work section manager, respectively, of the Irish...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We are back again. Every year we debate this, every year Sinn Féin opposes it and every year it passes. We all know the background to the Offences against the State Act and I will not re-hash it again today. Suffice to say I have no hesitation in renewing the call on those responsible for what happened at Omagh to cease their activities and to embrace the peace process. The events...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We will try to keep it to seven or eight minutes each.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I need less time and therefore the Minister can take mine.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised) (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Yes, because it is a substantive question.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised) (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We would not disagree regarding repeat offenders and someone who is a repeated threat to their community. If we could bring in legislation on a sentencing council and sentencing guidelines that is similar to what is in Great Britain, that would help. We can give a framework to the Judiciary. I appreciate the point that we are not in sole control of incarceration but I will throw it out...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised) (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I have a number of themes to cover. I want to deal, first, with the issue of prisons. The committee has submitted to the Minister and his Department its report on penal reform which contains five key recommendations. We had a chance to discuss it briefly yesterday during the debate on the Cork Prison motion. I believe and know the members of the committee believe that not only would our...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (19 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 159. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of extra Gardaí that were drafted into Roscommon town for the funeral of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh last Saturday, and also for the removal the previous evening; the person who organised/managed the policing of the funeral; the amount this exercise cost in overtime and extra payments; what do the Gardaí feel set off...

Development of Cork Prison: Motion (18 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: A Cheann Comhairle, could I ask one question? It is pertinent to whether we can support the motion.

Development of Cork Prison: Motion (18 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I promise that it is only one brief question. It will take ten seconds. Of the 275 prison spaces, what number are single-cell occupancy?

Development of Cork Prison: Motion (18 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We had an opportunity to have an initial discussion on the motion at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality last week. As I pointed out then, I was part of the committee delegation that visited Cork Prison last year. The governor made it clear from the outset that the prison is not up to standard and does not comply with the requirements of a civilised society....

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel Official Visits (18 Jun 2013)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I assume there is nothing to read into the fact that Lithuania has been a member of NATO since 2004 and nothing about which to be concerned. We know the Minister is mad to get Ireland into NATO. Should we be concerned?