Results 7,861-7,880 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: We now will move on to the Rehab Group and I will take questions from my Seanad colleagues on this issue.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I think all members will concur with that comment. Are there any other questions regarding Rehab?
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: As there is not another question for Amnesty, Ms Crowley can answer those two questions.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I thank Ms Crowley. We will move on to the second presentation, that is, the Children's Rights Alliance-Educate Together. A couple of members, Senators Paul Coghlan and O'Donnell, wish to raise questions. Senator O'Donnell was first.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I will bank the questions. I call Senator Paul Coghlan, who will be followed by Senator Bacik, on the education issue and Educate Together.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: Most of the questions were directed at Mr. Rowe and he has an opportunity to respond and clarify.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: A number of people are offering to ask questions, and to avoid overlapping and going back and forth I will call those who have questions for the first contributor, Ms Fiona Crowley, and Amnesty International Ireland.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: Yes, because diverse issues have been raised and we do not want to go back and forth in a confusing manner.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I understand that Ms Edel Quinn of the Children's Rights Alliance and Mr. Paul Rowe of Educate Together are going to share time.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: As a matter of course I reiterate the reminder on privilege to some of the new groups. I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the issue of privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to...
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I have some questions. The spotlight will be on Ireland in July.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: As a nation and in comparison with other European countries, do we follow what others do rather than being proactive? In other words, are we sort of dragged, kicking and screaming, into line, or is our performance equal to that of other European nations? Are we lagging and where do we stand in that regard?
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I thank all the witnesses for their presentations today and if they wish to return after lunch to listen to the proceedings for the rest of the afternoon, they are more than welcome. I thank my colleagues because we started almost ten minutes late but it is only 1.04 p.m. now, so we are almost bang on schedule.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: Ms Quilligan has covered a lot. She said four and I think she-----
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I appreciate that. It is just with our time constraint-----
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: Does Ms Fay wish to make any comments before we conclude?
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I thank the witnesses and we appreciate their being here. They are quite welcome to remain where they are or move into the seats behind while we move on to the next part of our public hearings. I call Professor Michael O'Flaherty from the Irish Centre for Human Rights who has ten minutes, after which we might have brief questions and answers.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: I am a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which is chaired by Deputy David Stanton. Its unanimous recommendation on recognising Traveller ethnicity was a significant step. This was the first time in my political career that the committee made such a forceful recommendation. That is a very important development.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: Given the large number of questions asked, I will give the witnesses a few minutes to answer them. They can take them in whichever order they wish.
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Irish Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Discussion (6 May 2014)
Denis O'Donovan: We are coming to the close of this session. Dr. Hogan posed a question for us. I suppose what we are doing - members may support me in this view - is shining a light on the issues. We are not here to take on the Government. We will present our report, which we hope to conclude in two or three weeks, to the Government following the work we are doing and the witnesses' submissions. We hope...