Results 7,901-7,920 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Of course, it has been changed from four months to two weeks.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am very keen to be consistent throughout the legislation, and the object of the exercise here is to ensure that at all times the body is chaired by a lay member and that there would be a majority of non-judicial or laypersons. I see the point that the Senators have raised and say to Senator Bacik that the issue of whether the resignation or departure of a member of the commission might...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It follows that, should any person offer their resignation or not renew their practising certificate annually, membership of the society will automatically lapse. If a person is no longer a member of the Law Society, that person is no longer able to represent the society and their membership of this commission would automatically be at an end. Striking off is done in effect by means of an...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Yes and one's membership of the commission would also lapse immediately . The second point at issue here is whether the president of the Law Society of Ireland or the chairperson of the General Council of the Bar of Ireland can act on a unilateral basis, without having a resolution of the society or the council. I do not think that will happen. However, for absolute tidiness, I would be...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I do not fundamentally disagree with Senator Bacik. She will be aware from other legislation and across a range of bodies to which the Bar Council and the Law Society are asked to provide members, where members will sit on those bodies as representatives of those organisations. I have not heard it said that persons sitting on any State board representing either the Bar Council or the Law...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: All we are doing in section 19 is making perfectly clear the grounds for disqualification and setting out a range of persons who are ineligible to hold office. I do not believe it is inappropriate, notwithstanding what is contained in an earlier section, to state categorically that anybody who is struck off the roll of solicitors or who is disbarred by the benchers of the King's Inns is...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As parliamentarians, I am sure we are all in agreement about the role and function of our parliamentary committees and, in particular, the Committee of Public Accounts. It is unique in terms of its standing among other Dáil committees. Section 21 will only apply where the Committee of Public Accounts has invited the director of the commission to report and give evidence. It is...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It is a policy issue as distinct from a resource issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to bring what I am sure members will agree is a good news story and a positive initiative on the part of the Department of Justice and Equality and the European Union. I am joined by my officials, Mr. Donal Kerr and Mr. Patrick McCabe. The purpose of the motion is to seek approval of the Oireachtas to exercise Ireland’s options under the 21st protocol annexed to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is now a net contributor to the European Union. As such, it is difficult to specify what the Irish contribution to this fund will be as we are benefitting. The fund will be drawn down by Ireland. As our contribution must be seen as part of our overall EU contribution, it is not possible to identify how much we will contribute to the particular scheme or programme. Rather, we will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It is an EU fund totalling €2.5 billion and we will benefit under the scheme. We will not make a contribution to the fund as such.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Which we do anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: There will be two committees, including a domestic Garda audit committee, which will monitor spending domestically. As with all EU funds, there are strict EU audit guidelines. In this regard, there is a specifically designated monitoring committee, which will be chaired by an official in my Department. The committee will be charged with the responsibility of monitoring the funding and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As to how often the committee will sit-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It has not sat as yet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It meets on a regular basis and keeps in constant contact with An Garda Síochána and any other interested body.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am told that it meets on at least a quarterly basis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: We sought advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the scope of our opt-in and we are satisfied that it is in line with what we have agreed on close co-operation with our EU partners. My recommendation to the Houses of the Oireachtas is that we opt into this fund as it is entirely within the scope of our membership of the European Union and our engagement on security co-operation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The ISF-P has one objective with two security specific objectives, namely better exchange of information and increased operational co-operation. While we have concerns regarding certain aspects of the proposals, we are satisfied that the use of the funding as far as we are concerned will not extend beyond Ireland's association with European security and defence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Charles Flanagan: That may be as far as the entire fund is concerned, but not in terms of any drawdown on the part of Ireland.