Results 8,061-8,080 of 9,553 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (31 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: 271. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the consideration that has been given to ensuring a Dublin Bus route (details supplied) will not be adversely affected when the new Luas trams are rolled out as part of the Luas Cross City and Green Line extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4670/18]

Shortage of Teachers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: I have met young teachers who are members of the INTO in my constituency. The cumulative loss to them over their working lifetime will be between €70,000 and €100,000. The Government's policy of pay inequality needs to end. Teachers are leaving the country en masseand it cannot continue. The Government needs to properly reward teachers with decent pay and conditions, and its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: I thank my colleagues, Deputies O'Loughlin and Deputy O'Callaghan, for drafting the Bill. I also thank the experts before us for attending. I will play the role of devil's advocate in asking my questions. Ms McElwee spoke about the threshold of proof, broadening the criteria and presenting evidence. To follow through on that argument, does she agree that one could make the same argument...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: Does Ms McElwee accept that the generic argument she has made could be applied to the existing discrimination grounds?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: It says a "disability or a medical condition". Is that not very broad?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: Ms McElwee has mentioned a number of soft measures. Does she think there should be a legislative input around socioeconomic grounds?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: I was going to ask that Mr. Crowley would respond too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: Ms McElwee would prefer it to be clarified. She has no issue with the ground itself but just wants it to be clarified. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: It is certainty, clarity and amendments that IBEC is seeking but it is happy with the ground and the principle in law. Is that right?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: In law? Just to be to be clear, does IBEC believe it should be in law as a general ground if it is made more clear? Is IBEC opposed to the ground being there, once clarified or does it believe that other measures, such as those mentioned in the submission, would suffice? I am trying to understand IBEC's position.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: I ask Mr. Crowley to provide a response to some of the points just raised so that we can understand the difference of opinion and how the Equality and Rights Alliance would respond to IBEC.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: In terms of the specific points raised by IBEC, how would a case be navigated around some of its concerns with, for example, postal address or income thresholds? I am playing devil's advocate here and asking how far an employer would have to go to discover a substantive ground? What would be the threshold information? Is it about building a culture of compliance or changing societal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: My next question is to IBEC. What about the points raised by Mr. Crowley regarding religious background or a person from the Traveller community? IBEC has said employers would seek out a medical practitioner with regard to medical grounds. How do the witnesses respond to the points on these two principles? Is there a more specific level of detail than in existing principles? As I have...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: If we take a step back, the Government's Bill is being overly prescriptive to an excessive degree. We are talking about ten to 15 appointments per year but the Bill provides for five specific committees under the remit of the commission and a further procedural committee, which is what we are talking about here. Under section 19, there is a further proposal that other relevant committees...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: It should have the discretion.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: I agree with the other speakers. This amounts to appointments by the back door and the Minister is creating sub-structures in that respect. In section 13 it states that each relevant committee may establish one or more sub-committees. This means there would be committees, which everybody has stated are excessive, and then there could be multiple sub-committees of the committees from the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: I was just going to say what Deputy Wallace said. I do not believe it is an unravelling. The committee considers the Minister's committee structure as unwieldy and overly complex. If anything, despite differences in terms of the lay majority or otherwise, even members who agree with the thrust of what the Minister is proposing recognise that there should be changes at the commission level...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Directives: Minister for Justice and Equality (17 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: I wish to expand on some of the questions from Deputy O'Callaghan. Part of what the Minister has discussed is still unclear. There will obviously be a vacuum after 9 February. How long will the projected timeframe for the implementation of these measures be? That is unclear. For how long does the Minister expect the interim arrangement he has proposed to be in existence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Directives: Minister for Justice and Equality (17 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: There are obviously many delays for applicants through the Minister's Department and the process within it. Does he think that the projected nine-month application process is achievable? Can the Minister give the committee an indication of some of the current wait times? The experience of many of my own constituents, who apply for various visas and other immigration matters, is that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Directives: Minister for Justice and Equality (17 Jan 2018)

Jack Chambers: When it is transposed, will the legislation be time-bound? Could somebody take a case if a decision is not made within nine months, or is that just the Minister's preferred period? We should work on that. Obviously, to be bound by legislation would not allow for particular situations which may, from time to time arise, on the basis of an application; be it a technical issue or special...