Results 9,161-9,180 of 10,245 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Report of Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on Immigration, Asylum and the Refugee Crisis: Motion (28 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I wish to share five of my ten minutes with Deputy Anne Rabbitte.

Report of Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on Immigration, Asylum and the Refugee Crisis: Motion (28 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the people who are in the Public Gallery this evening. I recognise many of them from the sittings of the committee and the hearings that took place some months ago. I welcome the publication of the report. Deputy Jack Chambers and I were the Fianna Fáil representatives on the committee and we support the report fully and would like to see it implemented. When the history...

Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (28 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: The situation in Sligo may be significant, but there is also a very serious issue in respect of the outpatient waiting list at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in my constituency. At the end of August, a total of 2,486 patients were waiting for outpatient appointments at the hospital. As Deputy MacSharry noted, the Taoiseach - who formerly served as Minister for Health - gave an...

Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (28 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yesterday, Deputy Micheál Martin and I met representatives of the national Council for the Blind in Ireland to discuss its pre-budget submission. We also had a broader chat with them about the number of people, not just at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital but throughout the hospital system, who are on ophthalmology waiting lists. They brought to my attention that up to 75% of...

Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (28 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: 14. To ask the Minister for Health the assistance that will be given to reduce the waiting times for outpatient consultations at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital [40991/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: The final issue I want to raise is the breath test report that was prepared and published by An Garda Síochána. The Policing Authority is also preparing a report into that issue. When does Ms Feehily believe that report will be published? One of the points that jumps out from assistant commissioner Michael O'Sullivan's report is why are gardaí recording negative breath...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ms Feehily believes they should be maintained.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Ms Feehily for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Ms Feehily for attending the committee again. I will not ask any questions about the process for the appointment of the new Garda Commissioner that may involve identifying individuals. However, on 11 September, Ms Feehily put out a statement regarding the appointment of a new Commissioner in which she said she would be working with the Public Appointments Service and the Department...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is it fair to say the authority has not made up its mind yet on that issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: The statute dealing with the appointment of a Garda Commissioner is quite detailed. Is it correct that the authority has to run a competition, whether it likes it or not?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: If the authority headhunted what it considered to be an ideal candidate to be a suitable Garda Commissioner, must it go through the charade of asking the Public Appointments Service to run a competition?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is that good legislation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ultimately, is the authority bound by the result of that competition?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent issues relating to An Garda Síochána: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: On the third report to the Minister in response to the implementation of the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate report, I share Ms Feehily’s views that it should be seen in a positive light, as well as a negative one. The report found, however, that 50 recommendations had not been implemented and only nine had. I note from Ms Feehily’s report that this came to her...

Mediation Bill 2017: From the Seanad (26 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Fianna Fáil will also be supporting the amendment accepted by Seanad Éireann. I also put on the record that I agree with what the Minister has said in respect of correcting the text and moving around the proposed amendment within the body of the Mediation Bill. The amendment that has come from Seanad Éireann seeks to ensure that a solicitor or barrister, when advising...

Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government, on page 100 of the programme for Government, commits to extending Garda oversight and accountability. One of the important elements of Garda oversight and accountability is the legislation regulating when journalists' telephones can be accessed by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. Some 15 months ago, the Government asked retired chief justice, Mr. John...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (20 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate that he cannot give a definitive answer in respect of whether the land will be used for this Educate Together secondary school, but I would urge him and his Department to bear in mind that a decision should be made on this as soon as possible. The Educate Together secondary school is due to open in September 2018. That is what the...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (20 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, is here this evening to respond to this issue concerning the land in Harold's Cross which was purchased by his Department during the summer and the purpose for which that land will be used by it, which is an important issue for the people in my constituency and beyond. The Minister will be aware that a number of years...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Child Protection Audit: Dr. Geoffrey Shannon (20 Sep 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I congratulate Dr. Shannon on the report. It is a template for how reports should be produced for the State. He set out his methodology and what he was asked to do. Most importantly he set out 72 examples of how section 12 comes into effect and how gardaí are asked to exercise their power in this respect. He also set out conclusions and recommendations. I want to repeat what the...