Results 15,541-15,560 of 32,916 for speaker:Catherine Connolly
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Please clarify why the uptake is so limited.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Does Mr. McDaid view the low uptake of that important service as a problem, given the level of violence in society?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: We have many briefing papers here, in different contexts, and I read one in particular because it applied to Deputy O'Callaghan's recent Bill. That paper refers to the fact that the take-up of this legal advice is relatively low, with only one application in 2018 and four in 2017. Amnesty International, in 2005, stated of the provision: "In practice, this provision has not been used and...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: I understand that but I have been a Deputy for more than three and a half years and I question what I am doing and what is my role. The most common theme to emerge is the failure to analyse all systems, the failure to examine that system and ask what are the gaps and to give feedback on policy to the Government. There is clearly a gaping gap in a theoretical service that, on the ground, is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: I understand that, but there is a gap. I am conscious that we are in the midst of a 16-day campaign that happens every year in opposition to violence against women. I am not asking our guests to sort this out but it should be highlighted and there should be an in-built analysis of the gaps and failures that exist and feedback provided to the Government thereon. Is that happening at the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: I am getting at the board's role in feeding back the information to the Government about that and other aspects of the system, such as the long waiting lists and the exclusions, which I am sure my colleagues will deal with. Every speaker has endorsed the making of changes to provide for cases of public interest and funding by third parties except the representatives of the board. Has Mr....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: As has been said, this is a legal aid system and is not free. It is there and it came from the Airey v. Ireland case.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: That is correct. It was put on a statutory basis in 1995.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Despite the best efforts that have been made, it is very restricted.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Mr. McDaid did refer to some of them.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Perhaps I am being unfair and it is not Mr. McDaid's role and I should direct these matters to the other speakers. To have a healthy, functioning democracy, we need efficient access to the courts so that justice can be administered and be seen to be administered. There are delays with many causes, including the absence of judges and insufficient barristers and legal staff. Fundamentally,...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Is something else 40 years old?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: It is ironic that she did not qualify for legal aid at the time. She secured employment and had to fight another battle to get the aid.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: She was, eventually. FLAC is calling for a root and branch review.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: It is similar to failing to deal with mental health issues and violence generally in that it costs the economy in the long term. The figures in this area are significant. The figure thrown out for domestic violence is €2 billion. Ms Barry is making the similar point that it would be cheaper, or certainly more cost efficient, to provide an appropriate service because, one way or...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: My final point relates to regulatory impact, which came up during discussion of the fines legislation when the Courts Service was before us. No regulatory analysis had been carried out of the impact of the fines on the courts system and resources. Did Mr. McDaid find that in relation to the most recent legislation on conveyancing?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: What is the name of that legislation?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: The purpose of the legislation was to ease the burden on people who were in trouble with mortgages.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to Justice and Legal Costs: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: There was a list of considerations a court must take into account.