Results 1,561-1,580 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: One of important aspects of the debate on this matter is that it was kick-started by the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children who said they wanted oversight of the system. I appreciate that the allowance is an issue and that the Department is the administrative body for it. On the issue of emergency needs payments, child benefit, etc., will Ms Harrington outline what appeals mechanisms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: If an ordinary citizen is unhappy with the level of an exceptional needs payment, he of she has the review by another competent officer and he or she goes to the social welfare appeals office. If he or she is still not happy, can he or she go to the Ombudsman to make a complaint?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: That is what I am trying to ascertain.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: A citizen has a right to go to the Ombudsman at the end of the process, whereas somebody living in direct provision can only go as far as the social welfare appeals office in the context of any dispute over what has been allocated. That is the nub of what the Ombudsman was saying to us. The Ombudsman should be available to everyone in the country, including those in direct provision. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On Deputy Ó Snodaigh's point about child benefit, for example, if a parent in direct provision feels that child benefit should be available to their child, he or she would appeal that to the Department and the Department would say that it is not available under legislation. He or she might appeal it to the social welfare appeals office and the Department would again say that it is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The HAP scheme is in its pilot phase and, obviously, people in direct provision will not be on the local authority housing lists. Will HAP take into consideration the length of time people have been in direct provision? They may have been in direct provision for five, six, seven or eight years when the HAP applications are being made and they have been waiting that long for accommodation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Department of Social Protection (18 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Yes.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (17 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá mé an-bhuíoch di faoi teacht isteach leis an gceist seo - ceist chonspóideach na feamainne in iarthar na hÉireann - a fhreagairt. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to answer this question, which relates to the ongoing debate around seaweed harvesting rights along the coasts of Ireland. I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (17 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister of State and welcome that she has told us this work has been done in seven counties. My understanding from the PRAI is that anybody can get a copy of a folio of land if they pay the charges. Making the information available is not necessarily a data protection issue. Will the Minister of State make the information available? Can a map be made available showing where...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Ach an oiread le mo chomhghleacaithe, cuirim fáilte roimh an Seanadóir Ní Chathail agus guím gach rath uirthi ina cuid oibre anseo. Guím gach rath freisin ar an iar-Sheanadóir Jimmy Harte atá anois ag ligean a scíth. Last night's match proved that Jimmy Harte is still winning matches, which is a good sign. I wish him very well. I concur with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Equine Industry (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I do not know whether he frequents the Connemara pony show but I am aware that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been there on numerous occasions. Indeed, I saw him there two years ago. Obviously, the Connemara pony is specific to the region for which it is named. We are extremely proud of the breed and of the heritage relating to it....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Equine Industry (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I welcome the overview. It is interesting to note several reviews are ongoing in the society which we might come back to at a later date. On the specific matter I raised, the Minister of State stated that purpose of the Department’s oversight is to ensure that whatever standards and classifications are determined by the studbook operator adhere to the relevant requirements of EU and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Equine Industry (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Does the Minister of State have full confidence in them?

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Tagaim leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Naughton maidir le Gaillimh 2020. I also commend the members of Pavee Point who have been outside the gates this morning. We have seen a lot of tea and sympathy about Traveller accommodation and it is now time for action. It is important that they have been outside Leinster House today and have brought a petition signed by...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 1:In page 7, to delete line 35 and substitute the following:"(3) The chairperson of the Board shall be democratically elected by the members of the Board.". Sinn Féin indicated on Second Stage that it would be bringing forward an amendment to this section. This amendment stems from the fact, as alluded to earlier by Senator Norris, that while section 8 provides for...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: While listening to Mozart.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The Minister may have noticed that, tempted as I may have been to do so, I did not get into the question of political appointments to boards and I will not do so at this stage because what she has said actually strengthens our argument. It is welcome that people will be appointed through the PAS system as it will depoliticise the process. However, the Minister of the day might not...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I am not convinced. I believe the debate has raised more questions than it has answered. I propose that the amendment, by leave of the House, is withdrawn. It may be reintroduced on Report Stage when we could look at the wording again.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 2:In page 12, to delete lines 28 to 31. I appreciate that we raised this again on Second Stage and the Minister responded but this covers a situation where, under subsection (8), a chief executive officer may appear before the Committee for Public Accounts or when he or she makes reports on finances, etc. This is very much a gagging clause on the CEO of the National...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Or woman.