Results 161-180 of 911 for speaker:Tom Clonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: Does the Minister of State not characterise the situation as a crisis?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I am not going to comment on the judgment that was delivered in a recent high-profile case. Instead, I will address the question of the role of commissioned officers. Under Defence Forces regulation A7, paragraphs 55 to 58, they are required to attend court in an observer role but they are not required to disclose any information concerning the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: In the context of the commitment to zero tolerance for violence against women, as a matter of priority, the Tánaiste and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence should immediately amend these paragraphs of the Defence Forces Regulation, DFR, A7, in that membership of the Defence Forces, in cases of violence against women, should not be a mitigating factor. It should be an...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I wish to quote Ms Justice Ann Power from the opening statement of the tribunal of inquiry into the Defence Forces, which covers issues of discrimination, harassment, bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape of male and female members of Óglaigh na hÉireann. It is a culture that promotes class discrimination, promotes discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the witnesses very much for coming in this evening. I have a number of questions for them. In the evidence, a number of significant challenges were set out for St. Michael's House. It was stated that the number of individuals in residential settings is 450. If I heard correctly, in the coming years an increase of 137% is expected. I do not know over what time period the 137%...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I apologise but will Ms Reynolds confirm that the number with regard to 130 to 150 people between now and 2028 is extra on top of the 84 on the waiting list for St. Michael's House and that in total the number would be 230?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: Does St. Michael's House have the capacity to meet these needs?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: How would Ms Reynolds characterise this? Is it failure in slow motion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: It does, yes. I am sorry to push this point but who can the service appeal to in this regard? Is it beholden to the HSE, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform or the Minister for Finance? Where is the blockage? Where should this funding be coming from?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: At least the committee now knows St. Michael's House is expecting these numbers between now and 2028. We have to make a lot of noise about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: Bearing in mind that we might need accommodation to meet the needs of 230 people, looking in his crystal ball, what percentage of that need does Mr. Devereux believe we will meet by 2028? Does he think St. Michael's House will be able to cater for 10, 50 or 100 of those people?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: What is the budget for what St. Michael’s House does provide at the moment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: In other words, in order to meet the need, one would need to double that figure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: That would probably explain the volume of correspondence I get-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: -----and our own family has had the experience of there just being none.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I will finish now because I do not want to keep the Leas-Chathaoirleach any longer. I really appreciate the representatives’ responses and their candour. During the financial crash, we got intellectual honesty from the banks to a certain extent, because they put their hands up, said they had failed and said that we needed help from outside the jurisdiction. We handed our financial...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Approach to Day Services (Resumed): Discussion (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank Mr. Devereux for that frank response. I appreciate it. I thank him for all of the hard work he is doing under very difficult circumstances. On the issue of human resources, where can we put pressure to help with respite and transport? What happens to people when their parents die? Where do they end up?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I want to begin by wishing the Minister, Deputy Ryan, well after his decision not to run for re-election. I wish everybody who ran in the recent local and European elections well, those who were elected and who failed to be elected. It is such an important part of our democracy. One of the things the Minister spoke about yesterday was about some of the ill feeling and negativity that has...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I will make a few comments and will echo many of the points of view articulated by my colleagues on both sides of the House. I hope that when we consider amendments on Committee Stage, given that there is cross-party consensus, the Minister of State might take on board some of our concerns. I began a personal journey as a young officer in 1996...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Tom Clonan: I am praising and not criticising her but her appointment compromises the perception of independence. If the Minister of State is not for changing on this point, I would strongly support, as a counterweight, allowing the representative associations, PDFORRA and RACO, similar representation on the external oversight body. Before I was elected, I gave evidence as an expert witness in a case...