Results 21-40 of 5,604 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank all the organisations and acknowledge the importance of their work. It has always been challenging work and, in many ways, it has become more challenging. While we might not agree on every element of this proposal or any other policy, it is vital to have organisations speaking on behalf of asylum seekers and people who are vulnerable, who may not have the voices other people have. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I think the question Senator McDowell asks is a valid one. I think it is still important to appeal and it is still important to pass the legislation because we are still potentially dealing with the hypothetical. It is right to rectify the flaw that exists, because we could still be dealing with a situation where Rwanda does not happen or it is unclear how many people might end up there and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Partially, but I also understand that Albania has been given some responsibility.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: If I understand Mr. O'Neill correctly, it does not exist within the four corners of the pieces of legislation.

Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2024: Second Stage (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Ní thógfaidh mé an t-am go léir. Táim á roinnt. An bhfuil an Teachta Ó Murchú sa slot céanna?

Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2024: Second Stage (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Ní bheidh 20 nóiméad uainn. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Beimid ag tacú leis an reachtaíocht seo. Baineann sé le héascú ó thaobh riaracháin. Tá sé chun é sin a dhéanamh chomh furasta agus tapa agus is féidir. Cé nach bhfuil an méid atá ann ródhrámatúil, tá...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The situation in Cork University Hospital, CUH, is severe and has been for some time. The workforce report which came out during the week identified that Cork has the second lowest level of front-line staff of any hospital in the State and is down 80 nurses and midwives over that period. The workforce generally speaking rose across the system. Does the Minister accept that CUH is in need...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 5. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to clarify whether she intends to taper benefits received by beneficiaries of temporary protection in advance of the ending of the temporary protection directive in 2025. [18469/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: This is an area the Minister and I have discussed before. The temporary protection directive ends next spring. It is not fair on anyone, including those in receipt of payments currently who are under temporary protection, that there be a cliff edge and uncertainty as to what will happen after that date. The Minister has made a number of remarks, not always necessarily to the same effect,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: It was absolutely right and necessary that people who were fleeing war and the aggression of the Russian Government would be in a position to receive protection, and the Irish people have responded with great generosity. There is no question about that. The changes that have been made already have in effect created a two-track situation between those who arrive after the date of the passing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: While it is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, social welfare policy is the responsibility of the Minister opposite. In any event, further clarity is needed at the earliest possible date. It is not very clear what the picture is at this point. I will ask another question. The Minister was involved in devising the new approach in respect of designated accommodation centres....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Does the Minister wish me to respond?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: It did appear that she wanted a response.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am very happy to respond if the Minister wishes me to do so.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I agree this may have been what it was intended to do but conflating the cost of disability with severity of disability, when they are not always precisely the same thing, was a problem and there were concerns. I welcome the fact the Minister has listened in that regard but what we do not know is, and this may not be decided yet, if there is a timeline on it. The Minister referred to a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens Information Services (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 3. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she and her Department are taking to ensure workers in citizens information companies are provided with a pay increase, given the length of time since their last pay increase; and if she will provide the funding to ensure this happens [18468/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens Information Services (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: More than tens of thousands of people rely on the citizens information service. It is a vitally important, high-quality service. To ensure it remains a high-quality service, we need to ensure quality staff are attracted to it. The pay has not changed for those in the citizens information service in 16 years, since 2008. That is an absolutely extraordinary amount of time considering the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens Information Services (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I may take some comfort from that to a small extent. I do not think it helps that there is such a baroque structure here. These are companies but they are not for profit and they are funded exclusively through the public purse. There is the Minister, the Citizens Information Board and then the citizens information service. I do not know why this is the case. Leaving that aside, it is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens Information Services (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have a few other points. The Minister made the point these staff members are not public servants. They were aligned to the public sector pay structure until the previous recession. I also make the point that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is aligned to public sector pay. Even MABS, which is a sister company of the citizens information service funded through...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 1. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if, in light of her not proceeding further with the consultation on the Green Paper on disability payments, she intends to examine a cost-of-disability payment; and whether she intends to introduce different reforms to the disability payments. [18467/24]