Results 1-20 of 50 for "direct provision" speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2018)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: .... Those who believe in the viewpoint demonstrated in the attack need to be challenged by republicans, unionists and nationalists. I convey my concern to Senator Richmond and the Government on the direct provision centre developments in recent times. The system is built on the private sector making available hotels, old convents and family centres, such as Mosney, to be utilised for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2018)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I raise the decision to locate a direct provision centre in a hotel in Moville on the Inishowen Peninsula. This is one of the most northerly hotels in the entire island. The specific concern is that in recent days, the Irish Refugee Council has spoken out on this matter, pointing out that the refugees in question, some of whom are mothers with children, will be required to travel regularly...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2018)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...Irish to our approach to those who come to this country seeking asylum. A few years ago I was chairperson of the public service oversight committee. The committee visited asylum seekers in the direct provision system throughout the State. We went to disused family centres, hotels and buildings and saw families living in surroundings which were entirely inappropriate for their needs. We...

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...a deal with the people in the Department of Justice and Equality, who always put in one's ear the words "unintended consequences" and "the pull factor" and argue that if we put in place a humanitarian system of direct provision or whatever, huge numbers will come to Ireland. Ireland is, I think, one of only two countries in the EU that does not allow asylum seekers the right to work....

Seanad: Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016: Second Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: .... I will never forget that incredible day in Dublin Castle. Let me finish with a thought on which everybody should reflect. The ethnicity of Travellers has not been recognised, while refugees languish in direct provision centres with little hope of a change to the system. I spoke about learning lessons. I plead with the Government to ensure history is not repeated in the case of...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I have a particular interest in this subject. I chaired the Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions, which produced a report on the issue. We travelled across the State, visited the direct provision centres and met asylum seekers and representatives of NGOs. I acknowledge the work of the NGOs which work on the front line, including the Irish Refugee Council, Doras Luimní,...

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: “(4) The Minister may provide for regulations on Reception Conditions and Facilities for persons subject to this Act.”. This amendment links direct provision to the Bill. The Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions considered the issue of direct provision over a considerable period of time. We visited and met...

International Protection Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015, I believe that, historically, the Department of Justice and Equality has been a conservative Department that has been resistant to progress change and that this issue of the need for the State to tackle the issue of direct provision centres for asylum seekers has been significantly curtailed. The issues those who hold right-wing views...

Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...organisations, NGOs, that work with asylum seekers and refugees in the State. They are devastated about the missed opportunity and the failure to consult the working group on issues with the direct provision centres and the profound failures that have occurred. The Bill is due to be debated on Second Stage in the House tomorrow. Will the Government withdraw the Bill and take on board...

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We are dealing with our committee's report on the extension of the remit of the Ombudsman to include the direct provision system and are joined by officials from the Department of Social Protection. I remind all those present to be careful with their mobile phones because they interfere with the sound system and it drives our media outlets mad when they have to edit the material. I am...

EU Council Decisions on Measures in the Area of International Protection: Motions (1 Oct 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...it has taken too much time to make decisions. I welcome the fact that legislation relating to this matter will be brought forward in the near future, and the sooner the better. We have had people stuck in these direct provision centres for far too long, in some cases for more than ten years. We need to make decisions about people who have been there for that length of time. We should...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ..., we will write to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on resources for the Ombudsman's office, as has arisen today. Second, we will write about clinical judgments and, third, about direct provision. Considering that our committee and the judicial working group have recommended an extension into these areas, we would like an update, obviously in consultation with Minister for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Reports: Mr. Peter Tyndall (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...the full transcript of today's hearing to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, drawing particular attention to the matters of extending the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman's office to cover direct provision and bringing the immigration system in line with Mr. Justice McMahon's report and the committee's report. I also propose that we note the ongoing discussions on clinical...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My final question relates to direct provision. It is universally agreed that our direct provision system is a poor one because of the length of time people must remain in it. Uniquely in the European Union, we do not allow asylum seekers to work. That means in some cases people have been stuck for more than ten years without the right to work, which is a poor record. We now have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (8 Jul 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...to announce the granting of a great honour by the African community in Ireland. We have received the public services award in the Africa Day Awards. It is an acknowledgement of our work on the direct provision system report and I was pleased to accept the award on behalf of the joint committee. I thank all committee members for their hard work on the report. The award will take pride...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Global Resettlement Needs and Related Matters: UNHCR (24 Jun 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...a single application process for asylum seekers. Everyone in the Houses agrees with this idea. I hope that the legislation will be debated later this year. What are Ms Magennis's thoughts on the direct provision system? The McMahon report is due next week. If refugees are lined up outside Ireland, how do we better align this approach with Ms Magennis's?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Global Resettlement Needs and Related Matters: UNHCR (24 Jun 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Will Ms Magennis indicate how we as parliamentarians, and the UNCHR, could communicate issues such as the length of time that people spend in direct provision without increasing the alarm? Speeding up the application process is part of it, but how do we communicate better with our own people? Ireland has had the highest contribution per capitain the world towards overseas development aid. It...

Direct Provision Report: Motion (12 Jun 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...to look at areas of concern. The previous Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, who is now the European Ombudsman, repeatedly raised concerns about the failure to extend her jurisdiction to include the direct provision centres. The current Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, outlined those concerns and raised them with the committee at a number of hearings. As part of its work, the committee also met with...

Direct Provision Report: Motion (12 Jun 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...shall consider the Report of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions entitled 'Report on the extension of the remit of the Ombudsman to cover all aspects and bodies associated with the Direct Provision System (DPS) and the extension of the remit of Freedom of Information to cover all aspects and bodies associated with the DPS including all the suppliers of goods and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (29 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...? When he does that, we will prioritise the petition because it has been in the system for a while. Is that agreed? Agreed. We will now go back into private session to deal with the report on the direct provision system from our committee.