Results 21-40 of 50 for "direct provision" speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Other Questions: Anti-Racism Measures (2 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...will be a section of people who are. There is clearly a challenge. We can go a long way in taking action to deal with these issues if we deliver on Traveller ethnicity, radically reform the direct provision system and look at the regularisation of migrants as proposed by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland. The core point today is that it is time for a new action plan on racism. We need...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...;in, who has responsibility for new communities, culture and equality. I thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be present today. I am sure members will be very interested to hear his views on the direct provision system and the progress of the report on direct provision. Members agreed as part of the 2014 work programme that there was merit in conducting focused work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...of State for his offer to send the transcript on to the working group. Our primary focus is on the issue of extending the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman and the Information Commissioner to the direct provision centre system. In doing that, we have had to examine the direct provision system itself. We are mindful that the working group has been tasked with that responsibility and we will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...of the working group, our recommendations, what has happened since and where we go next. That might be helpful. I share the frustration of Deputy Boyd Barrett. As Chairman of the committee I have visited the direct provision centres, as has the Minister of State, and all members present. I also understand the limitations on the Minister of State. Having already outlined his strong...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Senator Ó Clochartaigh has indicated that he wishes to make an additional point but I will make some comments before that. Our committee visited four direct provision centres and I am pleased we have done so. There are issues of commonality between those who run and manage the centres and the asylum seekers. It is universally agreed that the length of time for people remaining there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Undocumented Migrants: Immigration Control Platform (1 Apr 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...to be honest. If one were to follow the report of this debate on thejournal.ie, the majority of the comments would be in support of the two speakers. If we talk about asylum seekers and the direct provision system, the majority of comments on thejournal.iewill be opposed to the asylum seekers and supportive of those who would ask they be deported. We have a major issue in Ireland that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Remit: Office of the Ombudsman for Children (11 Mar 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Before the Ombudsman for Children responds, the committee is conducting a review of the direct provision system and we have visited four direct provision centres, two of which are for single men based in Galway and Limerick, and two others, in Mosney and Clondalkin, which are for families. The Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, will come before the committee, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...the Freedom of Information Bill, representatives of ADI appeared before it. Testimony was given by Ms Bakaabatsile who said, "Another issue of concern is the number who have died while in direct provision accommodation. We need to know how many have died, the causes of death, the centres at which they died and about the care they received while there." The committee's report stated:...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: .... The Office of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, held by Mr. Peter Tyndall, and previously by Ms Emily O’Reilly, has repeatedly asked for oversight of the asylum seeking process and direct provision centres. Part of our committee's deliberations is to build up the evidence as to why that should happen and also look at the whole system. I thank Ms Conlon for attending...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Direct Provision: Discussion (22 Oct 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...the broadcasting system on several occasions. I welcome Ms Sue Conlan, chief executive officer of the Irish Refugee Council, who will make a presentation on the council, the challenges it faces and its experience in direct provision. She is accompanied by Mr. Stephen Ng'ang'a. I welcome both guests and thank them for forwarding the presentation which has been circulated to members. By...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: Commissioner Designate (8 Oct 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My next question relates to the direct provision system. Ms Logan has raised this issue and I am sure she will have noted that there has been a marked increase in focus on it in Parliament. It was the subject of a Private Members' motion last week that extended over two nights. It appears we are nearing the point where, collectively, everybody is agreed that this system needs to change...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Role and Functions: Office of the Ombudsman (1 Oct 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...process. I think it will be necessary for the Office of the Ombudsman to update our committee regularly on progress. A range of themes are emerging: constitutional status; oversight of prisons; direct provision and the whole asylum system; the oversight of private or semi-State agencies that are delivering public services; the issue of an independent budget accountable to the...

Direct Provision for Asylum Seekers: Motion [Private Members] (30 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...that there was a more cautious approach and a qualification around some of the comments that were being made. This is why I welcome this motion tonight. There is no legislative footing for these direct provision centres and they can be removed if the Government deems it necessary. I appreciate that the Government needs to put in place some type of system and to deal with the fact that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 2. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out her plans regarding the current direct provision system in view of concerns that it is archaic, inhumane and not fit-for-purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35740/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: There has been a long overdue focus in recent times on the direct provision centres. I welcome much of what the Minister's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said on the matter. We have been raising this issue throughout this Dáil session. The Minister's predecessor, Deputy Shatter, was deeply disappointing in his responses and attitude...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of the Ombudsman Remit (24 Sep 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 16. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to extend the oversight powers of the Ombudsman’s office to cover our prisons and our immigration system including our direct provision centres. [35406/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I appreciate Mr. Heylin cannot challenge Government policy on this. In terms of the Department's responsibility to this plan, if we are to implement the objectives of this plan, the direct-provision centre environment is not appropriate to support women and children adequately. It strikes me that we are not really serious about this plan if we insist on having women and children live in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My first question which is related to the immigrant community is to Mr. Heylin and Ms Mbugua. There is widespread criticism of direct-provision centres as a model. Is that the best place to have families that have endured the type of experience about which we are talking in terms of domestic violence and sexual violence? What is the Department's view on that? Is there an intention to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (30 Apr 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 625. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that Ireland's direct provision system was 14 years old last week, his plans to get rid of the current system and replace it with something more modern, humane and fit for purpose. [19617/14]

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (Resumed) (5 Mar 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...to rebut the rubbish we heard yet again from the Minister for Justice and Equality today. Let us talk about immigration. I could not believe he mentioned immigration when we have the shameful direct provision centres in the State in which people from various cultures throughout the world are locked up for years, as if they were convicts, because of our archaic asylum system and must...