Results 141-160 of 208 for like to work speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...Act has been reopened. In 2012 when this legislation was first debated, mistakes were made by an arrogant Government which decided it was better off trusting the banks rather than listening to those who work at the coalface with people in debt. We cannot let another opportunity slip past us. This time the Government must listen to those in debt and those who work with them. On the...

Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Government has come under extensive public pressure on water charges. It has been forced to introduce the proposed lower rates. This was not something it wanted to do; it was something in which the Government had no choice. Next Wednesday, the Government will be faced with even larger protests. Today, however, it could take the opportunity to do the right thing and scrap water charges...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (18 Nov 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Like the Minister, I imagine, I have spoken to many members of An Garda Síochána since the report was published. Broadly, they welcome it. They have made the interesting observation that there was nothing in it that they could not have told us about resources. I am referring specifically to the issue of rosters. There has been significant criticism of the rostering system, the...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Oct 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...enough. Unfortunately it has not been included here either, however, I am assured that it will be established in other new legislation in the coming weeks. I, and my party, will be continuing to push for this as we believe that it is integral to the reform of policing in this State. For example, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, did not have the ability to oversee...

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...

Disability Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Jul 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: In these Houses all of us pledge allegiance to the 1916 Proclamation that hangs in the foyer. Therefore, we believe in a republic - a new republic - one where all citizens are equal, regardless of the colour of their skin, disability, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, where they live or what they do. Creating the conditions for establishing an equal society means recognising that many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Report on “A Good Death”: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Jul 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The issue of private versus public hospitals was raised. During a previous interaction between the committee and the Ombudsman, he raised with us the need to ensure that all public services, whether delivered by a private or public company, come under the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman, which is an issue that arises not only in Ireland but throughout Europe. It is an issue on which the...

Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members] (1 Jul 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I commend this motion as for too many years, the whole area of mental health has been the Cinderella of the health service. Over the years while growing up and in common with many people, when visiting different towns I wondered what was this big house or what was the history of that big building. One often was told that it was the psychiatric hospital, which was where people were put out...

Cooke Report: Statements (19 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: In the shadowy world of modern surveillance, it is extremely difficult to definitively prove that surveillance has taken place. As said in various media interviews, it is not like in the old movies where one can unscrew one's telephone and find a bug or take the mirror from the wall and find a bug behind it. It is very difficult to prove but what we can say with certainty is that such was...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment ) Act 1998: Motions (19 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Here we are again. At the same time every year we debate this. Every year we in Sinn Féin oppose it and argue for more time to debate it and every year we are denied and the motion passes. We all will be aware of the background to the Offences against the State Act and I am not going to rehash it yet again today. This legislation undermines human rights, civil liberties and...

Public Sector Management (Appointment of Senior Members of the Garda Síochána) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (18 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I commend Deputy Ross on his Bill. Given the various scandals that have emerged in the administration of justice, we need to challenge the political control of policing and particularly the appointment of senior police officers by a Minister and, in turn, backed by the Government. We have seen various examples of this. The former Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, announced the closure...

Death and Burial of Children in Mother and Baby Homes: Motion [Private Members] (10 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Whenever we start to digest the full horror of all the stories that have emerged not recently but for several years we must go back to its roots. Where did it all go wrong? What was at the root of it? Let us consider this building, in particular. We are surrounded by the leaders of the 1916 Rising and icons of our struggle for independence. They helped to formulate the Proclamation, the...

Reform of Judicial Appointments Procedures Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Reform of Judicial Appointments Procedures Bill 2013 was published in January last year and it seeks to increase transparency and accountability in judicial appointments. Confidence in the justice system is contingent on a Judiciary which is free from political control and political or other bias. It is essential that there is an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Annual Report 2013: Office of the Ombudsman (4 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I will recommend that the clerk to the committee meet with the witnesses soon. He has considerable experience of working in these areas in respect of innovations and so on. I could also attend that meeting. Will the Ombudsman write to us about any outstanding issues relating to medical cards which have not been addressed? We can then write to the Department. The Ombudsman’s...

Guerin Report: Statements (15 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...reflect on the lessons that must be learned. As Sinn Féin spokesperson on justice I will give the Minister a fair wind. Although I am happy with the announcements she has made so far in response to some of these crises, I will detail, with the Minister present, what has gone wrong. The Morris tribunal in my home county, Donegal, revealed an appalling abuse of power by the Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (7 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Minister cannot resist the opportunity to pass the buck. His stewardship over two Departments is an absolute bloody disaster. PDFORRA, which represents the vast majority of men and women serving in our Defence Forces, has expressed grave concerns about the decision he made in this matter. No aspersion is being cast on retired Colonel Anthony McCourt, but PDFORRA is making the obvious...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Law Society of Ireland submission made an important point. The submission referred to this welcome legislative development and suggested structural reform should take place in tandem. It referred specifically to the commitment in the programme for Government for a family court system. This links in to the view expressed by One Family on the need for a court welfare system and the...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Second Stage (8 Apr 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...at that time against Jewish people and Gypsies. The Nazis slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Gypsies and Roma during the Holocaust and this is not often given the focus it needs. We need to learn the lessons of that period and I condemn the dangerous morons responsible for some of the incidents against the Minister in recent days. All right-thinking citizens utterly condemn such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Report on Human Trafficking: Scoil Phobail Bhéara (2 Apr 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...and challenges in the State but every now and again one is pleasantly surprised in politics when one least expects it. I found the presentation inspirational. It gives me much excitement as to what the future holds for this country to see young women of such calibre make an outstanding presentation. I wish to indulge the students. Ms O’Shea quoted William Wilberforce. I am...

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: That is the respect he has for this House. It was a load of bloody nonsense. If Ministers can schedule three days to make congratulatory speeches, they can listen to the responses from the Opposition following their nonsense speeches. There are three Ministers in the Department of Justice and Equality, but not one of them is here to engage with us. It is an absolute farce. However, I...