Results 161-180 of 219 for going forward speaker:David Stanton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Experience of Persons of Mixed Race in State Institutions: Mixed Race Irish (22 Oct 2014)

David Stanton: We will bring this discussion, if colleagues are in agreement, to the attention of the Minister and forward the transcripts and so on also. Thank you very much for being here today. We will now go into private session for a few minutes to discuss some housekeeping matters. Hopefully we will not be too long.

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

David Stanton: Before we go on to the next speaker I propose that the work would be forwarded to the Minister for his comments and attention. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Topical Issue Debate: Adoption Services Provision (25 Mar 2014)

David Stanton: ...me the opportunity to raise this issue and I am pleased that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is in the House to discuss it with me. This matter came to my attention a short while ago when two parents came to see me. They had adopted a baby a number of years ago from a foreign country in quite poor conditions. The parents were very loving and caring, loved their daughter and...

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2013)

David Stanton: ...do not bother to issue summonses because it is a waste of time and because prisoners can be home before the gardaí in some instances? I am not blaming anyone - certainly not the gardaí or the prison governors, because they can only take in so many people. It is simply that the system up to now has been wrong and we are now trying to change it. The last time I spoke on this...

Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jul 2013)

David Stanton: ...to the register of electors. Again, it is an interesting idea. Mention is made in the Bill of town councils and changes and requirements relating to development plans. The town councils will go, a matter on which the Minister and I have had conversations. We need something to replace town councils with in urban areas in the context of development plans and planning. I note that...

Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

David Stanton: ...the need to consolidate previous Acts and our whole body of law. People who work in this area have told me it is extremely time-consuming and costly for solicitors and barristers to have to go through all the existing Acts when working on a case. I understand the Law Reform Commission is working to try to bring about consolidation. We need to look seriously at doing that because it...

Brighter Evenings Bill 2012: Second Stage (5 Jul 2013)

David Stanton: ...the Outer Hebrides, who would not see the sun rising until some time after 11 a.m., and who are not too happy about that. I believe that was one of the main reasons this proposal has not been brought forward further in the United Kingdom and it would be useful were everyone able to agree on this. I suggest the Minister might consider examining what was done in the United States on an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Private Security Authority: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Jul 2013)

David Stanton: We will certainly invite you back later. The authority was established in 2006 and it has done tremendous work since then. I remember the legislation going through the Houses and at that time there were major concerns about what was happening. Deputy Finian McGrath has alluded to some of that. An enormous amount of work has been done and I am sure that will improve even further under your...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2013)

David Stanton: ...decided not to comment on this matter - I have been criticised for that decision - but to listen to and engage in debate with people. Most have been respectful, but certainly assertive. A small minority have gone beyond that, as colleagues on all sides have mentioned, and have been extraordinarily aggressive, insulting and hurtful. If I felt strongly - maybe I might yet - that this...

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (28 Jun 2013)

David Stanton: ...Bill before the House - Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013 - is another example of legislation being introduced to amend existing Acts. It can be difficult to keep track of what is going on. The Law Reform Commission which has done a great deal of work to restate and revise various Acts mentions on its website that the "Freedom of Information Act 1997 has been...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised) (19 Jun 2013)

David Stanton: We would welcome that. The Minister mentioned that seven court building projects will go ahead. Perhaps he would elaborate on where they are. If the Minister does not have the information with him now he can forward it at a later date to the committee secretariat. I have previously asked about prisons' energy usage, combined heat and power, etc. Have any advances been made in that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: IHREC: Discussion with Members Designate (22 May 2013)

David Stanton: ...this point today. On behalf of the members I congratulate and thank the officials and the Minister, who have put so much work into getting us to the current position. There is still a long way to go. It is crucial that the commission be independent and be seen to be independent. Also, I ask you to reflect on what equality means. We tend to throw words, phrases and concepts around...

Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Mar 2013)

David Stanton: ...the community courts in New York and I was amazed at how they operate. Crime in New York has dropped dramatically. I met many experts and they are not sure why it happened, with many reasons put forward. One of the reasons put to us was the role of community courts in the city. I visited one of them and I sat at the bench with the judge as she dispensed justice. Someone commits a...

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

David Stanton: ...travel to Finland in the next number of weeks to see what has been done there. We are told the sector exercises best practice. We are interested in obtaining the advice of the delegates before we go. The full committee will visit Cork Prison tomorrow and we have already visited Mountjoy Prison, St. Patrick's Institution and Wheatfield Prison. We plan to visit as many prisons as we can...

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Jul 2012)

David Stanton: ...matter of this Bill is complicated. I thank the members of the committee who conducted the hearings and I acknowledge the contributions to the hearings by representatives of civil society, non-governmental organisations and individuals. It was decided this morning that the committee may revisit the Bill before Committee Stage because the work of the committee and the views of others have...

Advance Healthcare Decisions Bill 2012: Second Stage (8 Jun 2012)

David Stanton: ...Twomey for introducing this legislation. It is important that we discuss these issues. In the early 1800s Benjamin Franklin stated there were only two certainties - death and taxes. We are all going to die. Deputy Robert Dowds mentioned a clergyman. I know a clergyman who starts every sermon with the words, "We are all going to die." They call him Fr. Death. It is not a question of...

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

David Stanton: I am glad to support the Bill and I congratulate Deputy Hogan on bringing it before the House. Article 16.7 of the Constitution puts forward the proposition that casual vacancies of Dáil seats will be filled and this shall be regulated in accordance with law. We want to bring forward a law to ensure such vacancies are filled within six months. It is anticipated in the Constitution that...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

David Stanton: ...be the case. Many people who want to participate in micro-generation are farmers who want to install a wind turbine on their land. However, they will be charged VAT to install a turbine. If the Government target is 4,000 and only 189 have taken it up, what is wrong? I believe VAT is a problem. I understand that farmers, who put in a diesel generator to generate electricity for their...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2009)

David Stanton: ...and so on. Since then, organisations such as the Disability Federation of Ireland have been lobbying for this payment for the special cost of disability. Instead of giving these people more, the Government has decided to reduce the payment by €8.30 per week, which is about €431 per annum. It does not seem like much, but for a person on €10,000 per annum, it is a lot. This is...

Services for People with Disabilities. (10 Nov 2009)

David Stanton: ...'s Information Act. The carers' strategy is also gone and we are still waiting for the mental capacity Bill. Departmental plans have been delayed. Is it not time for the Government to come forward with a realistic strategy and stop the bluffing that is going on and the pretence that something is happening? Why did it take the Department so long to supply figures to me on the amount of...