Results 1-20 of 115 for going forward speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Recent Arson Attacks: Statements (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...of approximately 8 million people. The population of the island today is about 7.2 million people. Consistently since the Famine, though, and up until the end of the 20th century, there was an ongoing decline in our population. We have really only encountered immigration into this country from the end of the last century and over the past 25 years. My own view is that it has been an...

Tribunal of Inquiry into certain matters relating to the Complaints Processes in the Defence Forces: Motion (24 Jan 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...control of how it operates. This is why it is so important that we pay careful consideration to the terms of reference and we ensure when we are drafting them we are not giving the tribunal a task that is going to be excessively broad or take an inordinate length of time to complete. The process by which a tribunal is established is that both Houses of the Oireachtas pass resolutions...

An Bille up an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...passed by the Irish people, it will have more historic and symbolic significance than legal significance. This is not a reason to say we should not have the amendment and it is not a reason to categorise it as meaningless as some individuals in the House have done. It is, however, a recognition that there are certain parts of our Constitution that are outdated and anachronistic and need...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...ála. The Minister of State may have seen the very disturbing documentary on RTÉ last Monday night, which showed how individuals can seek to undermine the integrity of the planning process by putting forward appeals which really are not legitimate. We saw that in the programme. I note that section 138 of the old 2000 Act, which is still in force, entitles the bord to strike out...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...more closely when it gets to Committee Stage. Some Deputies have complained about how we have to debate legislation of such complexity in here in such a short period of time. Obviously we are not going to be able to go through the Bill in that level of detail here but it is the Minister, his officials and the other members of the housing committee who will have to go through this...

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...in the inner city. There are many reasons for criminal activity, but there must be a strong policing response to it. In this House we are very good at describing problems. I will put forward some solutions to which I think the Minister should give consideration in her response to this ongoing serious political problem. First, we need to openly admit as a Government that we are...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Nov 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...to deal with some of the issues he has highlighted. In particular, I had been contacted, as I know other Deputies were, by medical practitioners who were concerned the Revenue Commissioners were going to alter their policy and introduce a new policy as and from January next that would have the effect, as the Minister has said, that income received under the GMS scheme by medical...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Second Stage (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...well knows. When we look at it, a huge amount of political power in this country is vested in Dáil Éireann. Dáil Éireann makes the decision, through the election of a Taoiseach and a government, to transfer very many powers executively to the government and to Ministers. Then, when Ministers go into Departments, to a large extent they are very much circumscribed by...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...legislation was required to respond to the threat from paramilitary violence. I welcome the fact that paramilitary violence on the island has, to a large extent, subsided. We do not have to go through the violence, trauma and tragedy through which people on this island, particularly in Northern Ireland, had to go because of decisions made by others for many years. I do not know...

Youth Justice Strategy: Statements (21 Jun 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: First, I commend the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, on developing the youth justice strategy. I also commend him on chairing the steering group that is extremely important in putting forward proposals as to how we deal with this hugely important issue of responding to youth justice issues. We spend a lot of time in this House talking about issues in respect of which the outcome may...

Court Proceedings (Delays) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...justice administered instantaneously or quickly. In the criminal process, for example, it is sometimes the case that a person is arrested for a criminal offence, many witnesses are available and come forward promptly, and the trial can be processed promptly before our courts, particularly if it is an indictable crime. However, not all cases are like that. In many instances, there are...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I commend the Minister and the Government on the decision to establish a consultative forum on international security and defence policy. Given what has happened in the world over the past 18 months and the technological advancements that have taken place over the past ten years or so, it is appropriate that Ireland gives consideration...

Central Statistics Office Sexual Violence Survey 2022: Statements (17 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...respect of sexual offences in the courts. It is apparent from speaking to practitioners that juries are now more likely to be less sympathetic to persons accused of sexual offences. Previously, going through the criminal process was a very difficult experience for victims of sexual offences. I know it is still a difficult experience but I think the Courts Service, the DPP and, in...

Final Report of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy: Motion [Private Members] (27 Apr 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...Court referred to the joint committee's report on international surrogacy as a thoughtful and reflective parliamentary report. Therefore it is not just members of the legislature who think it is a good piece of work; people looking at it objectively also share that view. Referring to the Supreme Court, we cannot forget that back in 2013, the Supreme Court was very critical of the...

Ukraine Solidarity Bill 2022: First Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...in accordance with Article 29.8 of the Constitution and to provide for related matters. The Ceann Comhairle will be aware that since the commencement of the hostilities in Ukraine ten months ago, the response of the Irish people through their Government has been very generous.We have accepted tens of thousands of refugees, we have imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation and we have...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...on managing to get this complex and complicated legislation onto the floor of the Dáil. He will recall that in opposition between the years 2016 and 2020, on numerous occasions, Fianna Fáil put forward proposals seeking reform of the legislation governing gambling. Regrettably, we did so without success, notwithstanding the fact we brought legislation before the House in 2018....

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: ..., section 4 of the Offences Against The Person Act 1861. We had found ourselves in the anomalous position where people could find themselves convicted of conspiracy to murder and yet were only going to face a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment. This was notwithstanding the fact that the principal offence, that of murder, is punishable by a sentence of life imprisonment....

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: ..., DPP, in 1974. Even though many offences were prosecuted at the suit of the DPP, and before that the Attorney General of the Irish Free State, predominantly gardaí were prosecuting as common informers. We got full recognition and a better understanding of that in 1977 in the Supreme Court decision in the case of DPP v. Roddy. Mr. Justice Griffin stated that gardaí who are...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I commend the Minister and Minister of State on bringing forward this very important legislation. I am sure they would agree it is embarrassing that in Ireland today, people still have to make applications under the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. As Deputy Berry indicated a few moments ago, that legislation is 150 years old. Notwithstanding the archaic language within that...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 May 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: One of the great advantages of the Good Friday Agreement is that it changed the way people in Northern Ireland viewed national sovereignties. Prior to that, the majority of people in Northern Ireland viewed national sovereignties in a very binary way. They saw themselves as being either Irish or British. The Good Friday Agreement enabled that to be changed and with the passage of time,...