Results 101-115 of 115 for going forward speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Bail (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...referred to as preventive justice, but so be it. The people decided to change the law in 1996 and that is what happened. The law that was introduced on foot of that amendment to the Constitution was the Bail Act 1997, which the Bill going through the Dáil at present seeks to amend. The Bail Act 1997 expressly provides in section 2: "Where an application for bail is made by a person...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is general agreement that there should be a review of this legislation and that a report should be produced. That is a good idea. When we introduce new laws, it is important that we review them on an ongoing basis and come back with recommendations where they might be improved. It is important that we are not too prescriptive with regard to the legislation in terms of setting out...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...we criminalise the purchase of prostitution, it will not end it. It will still continue. Notwithstanding that, if we were to adopt that argument, we would criminalise nothing and say things are just going to continue and what is the point in introducing any laws to deal with it. It is extremely important that men recognise and take responsibility for the fact that they get involved in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2016: Minister for Justice and Equality (25 Jan 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...to it about, following which I will be happy to take questions. First, I will speak about how the system currently operates; second, why the system needs to be changed; third, my Bill; and, fourth, the Government's scheme of its Bill. Before I commence my remarks on the four issues to be discussed, I would like to put on record my disappointment that the committee does not have the...

Courts Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: .... What it sought to do was protect tenants on repossessed land. The reason I refer to it is because the amendment that I tabled on Committee Stage is relatively similar to the amendment being put forward now on Report Stage by Deputy Smith. The amendment being put forward by Deputy Healy is a much broader amendment. I particularly want to address the amendment being tabled by Deputy...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Business of Select Committee (30 Nov 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport spoke on behalf of the Government. They said they would not oppose the Bill which, in many respects, they welcomed. They stated it was their intention to bring forward Government legislation shortly. At no stage during the course of that debate did either of them suggest the Government would seek to obstruct the Bill by preventing it from...

Irish Sign Language Report: Motion (10 Nov 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: I also commend members of my party, Fianna Fáil, in particular the former Senator, Labhrás Ó Murchú, Deputy Thomas Byrne and Senator Mark Daly, who played a very important role in bringing forward this issue in 2013 when they introduced the Irish Sign Language Bill in the Seanad. I commend them on doing that and I give particular credit to Senator Mark Daly for the very...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Oct 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all Members who made contributions on the debate for reading the Bill and for the thoughtful contributions that have been made. Many Members spoke about issues concerning the Judiciary that go beyond the appointments process. I do not intend to reply to them. The debate indicates that there is a necessity for legislation in respect of a judicial council, something that was...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (18 Oct 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...Comhairle, as a Deputy for a Border county, will know that the Border counties are particularly vulnerable to the threat from Brexit but so is the island of Ireland. The decision of the British Government to have a referendum on leaving the European Union will probably go down as one of the worst foreign policy decisions of a British Government since the Munich agreement of 1938. A Prime...

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...Deputy Howlin's amendment is to ensure that CAB brings applications before the courts promptly. That is desirable. However, I have a concern about the manner in which the amendment is being put forward because it could create a slight inconsistency. People could argue that CAB could only go before the courts when it had enough evidence, as is provided for in the proposed amendment....

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...gave rise to their introduction. As we know, the Acts were introduced because of the terrible murder of journalist, Veronica Guerin. They were a united and effective response by the Oireachtas 20 years ago to what was a serious threat to people in our community as a result of organised drug trafficking and gangland crime. Similarly, this legislation has been introduced by the...

Citizens' Assembly: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...A judge-led report could outline and provide the Oireachtas with a series of proposals and we could choose which to follow in respect of the eighth amendment. For that reason, a judge-led commission is the way to go on this particularly sensitive issue. A citizens' assembly will not be effective. A report produced by a judge in respect of the issue would be intellectually coherent and...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (14 Jun 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...cannot unite Catholics, Protestants and dissenters by trying to bomb one of those groups into agreeing with one's political assessment. Unfortunately, a minority on this island still believes this is the way forward. As I have said, we cannot ignore the role of international terrorism in the world. We saw that over the weekend, tragically. The horrific attacks in Orlando reminded us...

Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters Relative to the Cavan-Monaghan Division of An Garda Síochána) Report: Statements (25 May 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...by the House in 2004. The reason the Oireachtas introduced such a method of investigation was that we wanted something cheaper and quicker than traditional tribunals of inquiry, which can go on for too long. It is important to point out that the primary difference between the tribunal of inquiry procedure and the commission of investigation procedure is that, in respect of the latter,...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is í seo mo chéad óráid sa Teach. Caithfidh mé a rá i dtús gur mór an onóir agus an phribhléid é dom bheith anseo ar son na ndaoine i gCuan Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mé i mo Theachta Dála dícheallach agus fíor-éifeachtach i rith na mblianta - nó b'fhéidir na...