Results 181-200 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Order of Business. (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: The passenger name record agreement is due to be taken without debate and we disagree with that. The previous agreement which came before the House was between Ireland and the EU and it was the subject of a lengthy debate in this Chamber. We disagree with this agreement being taken without debate. It has far-reaching consequences for every citizen in this State and time should be allocated...

Order of Business. (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is not agreed.

Order of Business. (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is very expensive legislation. There are 30 amendments to it due for discussion today. It deals with more than 40 Acts ranging from the Official Languages Act to the citizenship legislation, the Civil Legal Aid Act, family law legislation and the Equal Status Acts and the time being allocated to deal with the Report Stage of this Bill is not sufficient considering the number of...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome the amendments, which make sense from a structural point of view in terms of streamlining the service. Further to Deputy Calleary's question on resources, I ask the Minister to outline the implications of the move for the Department.

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 17: In page 39, to delete lines 36 to 44. On Committee Stage, I raised the question of the number of possible fees that could be charged as a result of the changes we are making. Under the current proposals, one might have to pay a fee on application and, if one's application is successful, another fee on receipt. We have discussed the reasoning behind it. Currently,...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: We are looking at two separate fees, one on application and one on permission. Is that what is proposed? In my amendments, I am proposing that there should be a single fee. There is no reason the fee cannot be the same in both circumstances, regardless of whether it is paid at the start, or over two stages. I do not understand from where the Minister is coming. Nothing in my amendments...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister. I have made my point. I do not want to hold up the proceedings by calling an electronic vote on these amendments. However, I will ask for a voice vote on them. I am eager to get to the section of the Bill dealing with the Official Languages Act. There will be much more debate on that. Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand", put and declared carried.

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 18: In page 39, line 48, after "the" to insert the following: "making of an application for, or the giving of, a permission and the".

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 26: In page 50, to delete lines 14 to 39. This is something we discussed on Committee Stage in relation to the Official Languages Act 2003. We resubmitted the amendment because we feel so strongly on it. I will not go through the arguments because we must finish by 2 o'clock, which is unfortunate. Considering the number of amendments, we probably should have had a...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht (Tuarastal Breithiúna), 2011 — An Dara Céim / Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges' Remuneration) Bill 2011 — Second Stage (14 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome the Bill, about which there has been much discussion, especially with regard to its effect on the independence of the Judiciary. It would be prudent from the outset to state that it is the belief of me and my party - I am sure this is shared by everybody in the House - that judicial independence is essential to any democracy. It exists to protect members of the public, who are...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht (Tuarastal Breithiúna) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges' Remuneration) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: The "to be sure, to be sure" amendment reinforces the independence of the Judiciary and, as Deputy Calleary said, it is one word but as we sometimes know one word makes a difference. We welcome the amendment also.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (14 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 612: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the practices and procedures that are in place to ensure that both the human rights and dignity of individuals subject to deportation are protected in view of a second failed deportation flight from Ireland in seven months; the way the costs to the State are kept to a minimum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22746/11]

International Day of Democracy: Statements (15 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak today on the International Day of Democracy. It is only fitting that on this day we extend greetings of solidarity to people across the world who are striving to achieve democracy and independence, be they people from the Basque country, Palestine, Syria or Libya. Democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (15 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 16: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his findings as regards using the Derelict Sites Act 1990 for ghost estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24102/11]

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (15 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 22: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to any breaches of international limits for trihalomethanes in public water supplies here currently being analysed by the Environmental Protection Agency; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that these are carcinogenic chemicals; his plans to address this...

Garda Strength (20 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 54: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have applied to take early retirement within the next six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24926/11]

Garda Strength (20 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is a tough start to a tough week for the Minister. While we do not yet have a final figure for the number of proposed retirements from the Garda, we know it will include some chief superintendents and probably superintendents. I realise that earlier this year the Minister gave permission to the Garda Commissioner to run what are known as promotion competitions in all ranks within the...

Courts Service (20 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: Question 57: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeline on the proposed upgrade of the ICT system for the courts as well as the appointment of approved persons as receivers in order to introduce the remaining sections of the Fines Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24927/11]

Courts Service (20 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister referred to section 14 in saying people who were unable to pay fines should not be going to prison, but, unfortunately, he knows as well as I do that that is not the case. It is unfortunate that implementation will take so long. What is the cost of introducing this system? Section 14 requires judges to take people's financial circumstances into account. As the Minister said,...

Courts Service (20 Sep 2011)

Jonathan O'Brien: I accept what the Minister said about undermining the justice system, but it also undermines this House when we pass legislation and fail to put in place the finance to implement it. That is regrettable and should not happen again.