Results 201-220 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, line 21, to delete "2004" and substitute "2009". The purpose of this amendment is to allow an adjustment period because people at national level are being disallowed from running for local government. Some of the present Deputies and Senators came in on the basis that they were local authority members. They are now suddenly in a position whereby they are not...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I know it is a matter for the parties, but the Minister is being unfair to his own colleagues. I am sure they will not be too happy when Independent Members, who will probably stay on until the end, remain on the local councils, while the Minister's party is pressurising his colleagues to give up their seats.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: It is not that. I am sure a case will be taken and one of the bases for that will be that people who came in under the present regime are to be disallowed their rights when they are in midstream. Why is the European Parliament allowing Ireland a derogation? The Minister said it is because we hold our European elections at a different time from our general election. I wonder why that is. We...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: They are not. One was to do with the holding of dual mandates.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: They are different.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The purpose of this reasonable amendment is to allow a period of adjustment so that the people elected under the present regime have a chance to choose between local and national politics. Senator Dardis may well be in that position himself. I certainly will be.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: This new amendment was not tabled on Committee Stage. If, as the Minister says, we either do this or we do not, why was a derogation sought in relation to the European Parliament-Houses of the Oireachtas dual mandate? It would be useful to provide for a period of adjustment to address anomalies concurrently or in order. Reforms to address the European Parliament dual mandate could be put in...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 4: In page 3, lines 24 and 25, to delete "or Seanad Éireann". This is consequential on the last amendment. I do not need to say more than I already have but ask the Minister to reconsider the timing of the proposal and its application to Senators.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I support this amendment in principle. I believe the abolition of the dual mandate is taking away something which Members of the Oireachtas formerly held and this is an attempt to deal with that. The Constitution states that there shall be directly elected local authorities. This section is either toothless or could be challenged on constitutional grounds. The amendment recognises that there...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: In some way this indicates that the Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas has pre-eminence in a sense. The wording recognises the problem and for that reason it is either meaningless or, if it means anything, it will be open to a constitutional challenge. I read in The Irish Times recently that an independent councillor has said he would be willing to take a constitutional challenge to any...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 8: In page 6, to delete lines 1 to 5.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 9: In page 6, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: 8.–Section 5 of the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 is hereby repealed in so far as the section relates to limitation of election expenses and accordingly sections 72 and 75 of the Electoral Act 1997 are hereby revived to that extent. I put it to the Minister that there...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 10: In page 6, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: "

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 11: In page 7, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: "

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I will withdraw the amendment, but I ask the Minister to reconsider the matter. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Bill, as amended, received for final consideration. Question put: "That the Bill do now pass." Tá

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I support the calls of Senators Norris and Ó Murchú for a debate on Iraq. I agree with Senator Ó Murchú's comments on the war and we should facilitate the Senator and other Government Members by holding a genuine and full debate which permits them to freely express their opinions through a vote. Members should not have to vote along party lines on this issue.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I second the motion. I agree with Senator Ryan that we need to look at the way in which we deliver our health service. The health strategy deals with the current system, but makes no provision for radical reform. It permits the continuation of the health apartheid that exists in the system at present. I urge people to consider the Labour Party proposals as a starting point for a debate on...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the Government's provisions to give people from the accession countries full access to the labour market in 2004. Its wish to send an unambiguous signal that we intend to promote integration from the outset is a positive objective but the safety clause is contradictory in that context and demonstrates an ambiguity about our economic circumstances and an unfair attitude to those...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I disagree with Senator Leyden's points and his proposal. I welcomed this Bill on Second Stage when I said it should go further rather than have a safety clause in section 3, subsections (3) and (4), which I will seek to delete on Report Stage. The Senator's suggestions are absurd. There will not be a flood of people into Ireland from accession countries in 2004. He is contradicting...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, subsection (3), lines 13 to 16, to delete paragraph (b). The purpose of the amendment is to delete the penalty on indictment in relation to the offence of employing a non-national without a work permit. We discussed this issue in the context of the Immigration Bill. This provision is heavy-handed. I do not agree with the imposition of a penalty. It is...