Results 2,321-2,340 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Vetting of Personnel (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, I thank Senator McFadden for raising this issue in the House. Unfortunately, she cannot be present and I am here in her place. As the House will appreciate, the primary purpose of Garda vetting is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Every effort is made to make the system as efficient as...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Vetting of Personnel (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will not read the concluding remarks because they have already been said in the initial response. If Senator McFadden would like to give me the details of that particular applicant, I will make sure that the Minister has a look at it herself. I will pass it on to her. Regarding the other points the Senator raised, I will also bring those to the Minister's attention.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Senator Clifford-Lee for raising this commencement matter. The Tánaiste unfortunately cannot be here and asked me to reply to the Senator. The Senator will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to her, including with regard to Garda stations. As the Senator will be aware, the Garda...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: If the Senator wants to send me information relating to a Garda presence and the redeployment of gardaí in the area to me, I will certainly raise it with the Tánaiste. I cannot comment on other Ministers having decided that Garda stations will be in the area because I am not assured of that.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: It probably will but I cannot comment on that. I believe the Senator has raised a very significant point. I have taken details of the points she raised and will bring them back to the Tánaiste. If the Senator sends me some of the data relating to crime, I will give them to the Tánaiste.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills who is unavailable. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the Department's position regarding the provision of a major building project for Ballinspittle national school in County Cork. The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will speak to the Minister and ask him to correspond as soon as possible with the Senator on a date for the site visit.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I would like to indicate that I might return to this section on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Again, I might have to return to this section on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I may have to return to this section on Report Stage as well.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Is Deputy Chambers going to put those changes forward as amendments?

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I do. I wanted to get some clarification first. The word "may" is used under the advice of the Attorney General. If "shall" is put into the Bill, it limits me when it comes to discussing the matter further with other people. The use of "may" enables consultation with other people. The use of "shall" is a more definite decision and I would have to do it.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: It comes down to the legal implications of the Bill. It may have other difficulties for us. That is where our concerns arise. The expression "shall not grant a licence" is used in other sections. The section in question is a little more open, or soft, rather than open, in the sense of the Minister making the decision.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will take some advice on this. All the people the Minister would have to consult are not listed.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: That is Deputy Durkan with his legal hat on.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will put it as plainly as possible. Would it be possible to speak to Deputy Chambers afterwards about the wording? My advice is that the Attorney General believes the use of "may" is appropriate at this stage. I will have to talk to Deputy Chambers about it and get some more advice on it.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I was listening to the Deputy.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: No, I was just getting something from them.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Yes. Deputy Barrett began by speaking about methadone clinics and the fact that in the past there were huge objections to them in communities and that we as public representatives were asked to stand over them. The fact is that many methadone clinics have made a huge impact on people's lives. I remind the Deputy that the legislation is committed to in the programme for Government and that...

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I was asked to reply. They are human beings who at a certain time in their lives need these services. They largely do not connect with any other rehabilitation services or any other services. They are chronic users, many of whom are at the very edge of addiction, some of whom are at the end of their lives. As we all know if we read the many articles on the matter that have appeared in...