Results 2,361-2,380 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I support opting in. It is important we recognise there are threats to citizens within the European Union. They do not only come from terrorism but also from organised crime. Increased co-operation between member states is necessary, particularly as a result of Brexit. Many member states have significant experience of terrorism and the damage it can cause, including this country. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister said in his paper that each member state will receive a one-time fixed amount of €5 million and the rest will be calculated based on 45% in inverse proportion to GDP, 40% in proportion to the size of the population and 15% in proportion to the size of the territory. That is something that can be calculated very readily in respect of Ireland. I cannot do it. Has the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does the Minister agree that we would hope to receive more than €9 million from a fund of €1.5 billion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: The other €1 billion is for a thematic facility. What is that thematic facility and where will it be based?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: International Security Fund: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: My understanding of the statement that a new thematic facility that be allocated €1 billion, and I may be wrong, is that there will be some new permanent European base from which funding will be derived. Where will it be based? Will it be located in Brussels?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does Deputy Wallace want to go first?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Chairman. I thank all the witnesses for coming in this morning and for the reports they have prepared. I have found them very helpful. It is also very encouraging that people attach such importance to the Constitution, really regard it as their document, and are very concerned about how and if it should be changed. Where we are as a committee, and where I believe everyone here...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Would Mrs. Justice McGuinness agree that the right itself, as it exists at present, has not done anything for women and has not given them any rights before the courts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a purely symbolic right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: In that case, are we being overly cautious, as a lawyer and a judge, about simply changing it so that it remains a symbolic right but is broadened to include people other than women? Could that be done if we changed it in the way recommended by the Constitutional Convention or as has been suggested by Mr. Dunne and Ms Cox? The courts are hardly going to interpret that differently.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes. Sorry, did Mr. Dunne want to say something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: What Mr. Dunne and Ms Cox are advocating, then, is that it be changed but that it will not be changed in any meaningful way other than it remaining symbolic. It will not simply apply to women, however, but will recognise the role of people-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. Sorry, did Ms Cox want to say something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes, I fully accept that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Perhaps Ms Canning, Ms Roche or Ms O'Reilly will want to comment on this. I will set out what my concern about an amendment would be. I ask the witnesses to consider what would happen if we changed the provision significantly and it was then left to the courts to interpret some new article. When courts interpret rights under the Constitution, they do so on the basis of the people who take...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: That is very helpful. As I said, my view initially has been deletion, but I can understand the importance to people of having a constitutional provision-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----that recognises the symbolic role of carers. Perhaps I am looking at this too much as a cautious lawyer or something, concerned about what rights would be generated. I am sure it can be done in order that the wording could be amended so it would not give rise to any new interpretation. I wish to ask the witnesses about one final point. I mentioned this to my colleagues yesterday....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes, certainly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.