Results 241-260 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I agree that we have to be cautious about our economy and monitor it, but we also need continued growth and additional employees. Our concern should be that we will not be sufficiently competitive. To be competitive, however, we need employees from other countries. Employees here would confirm that and I am sure they believe the Government is being overly cautious as regards this legislation....

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister of State and the various Senators who contributed to the debate on the Bill. I welcome the general thrust of the Bill, subject to the points I made during the debate and the amendments I brought forward. I also thank the staff of the House for dealing with my Report Stage amendments so speedily.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (2 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: 2.–In so far as additional payments are made to the Local Government Fund by virtue of this Act which, but for this Act, would not be made, such payments shall be applied to the construction, repair and maintenance of tertiary roads.". This amendment proposes that a special fund be made available by...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (2 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: In reply to Senator Kitt and the Minister of State, the Labour Party tabled this amendment because there is a particular problem regarding tertiary roads. The funding that is being made available is additional. Where additional funds are available, it would be good for motorists to see that they are being put to good use. However, that is not evident from what the Minister of State said or...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (2 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (2 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I second the amendment. It would be better to keep the increases in line with inflation. As Senator Bannon said, these types of increases will only add to inflation and affect everybody unfairly.

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq: Statements. (2 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the Minister of State and his efforts regarding aid which he outlined. The Government and some Fine Gael Senators seem ambiguous about or at least resigned to the war. The war may be taking place but it is still wrong and unacceptable. It is still illegal and Ireland must make a stand in that regard. We need further debate on this aspect of the war, which is also relevant to the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I agree with Senator White on the need for an ongoing debate on Iraq. I welcomed yesterday's debate on humanitarian aid but it is important to debate the war itself and the need to end it as soon as possible.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: In relation to the anti-war protest, I was not there and I do not really know what happened. I sympathise with the Garda Síochána's dilemma and I also sympathise with the peaceful protesters. This highlights the need for a Garda ombudsman to deal with grievances in an open and transparent way.

Seanad: Data Protection (Amendment) Bill 2002 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (3 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the main purposes of the Bill and the amendments before us. The Labour Party greatly welcomes this legislation and has a responsibility in relation to the same, having secured the inclusion in the 1994 programme for Government that the provisions of the Data Protection Act be extended. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that there is a need for consolidation of the legislation and...

Seanad: Local Government (No. 2) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (3 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the Minister and thank him for introducing this legislation. Having spoken to my Labour Party colleagues who represent the area and listened to the Minister I realise the importance of this infrastructure. The Labour Party realises the importance and urgency of this legislation and will facilitate its timely passage through the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Crime Levels: Statements. (3 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I wish to share my time with Senator White. I welcome the Minister to the House. I agree with Senators who stated that the increased crime figures are worrying. Crime is an issue I have been fortunate enough to come across only as a politician generally, but for the first time ever the house of a member of my family was burgled recently, and a friend of mine was recently mugged and badly...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I too welcome the talks in Northern Ireland between the British Prime Minister, the American President and the Taoiseach about the peace process in the North. It is important to remember that this is happening in the context of the war in Iraq. The Taoiseach must make clear Ireland's disapproval of the war and dissociate us from any question of approval of the illegal actions of the UK and...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Police Co-Operation) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (8 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister for being present and for his contribution. I welcome the general thrust of the Bill. It obviously derives from implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the Patten report recommendations. As a general principle, it is positive that members of each police force should be able to apply for certain posts in the other police force and have opportunities for secondment....

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Police Co-Operation) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: On what basis?

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Police Co-Operation) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I do not really understand that.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Police Co-Operation) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I do not understand why the amendments have been listed if they are not in order.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Police Co-Operation) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I shall speak on the section anyway. I am sorry that amendment No. 1 was not acceptable. The purpose of it was to bring our own policing operation up to the same standard as the Police Service of Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, we have all been very keen to press home the importance of implementing the Patten recommendations and how significant they are in terms of policing in...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Police Co-Operation) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I would not like what I said to be interpreted in the manner that Senator Walsh has suggested. I absolutely accept that our police service is up to a good standard in terms of the work it does, but we do need to modernise our structures. The types of structures that have been brought into the Police Service of Northern Ireland are something we could model our structures on in terms of the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Police Co-Operation) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: It might seem clear but if it is, why is it is necessary to state the person will be under the direction and control of the Commissioner and have the powers, duties, rights and obligations of a member of the Garda Síochána? That would seem obvious also but it has had to be spelled out in the legislation. Not inserting the amendment is an omission.