Results 2,821-2,840 of 4,908 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is included. It is relevant.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome this very short technical Bill which makes little change to the Seanad Electoral (Panel members) Act 1947. I welcome the small changes it makes. In particular, as the Opposition leader, I welcome the inclusion of the Local Authority Members Association. I remember well the legislation Senator Cummins mentioned. While I supported it, the Senator will appreciate that when one is...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: On a daily basis, on myriad issues, they are there at the front line of their communities representing the people who have put faith in and elected them. On the RTE programme that was broadcast on Tuesday night, I know two of the three councillors featured in that personally and I have found those two councillors to be hard-working, decent and honourable people. I put that on the record of...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: Hopefully they will continue to be so into the future. The all-party fight will continue to improve the pay and conditions of the councillors of this country. I thank the Leader for his assistance in this House and with the different Government agencies.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: That is a relief.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Minister of State's comment shows she does not have much confidence in the Minister.

Seanad: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Fianna Fáil supports the dissolution of the DDDA. The DDDA was initially established in 1997 with an important remit, to be the lead driver of regeneration in the Dublin docklands area. The decision to abolish the authority was announced by the former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, former Deputy Phil Hogan,...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, to the House. I also welcome the Bill, which Fianna Fáil supports wholeheartedly, and the changes it makes to the bail laws and to the sentencing regime. I have listened to all the contributions in the Chamber, all of which are familiar to me. I did some research on this issue and I understand there were 28,830...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: We might want to amend the Constitution.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: On behalf of my colleague, Senator O'Donovan, our justice spokesperson, I welcome the passing of this Bill. I very much welcome the fact that St. Patrick's Institution will be closed. I note that it is over three decades since a committee chaired by Mr. T.K. Whitaker recommended that it be closed. I am glad this day has eventually arrived.I agree with Senator Jillian van Turnhout....

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I believe Senator Ivana Bacik would be eminently qualified for appointment as a member of the Judiciary. This is a very good amendment. My only concern is that practical experience should be included also. It should not be confined to somebody who has been an academic for 12 years but has not practised law. If one is to face the public as a judge, one should have experience of a court and...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I move amendment No. 7:In page 3, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:"Age of Retirement of District Court Judges 2.(1) The age of retirement of a judge of the District Court who holds office at the time of the coming into operation of this section shall be 70 years. (2) Section 72 of The Courts of Justice Act, 1924 is deleted.". This is with regard to the age of retirement of...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: No, I accept what the Minister of State has said in good faith. It is something that should have been rectified in the past and this Bill gives me the opportunity to raise it again. I am glad it is under review, accept the Minister of State's word on this matter and will not press the amendment.

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I move amendment No. 8:In page 3, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “Qualification of Judges 2. A judge of the District Court who has served as such a judge for a period of not less than 2 years shall be qualified for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal or the High Court.”. Again, this amendment pertains to eligibility for appointment...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I do not agree the amendment is outside the scope of the Bill. This is courts legislation which proposes to increase by two the number of High Court judges who can be appointed. The amendment is relevant. It is a matter of whether the Minister of State is minded to accept it. It is unacceptable to suggest that because someone has been...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: It would have been preferable had the Minister of State accepted it but I understand the position he is in. We all agree that the current arrangement is ludicrous and should not apply. The Minister of State said the review is ongoing. Is there a deadline? Irrespective of whether the Government falls and irrespective of who will be in the next Government, I assume there will be a team of...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: On that basis, I will take the Minister of State at his word. I hope we will both be back in these Houses after the election. I hope to be back in this one. Perhaps the Minister of State will be with me; I do not know. Since I hope we will have an update early in 2016, I will not press the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I support Senator van Turnhout on tabling this amendment. The terminology "child sexual abuse material" is still not strong enough. As Senator Bacik said, there should be a stronger terminology. What that is I do not know, but perhaps it should be child rape and abuse or something like that. The horrific acts that are carried to young children are unimaginable. Thankfully, I have never...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is still not strong enough but I would be supportive of the basis for it.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I move amendment No. 44:In page 27, after line 41, to insert the following: "PART 7 CONSENTChoice of Individual to Consent 39. An individual consents if he or she agrees by choice and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice.". I withdraw my amendment but I would like to hear what the Minister of State has to say.