Results 361-380 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: When will it be possible to have a debate on the fishing industry? If it is not possible in this term, perhaps it will get priority when we resume in September. I welcome the opening this week in Garinish in the Beara Peninsula by the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, of the largest farm in Europe of abalone, referred to by some as the sea slug aphrodisiac. It represents the possibilities...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Now.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank my colleagues on the other side of the House for their general support of the Bill. I listened intently to the very fair amendments put forward by Senators Regan and Bacik and to their arguments. Desperate measures are needed to deal with desperate situations. We are talking about very serious crime. I note the support for the Bill, subject to certain reservations. I listened to...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for the debate on this Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to resolve the need for legislation arising from a judgment of the High Court on 18 June in the McCann case, which found that section 6 of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1940 is incompatible with the Constitution on a number of grounds. I am somewhat surprised that this judgment was not...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I am in a difficult situation on this side of the House. As a young lad, my father often told me that "those who are bound must obey, and those who aren't, can run away". I am probably under the cosh of the Whip, unless the Minister of State has a change of heart. If he has such a change of heart, I will not oppose it. Credit must be given to Senator Regan for the very fine detailed...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I have no problem with this concept. Subject to correction, I am of the view that under the District Court rules, a judge can order a substituted service on any issue regarding people who might avoid service. From my experience, I know that people use all sorts of methods to try to avoid the service of a summons, especially if they know there is bad news coming down the track. I recall one...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Perhaps I should bow to the superior knowledge of the law of my colleague, Senator Alex White.

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: An old Latin maxim that was used in the interpretation of statutes - inclusio unius est exclusio alterius - suggests that my colleague could be right and I could be wrong.

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: It means that if one specifies one method of doing something, one excludes all the alternatives. B'fhéidir go bhfuil mé mícheart.

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I also ask the Minister of State to reflect on this section again between now and Report Stage. I have concerns because I was of the view that such interference, which would normally apply in road traffic cases involving criminal sanctions and possibly non-payment of fines, and the lobbying that went on by Deputies and Senators to have somebody released or the fine reduced were more frowned...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: And support.

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Tomorrow morning.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: On the issue of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, I understand the passion of my colleague Senator Norris. There are two views on this. I appreciate the Senator's view and its sincerity. However, over the weekend I read three articles by prominent Irish journalists welcoming the Bill because they were under death threats from certain criminal gangs.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: The fact that there is witness intimidation is well known. Leaving that aside, however, I wish to raise with the Leader an article I read which stated that certain lawyers - either solicitors or barristers - are acting in concert with some of these criminal gangs. That is extremely worrying if it is factually correct, and it should be investigated. Most lawyers, whether barristers or...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I will lend what support I can to my colleagues opposite on this issue but, under the Whip system, my hands are regrettably tied.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I have done so on several occasions.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Unfortunately, I am not permitted to do so on Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Having listened to the contributions of Senators Mullen and Regan, I have serious concerns to raise with the Minister of State. Is section 33 a killjoy provision? When I first read the legislation and listened to some of the comments made by individuals who run legitimate gun clubs, practice ranges, etc., I concluded that the Bill constituted a serious setback for them. Retired members of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: If there are reservations, more substance should be provided because serious allegations have been made to the Minister by, I presume, senior Garda sources as a result of intelligence gathering operations and so forth. If that is the case, someone should outline the source of the information, whether the activity in question has occurred regularly or only once and what action can be taken to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: He accepted two amendments from the Labour Party yesterday.