Results 361-380 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Refurbishment. (4 Jul 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I raise the issue of Scoil Áine in Clondalkin as I have been contacted by parents concerned about the necessary repairs to classrooms in the school. The school has been the subject of a report of the Health and Safety Authority. Parents are concerned that if the school does not soon get funding to carry out the repairs it could be liable to prosecution. A local newspaper recently mentioned...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. - Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements. (7 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Senator Fitzgerald levelled accusations at the Labour Party to which I wish to respond. The motivation of the Labour Party is to ensure the victims of abuse carried out in religious institutions are compensated and their concerns addressed. The issue is not one of money but timely and appropriate recompense by those responsible for abuse. As an Opposition party, we also have a duty to hold...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Second Stage. (8 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I broadly welcome the Bill but would also like to raise some concerns with it. I know that the Labour Party tabled a number of amendments on foot of which the Minister made amendments. I welcome the fact that the Government took on board some of the points that the Labour Party and my colleague, Deputy Costello, made when the Bill was going through the various Stages in the Dáil. I welcome...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I join the tributes to Mr. Jim Kelly. I found Jim to be friendly and helpful, as are all the ushers. They play an important role in terms of guiding Members around the House and helping us with our work. I wish Jim well on his retirement. This morning I listened to an interesting discussion about the Seanad and Seanad reform on the Marian Finucane radio show. However, the only group in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes, but this relates to an issue I wish to raise on the Order of Business. I telephoned the station to complain about the lack of balance but my comment was not aired in the programme. The issue I wish to raise is one that does not appear to have been raised during the discussion on Seanad reform. It is the importance of the relationship the Seanad has with local government. Many people have...

Seanad: Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: There is nothing contentious in this Bill, the provisions of which are welcome. It is very appropriate that persons affected by oil pollution damage be properly compensated. That is what this matter is about. I hope the Acting Chairman and the Minister of State will allow me the liberty, as today is the last sitting day of the Seanad this week and as the Minister of State at the Department of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 17, to delete "direct" and substitute "give a direction in writing". The purpose of this amendment is to give clarity to the wording of the Bill. It is important it is clear that the direction by the Minister should be in writing. I would like to hear the Minister of State's comments on that.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, line 20, after "period" to insert "(including such time or times in the course of a period so specified)."

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 4: In page 3, line 25, to delete "him" and substitute "the person". This issue was also raised in the Dáil. The Labour Party feels that any new legislation should refer to both genders. I am aware that the Minister argued in the Dáil that the interpretation of legislation allows for the term "he" to be interpreted as "he" or "she". This is new legislation and from now...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I do not accept the Minister's response or that he is correct that if our amendments were accepted, it would be necessary to amend previous legislation. One of the reasons for this is modern expectation, which is why new legislation is gender-proofed. The amendments to the legislation should be gender-proofed.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: We may be speaking at cross purposes. The Labour Party does not agree with the view that the Government would have to redraft, amend or gender-proof the principal Act. We do not accept that it would be required or that the work, which the Minister of State said would be required, would be necessary. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 not moved.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 7: In page 3, line 29, after "Síochána" to insert "or any other authority concerned in the enforcement of the law, including an authority of another jurisdiction,". The Labour Party believes that the way in which the power is currently drafted confines that power to releasing someone to assist in law enforcement with the Garda Síochána alone. The purpose of this...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: My understanding is that the amendment would provide for a situation whereby a person could be released to assist a body in another jurisdiction, for example, the PSNI. I appreciate what the Minister of State said about other legislation which deals with this area. However, this amendment would provide for the other legislation to be in keeping with it in terms of the growth in cross-Border...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: While I support the intention of Senator Terry's amendment, the Labour Party's amendment No. 10 is making a slightly different point. An amendment made on Report Stage in the Dáil sought to involve the victim more in legislative terms, which is an important change. Amendment No. 10 states that it is not just the victim of the particular offence committed by a person in relation to their...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: On the Labour Party amendment, the legislation accepts that the victim's safety and security should be taken into account. The purpose of the amendment is to broaden the scope of this to include victims of other offences and family members. In response to the Minister of State's reason for not accepting the amendment, if he mentions victims of a particular offence as distinct from members of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 12: In page 4, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following new paragraph: "(h) any representations made by or on behalf of the person,". The Labour Party proposes that one of the considerations should be "any representations made by or on behalf of the person". The reason for proposing this amendment is that we are of the view that it should be a standard provision...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I realise it is not a right. One of the main benefits of temporary release would be the rehabilitation of the prisoner. It is important also that their own case be made as well as all the other cases. Surely representations could be made by the person. If I recall correctly, the question of other parties making representations was raised by Senator Henry on Second Stage. On the broader issue...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 14: In page 5, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following new paragraph:

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The previous subsection makes a provision for circumstances as they exist. Would the Minister of State consider adding age as a ground for appeal or has he an opinion on that?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. (15 Oct 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 15: In page 5, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following new paragraph: "(k) whether any risks arising on temporary release could be obviated by attaching conditions to the release, by limiting the duration of the release, by directing release during specified hours only in the course of a specified period, or by directing release with escort and with or without...