Results 401-420 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (31 Mar 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Senator Kitt for raising this matter which is close to his heart and about which he has expressed much concern. The report of the strategic review of ambulance services 2001 is the basis for the development of pre-hospital emergency medical services in the future. It identifies aspects of the current emergency ambulance service which need to be addressed to bring the service into line...

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (31 Mar 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will arrange for the Minister to do that.

Seanad: High Level of Alcohol Consumption by Young People: Statements. (1 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I last spoke in this House on the high level of alcohol consumption on 11 December 2002 and listened to the very comprehensive and interesting debate which followed. Since that time the trial of four young people following the death of a young man, Mr. Brian Murphy, outside a nightclub in this city has tragically highlighted the extremes of what can happen as a result of the excessive misuse...

Seanad: High Level of Alcohol Consumption by Young People: Statements. (1 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Senator is safe enough in here.

Seanad: High Level of Alcohol Consumption by Young People: Statements. (1 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the Senators for a constructive contribution to a very interesting debate. When someone seeks counselling for a drink problem the first advice is that he or she must face up to the problem. I am glad that the Seanad has recognised this morning in the light of contemporary statistics that as a nation we have a drinking problem that we must acknowledge. All counsellors advise that the...

Seanad: High Level of Alcohol Consumption by Young People: Statements. (1 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The current laws do not provide sufficient sanctions to deter this type of conduct. Reference was made to the Judiciary. I wish to salute a member of the Judiciary in County Clare who insists when a person is convicted of a public order offence related to alcohol that the person produces at his or her own cost an alcohol-free urine sample to gardaí two or three times a week. This measure has...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is not correct. Mr. David Byrne was the Attorney General at that time.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It was mentioned by the leader of the Labour Party at the time.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Stanton raised a specific point about passports. The administration of the passports system is a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The system has never rested on any statute. A passport is simply a request made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to treat the bearer with respect in a foreign country. It contains the statement that it cannot be invoked in another country in which one is a national, in a case of dual nationality. The Minister has no power to protect one in such circumstances, as one is covered by the laws...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is not in the Constitution.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Pregnancy tests at the frontier.

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (29 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This Bill passed All Stages in Seanad Éireann on 9 December 2003. The Bill now returns to this House for a report from Dáil Éireann, having been amended in the Dáil where it was passed on 27 April. The Bill has been the subject of short but important amendments in the Dáil. As Senators will recall, the primary purpose of this Bill is to ensure that Judge Mahon, as chairperson of the...

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (29 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Senators for their co-operation and assistance in dealing with this legislation which was initiated in this House. Senator Terry mentioned the delay in introducing this measure. Mr. Justice Flood resigned last summer and there is no doubt that an unprecedented situation was created by his resignation. It was necessary for the Government to obtain detailed legal advice on this measure....

Seanad: Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (29 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We will not go into that now but we were well aware of the position, which was advertised for a long time before this essentially politically-motivated argument began in recent months. Equally, the question of the referendum will be dealt with in the Seanad next week, so I do not want to anticipate the matter and thus pre-empt the Seanad's constitutional role. I am sure the matter will be...

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (29 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The amendment proposed by Senator Tuffy's amendment proposes that the full text of the additional protocol and the Schengen Convention should be added as Schedules to the Bill, but we are not giving effect to the full protocol. The protocol contains nine articles and only two contain substantive provisions, namely Articles 2 and 3. Of these, Ireland proposes to operate Article 2 only and in...

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (29 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Implementing legislation may be required for other aspects of the Schengen Convention to which Ireland has signed up. That is another reason it would be inappropriate to schedule the entire convention to this Bill, which only deals with a small part of the Schengen Convention. The immigration control provisions of Schengen are under consideration in the Department with a view to legislation.

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (29 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Senator Terry is essentially seeking to insert the definition in the interpretations section but the definition is already contained in the wording of section 5(1) and the existing wording of that section is perfectly clear. The amendment simply repeats that wording.

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (29 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can give an undertaking to have this matter examined by the Parliamentary Counsel.

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (29 Apr 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I regret that I am not Santa Claus today. Senator Terry referred to the presumption on extra-territorial effect. It is a presumption of statutory construction but one which does not have very cogent force in the context of legislation such as this, where the Long Title makes quite clear the Bill is implementing an international arrangement by way of mutual assistance. This amendment would...