Results 4,341-4,360 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

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

Jim Walsh: I endorse Senator van Turnhout's comments. The scientific research on all family types done in this regard shows that, by a significant degree, the highest at-risk situation for children is where a single mother cohabits. In such situations, the child is substantially at risk of sexual exploitation and physical and fatal injury. It would be essential not to permit a lacuna in the law...

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

Jim Walsh: I welcome any moves which deal with the exploitation of vulnerable people. The people in question are women in the main, although some of them are men. I welcome any protection that is given to those who are trafficked in particular. It is extraordinary that in this day and age, we have moved back to a slavery trade that is probably more extensive than it has been at any time in history.

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

Jim Walsh: It is appalling that this trade is even more extensive than it was in the 19th century. It has not been addressed by the international community as comprehensively and energetically as it needs to be. Anything that protects these women in particular is essential and I welcome it. I also welcome the steps that are being taken to protect women who are vulnerable by reason of drug addiction....

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

Jim Walsh: I do not think being poor should ever be regarded or accepted as a justification for resorting to any criminal activity. I do not think this proposal should apply in certain situations. I refer to women who do this voluntarily. I am not speaking about those who do it out of financial necessity, because they are addicted to drugs, because they are being trafficked or because their pimps -...

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

Jim Walsh: The purchaser is going to be criminalised.

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

Jim Walsh: This legislation is criminalising the purchaser. That is what I am saying. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. That is my opinion in this regard. I ask for it to be looked at again. It is not the same, but it is a little akin to saying the drug addict should be criminalised and brought to court for purchasing drugs but the drug pusher should in some way be decriminalised....

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

Jim Walsh: We must keep a balance in the law, but we are not doing that here. I can understand the intention of this amendment, which is to protect vulnerable women. That is something I fully support, but I think we have gone way beyond it in creating this new situation.

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

Jim Walsh: Nobody suggested that.

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

Jim Walsh: It is disingenuous of the Minister of State to try to give the impression that anybody suggested prostitution is a glorious career. Nobody I heard in the Chamber suggested that. Perhaps it is because he does not have a better argument to defend against the point that was being made to him, which he ignored. I support fully the view that a majority of women who decide to resort to...

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

Jim Walsh: I am ad idemwith the Minister of State on reducing the level of prostitution, and I agree fully that one of the ways to do so is to tackle the demand. However, the point I make is that if he is really serious about reducing it, why not tackle the supply side also, where it is not being produced by women who are vulnerable in any of the categories I mentioned? There are women who do it as a...

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

Jim Walsh: I do not agree with the comments made by my colleague, Senator White, when introducing amendment No. 29. I am perplexed as to why Senator van Turnhout is opposed to this amendment.

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

Jim Walsh: The amendment is very simple.

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

Jim Walsh: It is very clear and is one to which I have no difficulty adding my support.

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

Jim Walsh: It is asking for three things.

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

Jim Walsh: It is looking for information on the nature and extent of prostitution connected to human trafficking, including the numbers of arrests and convictions during the period of the first two years. That is a matter in which every Member of this House should be interested. The second point looks for the extent to which, in the opinion of the Minister, this section has operated to reduce human...

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

Jim Walsh: The Minister of State is ducking the matter. It is like saying all items of legislation are under review. Any Minister can say that but we know in practice that it rarely, if ever, happens unless something occurs which highlights a lacuna. The Departments are not so proactive in monitoring what goes on in matters immediately under their control, not to mention previous legislation, which...

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

Jim Walsh: I might not go that far, but as somebody who has shown some degree of ingenuity in the responsibilities he holds, the Minister of State should clearly exercise his right to accept this amendment. Too many Ministers of State who come to this House do not have any discretion, look over their shoulders for guidance and do not accept amendments. What distinguishes the good Ministers from the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Jim Walsh: I agree with my colleague, Senator Leyden, that there are manifest failures in the health service whereby we had a Minister who was unfit to be put into the position in the first instance and we now have a Minister who is running the service from the commentary box and is not actually dealing with the issues. However, it is not the only area in which the Government is in serious dereliction...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Jim Walsh: The Government did not do that this time and will hardly get a chance to do it next time.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Jim Walsh: That is not an adequate response.