Results 461-480 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is not present.

Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: His colleague, the Minister for Defence, who is acting as more of a reporter on the sideline, is a player.

Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I ask you, a Cheann Comhairle, to facilitate a debate under Standing Order 32, a private notice question or on the Adjournment, as requested by Deputy O'Donnell.

Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: This is important to the Order of Business.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (9 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is appropriate, in the context of patient care; that the orthopaedic unit serving the midland counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, based at the Regional Hospital, Tullamore, is operating at full capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13533/08]

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (10 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of urgent national importance, namely, the continual and chronic underfunding of the Garda Síochána highlighted in a recent independent report by the Garda audit committee, particularly against the background of wealthy, well resourced criminal gangs and the continual litany of gangland violence and...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (10 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I get the same response. This morning the Ceann Comhairle is particularly cross.

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (10 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Perhaps that is the problem, the Ceann Comhairle is not even thinking of the issues.

Departmental Funding. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he proposes to take following the recent report of the Garda audit committee, which documents the chronic underfunding of the Garda Síochána. [14242/08]

Departmental Funding. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Not enough is being done to deal with the problem of crime in Dublin and in the country. The key to resolving it in the interim is to sufficiently resource the Garda. There are not sufficient resources and, in spite of the Minister's reply that increased resources have been granted, with which I do not have a difficulty, the omens are not good. Last year, a Supplementary Estimate of €25...

Departmental Funding. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: In spite of what the Minister says, the only benchmark or yardstick that can be used for serious crimes ranging from murder to common assault is statistics. One must contrast the resources available to the Garda with those available to criminal gangs. Last week it was reported a gang had bought 4 x 4 BMWs costing €200,000 and a 14 year old in Limerick had a bullet proof vest supplied by...

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he proposes to take in the context of the recent report of the alcohol advisory group. [14243/08]

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the fact that the Minister engaged in setting up the committee and I was pleased to have the opportunity to make a submission when the chairman and members of the group met with the all-party Dáil committee. I am somewhat surprised that the Minister is sticking to his stated aim of having legislation enacted by the summer. I would have thought that if he was looking for the type...

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: In the context of the narrow remit of the committee and bearing in mind the serious disturbances that took place in west Dublin on St. Patrick's Day, does the Minister intend to go beyond the remit and consider the matter of the age at which alcohol is available to people? Both the Garda Síochána and the Minister of State in the Minister's Department indicated that one of the difficulties...

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I referred to Deputy Seán Power.

Proposed Legislation. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce legislation to enhance the rights of homeowners in respect of defending their homes. [14494/08]

Proposed Legislation. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: On that point, it is not sufficient for the Minister, the Department or the Government to await progress or change on the matter from the courts. The changes should be introduced in this House and should emanate from the Department. This is a serious issue, but thanks to the inactivity of the Government over a number of years it is criminals rather than victims who appear to get most...

Proposed Legislation. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Notwithstanding what the Minister has said, it is almost two years since the House rejected a Fine Gael Private Members' Bill and the Government has done nothing about the situation in the interim. The Minister referred to the Law Reform Commission report of November 2006. That document explicitly states that the law in this matter is uncertain and made recommendations which have not been...

Criminal Justice Act. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Question 6: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will sign commencement orders in respect of outstanding sections of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. [14113/08]

Criminal Justice Act. (17 Apr 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I do not wish, and I am sure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle would not allow me, to refer to the manner in which this Criminal Justice Bill was heralded by Ministers and Government Deputies this time last year. Suffice to say that 12 months later, there are a number of gaps, two of which have been adverted to by the Minister. The urgency of the matter this time last year is perhaps even greater...