Results 561-580 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I take it the Book of Quantum is drawn up under the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act. I agree with the Minister that some degree of order and certainty is welcome. The phrase "The court shall in assessing damages in a personal injuries action have regard to the Book of Quantum" suggests that it is required to have——

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I am not a lawyer, that is why I need clarification on these matters. When I see "shall" I assume it is directive but "have regard to" simply means to take it into account and not be obliged to follow it. If judges are required only to have regard to it why is it necessary to put that in the legislation?

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: How often will the register be published? Will it be done on a rolling basis?

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: Will it be regularly updated?

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: This type of information should be published by all newspapers, local and national. That is why I wonder how often it will be updated.

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 37: In page 20, line 34, after "Courts" to insert "1986". This is a straightforward technical amendment.

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 38: In page 22, subsection (1), between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following paragraph: "(g) the Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991;". Section 31 is a significant section which relates to the reporting of family law proceedings and the in camera rule, which has been a matter of almost as much discussion as civil liability claims, the Statute of...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: Will the Minister provide a broad indication of the kind of amendment he proposes to return with on Report Stage in order that we could discuss the matter now and that our remarks on the section would be relevant?

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I am glad the Minister has responded. It was important to have some discussion on the issue before he formulated his proposed amendment. What he said about the admittance of responsible people for research purposes reflects the thinking of the legal profession that not everybody should be allowed into the court to observe what is going on. Section 31(2) states clearly: "does not contain...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: If the Minister allows researchers, academics and consultants to attend family law hearings, it does not necessarily follow that the proceedings will not be reported on, in a broader sense, given that some such people write for newspapers. It is a difficult area and it will be very difficult to frame it.

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 42: In page 22, subsection (3), between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following paragraph: "(a) The Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for Ireland,". Amendment No. 42 is straightforward. I welcome section 31, to which the Minister has already referred. It allows information about family law proceedings to be given in disciplinary proceedings. My amendment intends to...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: No.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I would prefer to resume our consideration of the Bill at a later stage.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (3 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I agree with the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I agree with Senator O'Toole. I am very concerned with what I have read from well informed commentary in the media that the path being pursued will not succeed and will cause problems for the future.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I extend my commiseration to the parties opposite and I advise them to brace themselves for what is ahead. They probably already know from the comments of backbenchers——

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: They should enjoy it while they are here as God knows what will happen after the next election.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: We know we are all subject to the vagaries of the electorate. From listening to people on the doorsteps and to the backbenchers' comments in the media, some of which were attributed, it is clear there is a long list of issues about which people are concerned. Two issues are of particular concern and they are linked. One is the impact of the Hanly report, which will be even bigger if the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: If decentralisation is not delivered, there are areas around the country which will be very annoyed at the Government. These issues are linked. Public servants should have a look at where the Government intends them to go and check whether the hospital that is there now will be there when they get there.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is only half the day; the other half is to come.