Results 661-680 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: Amendments which I introduced on Committee Stage created an offence of soliciting or importuning a trafficked person for the purpose of prostitution. I am advised by the Parliamentary Counsel, who drafted the amendment, that the definition of "trafficked person" used in those amendments might — I would not put it any stronger than this — give rise to some confusion as to the meaning of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senators for making those points on these amendments. As previous speakers said, the amendments have been debated in great detail in this House on Committee Stage. The argument basically boils down as to whether the protection of victims and supply of services to them should be dealt with statutorily and administratively. There is no difference between us in our concern for...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: Nobody was quoted anonymously in this House. That is inaccurate.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank all the Senators who have contributed on amendments Nos. 8 and 14. The purpose of amendment No. 8 is to criminalise soliciting or importuning any person in any place for the purpose of prostitution. In other words, it extends the present soliciting laws to include soliciting in private. I assume it is intended to repeal section 7 of the 1993 Act as it would overlap with this...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: The problem is a social one and not associated with criminal law. This Bill is not the appropriate one in which the implement the changes to our laws on prostitution. The amendment in question has not been thought through in terms of its effects and implications. I have given examples during the preceding Stages that show that this type of proposal could work to the disadvantage of the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I did no such thing. The Senator should not try to misrepresent me or the Government. I am here as the Government representative and am not speaking in a personal capacity at any time. I speak on behalf of the Government. Less representation would be helpful.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Senator appears to be trying to do so.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Senator did so the last time and tonight.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is quite clear the Senator has tried to misrepresent me and I will not accept that.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I did not say any such thing. I am humble enough to——

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: Hold on. The Senator will have to stop misrepresenting me or the Government on a continual basis.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: Senator Mullen raised this issue on Committee Stage. I undertook to consider the amendment before Report Stage to see if there was a gap in the law that needed to be plugged. Following an examination of the issues involved, I am satisfied and advised that the Bill is strong enough to cater for the situation envisaged in the amendment, which has been resubmitted in a slightly different...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senators who contributed to the debate on these amendments. All of these amendments would grant total statutory immunity from prosecution to victims of trafficking in the various circumstances provided for in the amendments. I have major concerns about amendments like these which I mentioned before and to which I will refer briefly. I draw the House's attention to section 124...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: The amendment proposes to give an alleged victim of trafficking six months' temporary residence which may be renewable in the State. I do not propose to go into any detail on this issue at this time. It will be more appropriate for discussion when the Immigration Residence and Protection Bill comes before the House after Easter. I am sure Senator O'Reilly will have the opportunity to...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank all Members who contributed to the debate on Second, Committee and Report Stages. It is important legislation. I thank the House for its co-operation.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who is unable to be here. I assure the Senator that I will bring the contents of his contribution to the attention of the Minister tomorrow. As the Senator is aware, all applications for capital funding are assessed in the modernisation and policy unit of the...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: In regard to Senator O'Toole's comment, it is not the duty, nor should it be the practice, of any public servant to proffer advice to a Member of the Oireachtas as to how he or she should proceed with his or her queries.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator Corrigan for raising this issue. I am responding in the unavoidable absence of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. At the outset, I emphasise the Government's commitment to providing a high quality service to all people with a disability. This commitment is illustrated by the substantial investment we have made in disability services in recent...

Seanad: Hospital Services (11 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator MacSharry for raising this important issue. This is not the first time I have heard him outline in great detail the need to provide and retain services in the north west. I will reply to the Senator on this issue on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who is unavoidably absent. I welcome this opportunity to set out the current position in respect...

Hospital Services. (12 Mar 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Lynch for raising this important issue. I am replying to this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire is a 120-bed hospital which provides treatment and rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord injuries, head injuries, amputation, traumatic and non-traumatic brain...