Results 7,341-7,360 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: No, I point to the positions of many Attorneys General over a long period and the suitability, eligibility and subsequent appointment of Attorneys General to serve as a member of the Judiciary going back to 1953.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In my time in office, there has been one such appointment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: While this point is not directed to Deputy Daly, I also referred to this matter in the context of the questions asked in plenary session of the House last week. Under the 1995 Act, the proceedings at the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board are confidential. This is provided for in the Act and I am not in a position to provide Deputy Daly with the detail of what transpired or was undertaken...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can state that both scenarios are correct. I do not have any knowledge of the proceedings precisely because the law does not allow such knowledge to be imparted to me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In all sincerity, it would be unfair and unwise of me to speculate as to what took place at a meeting of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board. I have no intention of entering into such speculation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The normal circumstances occurred in so far as a memorandum was brought to Government by the Minister for Justice and Equality, as has been the case previously. The Government is entitled to nominate a person of its choosing provided two conditions are met, namely, that the person is eligible and available in accordance with the law and that the person is qualified. The matter was given...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Lest there be any doubt, when I referred to normal circumstances, I was speaking about the manner in which appointments are brought to Cabinet. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I do not have any knowledge of any issues that may or may not have been discussed between 16 May, when the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board wrote to the Tánaiste noting that the board had decided...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Given that I do not have the facts within my own knowledge, nor would I expect to have them within my own knowledge, I very much regret that I am not in a position to state what did or did not happen between the dates mentioned by the Deputy. However, in fairness to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality I can point to an answer she gave in the House when she was asked if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: No, it certainly is not. It would be a misrepresentation of my position for any Deputy to draw that conclusion and I ask that Deputy Clare Daly would not. With regard to the earlier question, I have been informed that one Circuit Court judge was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2014.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am not going to speculate on opinion or otherwise and in accordance with the law nor am I in a position to make any comment around any issue that may or may not have been discussed at Cabinet or the manner of this discussion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Court of Appeal Appointment: Discussion (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can categorically state, in my own knowledge, that I was not party to any discussions, nor could I expect to be. Again, I come back to the constitutional and legal point that the manner in which these appointments are made - under current law and under the current Constitution - is on the advice of Government to the President as to the appointment of a person who is deemed after due...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Business of Select Committee (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am keen to facilitate the committee under the Chairman's direction. I am in his hands on all occasions at which I attend here as Minister. I wish to acknowledge the importance of this committee. In my previous ministerial iteration or guise, I always acknowledged the importance of the appropriate committees and those committees would have acknowledged that we worked in a mutual manner....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Mediation Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This group of eight amendments, namely, amendment No. 1 and amendments Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, all relate to the scope of the Bill. I acknowledge the contribution of my predecessor, the Tánaiste, Deputy Fitzgerald, on this legislation. I hope we can advance matters today and set a date for future progress also. Following publication of the Bill and Second Stage discussions, my...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Mediation Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I think it states that anything that is capable of a civil action at some stage could be the subject matter of mediation. The proceedings do not have to be prepared, served and issued.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Mediation Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I cannot resist acknowledging the rather unusual context of Deputies Wallace and Daly seeking to provide for privacy and confidentiality. My experience with both Deputies is otherwise. I am happy to hear the submissions. Discussions on amendment No. 10 should have regard to later amendments, Nos. 28 and 31. I would draw the attention of Deputies to section 10, which sets out in some detail...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Mediation Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 3:In page 7, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following:“ “proceedings” means civil proceedings that may be instituted before a court.”.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Mediation Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 5:In page 7, line 10, to delete “(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act shall apply to any civil proceedings.”.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Mediation Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 8:In page 7, line 11, to delete “any of the following”.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Mediation Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 9:In page 7, to delete lines 31 to 37.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Mediation Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The amendment covers ground that has already been referred to. I appreciate the point raised by Deputy Wallace, and indeed the intention behind the amendment, but I really do not see a pressing need for it. Having regard to section 10 already dealing in detail with the issue of confidentiality, the committee will also note that I have tabled amendment No. 29 for later on, which will further...