Results 61-80 of 2,156 for speaker:Tom Parlon

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Decentralisation Programme. (15 Apr 2003)

Tom Parlon: Soon, I would say.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Meal Vouchers. (15 Apr 2003)

Tom Parlon: I assume the Senator is referring to the announcement by the Minister for Finance in Budget 2003 in connection with benefits-in-kind. In this regard, the Finance Act 2003, together with corresponding provisions in the Social Welfare Act 2003, provides for the direct application of PAYE and PRSI to benefits-in-kind with effect from 1 January 2004. The effect of this measure is that...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital: Motion. (16 Apr 2003)

Tom Parlon: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the property plans of the Office of Public Works and I thank Independent Senators for proposing the debate. The Office of Public Works is 150 years old and in that time a substantial portfolio in excess of 1,800 properties has been acquired by the State. It is a rich tapestry which includes everything from small rural Garda stations to large urban office...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital: Motion. (16 Apr 2003)

Tom Parlon: I was just barely around then. I have poor recollection, so I will not name any of the Senators who might have a better recollection than me.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital: Motion. (16 Apr 2003)

Tom Parlon: I was not trying to impress the Senator in any great way.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: It was a policy decision that food outlets be covered by the Bill because in the past they have been an area where disorder has taken place. In this case there will be a warning and they will be given an opportunity to get their act together in terms of avoiding such disturbances in the future.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: It is a public order Bill and is not entirely to do with drink-related offences, although clearly that is identified as the root cause of the problems. If people leave a pub in an intoxicated state and cause an affray outside a chip shop, a dance hall or wherever – it can be any sort of a congregating area – that has to be taken on board if there is disorder. Clearly it will impose extra...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: I suggest that common sense will have to prevail. If we are interested in the maintenance of public order and if, for instance, a facility is selling chips to people who are in an intoxicated state and thereby causing noise, disruption or violence, then the State must take action. If the owner is not in a position to exercise control over his customers at that hour of the night, he should...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: There is no question that the premises we are referring to are and can be the focus of serious disorder. We either decide to do something about it or not. The reason the owners of certain premises are in business is certainly not just to give a service to revellers after hours but to make a profit. If by virtue of his profit-making enterprise, his premises is giving rise to disorder, then...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: The amendment is not acceptable for the reasons already stated by the Minister on Committee and Report Stages in the Dáil. It is not the practice to insert provisions of this nature in a criminal justice Bill. They are more suited to a civil law measure where the intention would be to create a tort or breach of statutory duty. It is not the Government's intention to introduce qualifying...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: For the reasons outlined by the Minister during the debate on the issue in the other House, this amendment is not acceptable. A general provision such as the amendment proposes requires careful consideration and is not something the Government would introduce at such a late stage. It could be considered in the context of the more general liquor licensing reforms being studied by the Department.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: There may be a slight misunderstanding here. It appears that the effect of the amendment would be to restrict the noise criterion to the playing of music by persons on the premises. Some musicians would not appreciate their music being classified as noise.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: Why is that the case? The existing paragraph is deliberately designed to cover all types of noise, not just that involving loud music. It also includes music. We are talking about very loud discussions, argument or drunken behaviour and so on. The section includes music and all other types of noise while the Senator's amendment refers to the playing of music only. Accordingly, the Minister...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: The Senator said that one person's annoyance would not be another's. However, one person's serious annoyance could be interpreted differently as well. The Minister is not prepared to accept the amendment. The District Court will operate on the basis of common sense. If something is trivial, the court would not make an order. If something is serious, the question would be what was meant by the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: I dealt with this issue with regard to amendment No. 2 and the use of such terms as "reasonable", "reasonably" or "serious". It is the Minister's view that this would only dilute Bill. They would simply be regarded as escape clauses and excuses which could lead to legal argument as to their meaning. The Minister is not amenable to making changes of this nature to the Bill. They are more...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: There is no argument that drink is the problem, not salt or vinegar. We all know, however, that next to night clubs and bars with late licences there are fast food outlets where people accumulate and that serious public order offences have occurred in them. Several years ago, in my own county, a fracas developed outside a chip shop and a person assaulted by a local bully ran to his car, took...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: An amendment similar to that being proposed has already been discussed in the other House, on both Committee and Report Stages, and has been rejected by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, for the reason that the Minister was not amenable to making a change of this nature to a public order measure, on the grounds that it would weaken the enforcement of the Bill. Such a change...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: As I said, a similar amendment has been discussed. Under subsection (4) it is provided that a person who does not comply with a closure order is guilty of an offence, and can be subject to a penalty of not more than €50 or a prison sentence not exceeding three months. If we are serious about dealing with public order offences, we must have a pretty strong Bill, and any weakening of the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: There is no need for this amendment. The point it refers to was raised on Committee Stage in the Dáil and was withdrawn by Deputy Costello on the basis that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would examine the position to ensure that any extension of a closure order, which is provided for under section 6 of the Bill, in circumstances where the Garda is satisfied there is a...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: It is intention of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to strengthen the powers of the Garda Síochána in this area, but the relevant provision will be contained in a separate intoxicating liquor Bill. This follows from a recommendation in the Intoxicating Liquor Commission's recent report. The Minister indicated on Second Stage of this Bill in the House on...