Results 801-820 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: We are not against the relieving of gardaí from duties such as this. The Minister of State referred to the deployment of extra gardaí. We were particularly in favour of the implementation of the report recommending the relieving of approximately 500 gardaí from administrative duties and that such posts would become Civil Service-type positions. The Minister of State referred to powers...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Security staff do not have State-provided powers.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: They are not.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: That is not true.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I am not against the idea behind this provision in terms of relieving members of the Garda Síochána from this type of duty. My problem is the issue of accountability. This is totally different to the case of security firms looking after private areas such as shopping centres. The Government is giving significant State powers to those designated security officers under the Bill. These powers...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Most people who do that, do so in good faith. They do not do it lightly. However, the legislation is taking away people's rights. If someone is defamed or manhandled in a shopping centre, he or she can assert his or her civil rights in court. The Bill is giving people who would operate in this way the force of a legal statute behind them. It might actually take away people's rights if they...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 129: In page 9, line 10, after "OF" to insert "A BODY KNOWN AS COIMISIÚN OMBUDSMAN AN GHARDA SÍOCHÁNA, OR IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE,". I am satisfied the Government has addressed the issue raised in this amendment and will agree to withdraw it.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Senator Moylan made the point that the Government did more for the well-off than any other Government.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: The point is that, proportionally, the Government has not done so. The Government had more resources than any other but when the ESRI analysed past budgets, it found that Fianna Fáil did more when in Government with the Labour Party following the 1992 elections in terms of distributing resources to the less well-off in society. Others have referred to the potential unconstitutionality of the...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: The legislation may be found to be unconstitutional and we have a duty to ensure that people are protected. I hope I will have an opportunity to table an amendment on Report Stage because we did not do so for Committee Stage. If it is in order, I will try to do so. That issue has been raised by the senior citizens' group, which referred to the adequacy of payments and the amount of money that...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 1: In page 11, line 18, after "property" to insert "and the human rights of individuals within the State". I have tabled this amendment again to allow the Minister to reconsider it. It concerns an issue raised by the Irish Human Rights Commission. Human rights are an important element of the Garda Síochána's brief and something it should be concerned to defend as part...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister for accepting our Committee Stage amendment.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 5: In page 21, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "(3) An agreement pursuant to this section shall be in writing and shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and shall not enter into force until such time as the terms thereof have been approved by Dáil Éireann.". I tabled this amendment because during the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister for tabling amendment No. 6, which takes on board the points made by Members on different sides of the House on Committee Stage regarding the need to include the word "shall" in respect of the publication of guidelines. This is one of the initiatives for which the Minister will be remembered. It is positive in nature and will enhance local democracy. The Labour Party had...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the Minister's amendments. We had also proposed amendments in this regard on Committee Stage.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 29: In page 58, line 31, after "investigation" to insert "and any interview conducted with a member arrested under this Act shall be subject to procedures which shall be prescribed by the Minister for the video and audio recording of interviews with arrested persons generally". The Minister of State indicated on Committee Stage that the Minister agreed with the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome many aspects of this reforming legislation. I thank the Minister and his officials for taking on board many issues which were raised by Opposition Senators and their counterparts on the Government benches. I am pleased that some Opposition amendments were accepted and other amendments were tabled on foot of proposals made by Opposition Senators. The Seanad had a good debate on the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Differences of opinion could arise when one is considering whether the officers are using their powers correctly. There is a significant potential for litigation, which is the opposite to what Senator Jim Walsh said. This provision could lead to more litigation because there is no complaints procedure. Most people prefer not to go to court if they can avoid it. The lack of a complaints...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: On a point of order, I do not understand how this would incur a charge on the State if it relates to money to which the State was not entitled in the first instance.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I believe this section is unconstitutional because it breaches people's property rights. The Constitution was referred to but I am not sure if that aspect was mentioned by anyone else; I was not here for the entire debate today. I have thought of comparisons. It is similar to applying income tax retrospectively, something that could not be done constitutionally. The same problem may arise...