Results 861-880 of 4,915 for speaker:Jim O'Keeffe

Paramilitary Activities. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his assessment of the level of criminal activity engaged in by paramilitaries in the State; the types of such criminal activity; if he has satisfied himself that the Garda Síochána has sufficient resources to deal with such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21639/05]

Paramilitary Activities. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: We can do without the commercial.

Paramilitary Activities. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I ask the Minister to reply to the question, which sought his assessment of the level of criminal activity. I am aware of the IMC report. Is the level of activity of paramilitaries increasing, being maintained or decreasing? That is what I am after. I would also like some indication of whether he has any idea of the numbers involved in such activity. Will he inform the House on whether the...

Paramilitary Activities. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: In terms of the numbers involved, can the Minister give the House any indication of the size of these organisations, in particular, the Provisional IRA? The Minister seems to hope the Provisional IRA and its leadership at political and paramilitary level may arrive at a conclusion which will end all paramilitary and criminal activity. Could the Minister give an indication as to what sort of...

Crime Levels. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: The Minister might set out the full list of proposals.

Crime Levels. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I requested it a few months ago. It is important.

Crime Levels. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: That is a good idea so we will not have the debacle that we do with the current Bill.

Crime Levels. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: It is not exactly friendly.

Garda Deployment. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: It will cost more to spend a penny.

Libel Laws. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he intends to move to implement reforms of libel laws designed to bring them into line with those of other states in the context of a statutory press council and improved privacy laws as provided for in An Agreed Programme for Government. [21640/05]

Libel Laws. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I get a distinct sense that there is not a united approach on the part of the Government on this issue. In fact, I suspect that reform of the libel laws will fall within the cracks in the coalition and the Minister's reply does not allay that suspicion. I want to focus on a number of issues. First, do I take it from the Minister's reply that he does not consider legislation to be necessary in...

Libel Laws. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: It is constructive disunity.

Libel Laws. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I only used the term "statutory press council" because it was included in the programme for Government and the report of the legal advisory group set up by the Minister. I am not in favour of a statutory press council but of an independent press council. However, on that point, is there hesitation on the part of the media to provide the funding necessary for this independent council? Does the...

Libel Laws. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: On the other hand, one could not expect them to fund a statutory press council.

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I was interested by the Minister of State's comments about the Criminal Assets Bureau, the establishment of which was one of the outstanding successes of the rainbow Government. I have wondered for some time whether there is a case for extending the bureau's powers. Would the Minister of State support such an approach? Although the bureau has been successful, its powers may be limited in some...

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Oh God.

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Mr. Barry Galvin was the author of that legislation. I do not want to hear the Minister of State's spin on the matter.

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Can the Minister of State outline the outcome of that exercise?

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: The legislation in question gave the Criminal Assets Bureau a minor increase in powers.

Garda Vetting Procedures. (23 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: What about notification from the UK?