Results 961-980 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: Okay, I did not notice something that nobody else had seen. It is obvious that amendment No. 123 makes a change by clarifying that the two non-Garda appointees to a promotion panel cannot be or have been members of the Garda Síochána. Amendment No. 124 alters the wording of this section of the Bill slightly, but it does not make much of a difference to the existing provisions. It states...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I recognise the need for such a provision but I am concerned that it could be heavy handed. The Minister stated he received advice from the Attorney General that it is in order. I wonder whether fair procedures will be followed through the use of such a provision. The type of hearing provided under standard disciplinary procedures is not provided for. Can somebody speak on behalf of a member...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I too support this section, with which I have no problems. Regarding a similar provision in the legislation for the secondment of members of police services outside the State to assist the ombudsman commission, I made inquiries with the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and was told that she did not use members of the PSNI to carry out her work. She uses only members of other police...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: The provision is improved by the stipulation that the Minister should have to issue directions specifying the part of a document storage facility or Garda station that may be searched. However, the wording of the provision is somewhat confusing. My understanding of the original provision was that the Minister could allow an entire document storage facility to be searched and that directions...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I have no difficulty with the amendments.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I have no problems with the amendments proposed. Senator Cummins made a point on amendment No. 41. The Minister originally allowed for persons representing local community interests to be involved. To keep people happy, including people in my own party, he introduced this wording to clarify it. I feel strongly on this matter. Many people who pushed this seemed to forget that publicly elected...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: As long as it is not the county manager.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: There are many positive measures in this Bill. Unfortunately, my colleagues had to vote against it as there were fundamental matters that were not dealt with. These include an independent Garda authority and a single ombudsman.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I understand that and I was not going to elaborate on those points. If one wanted to tackle the matters raised by the Morris report——

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I am responding to the Bill overall. I believe the structure of an independent authority would be needed to radically reform the force. The Minister would have demonstrated innovation if he had gone that far. He was not prepared to go as far as many other jurisdictions have gone in responding to a crisis in policing in their countries. We have had a crisis, as have many other open, democratic...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I am aware of that and am not revisiting those issues but this Bill does not include an ombudsman in the true sense of the word. The Minister did not review it in light of the Morris tribunal, he merely tacked something on to the legislation.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: To conclude on a positive note I believe the joint policing committees are the most positive measures in this Bill. These will build confidence in the Garda Síochána and I hope they are widespread. It is the one measure in the Bill that the Minister will be able to claim credit for and he will be remembered for it. I agree with the point made by Senator Jim Walsh that the composition of...

Seanad: Garda Investigations: Motion. (28 Sep 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: Along with my colleague, Senator Ryan, I fully support this motion. I sympathise with the family on their loss and I commend them on their bravery in pursuing this case. There are not many people in our society who are prepared to put their head above the parapet in this way, but the Rafferty and McCartney families have. When they do that, we all benefit and democracy benefits. Deputy Quinn...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: Senator O'Rourke referred to the debate over whether it is better for children to have their mother at home or working. Saying that it is good for the child to have the mother at home can be taken as a criticism of working mothers. The debate should not be about all or nothing. As a State, we should try to promote and facilitate a flexible approach so that a person can do both at the same...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: As a Lucan-based representative I express my sympathy to Liam Lawlor's wife and his children on their sad loss. Mr. Lawlor was a very courteous and likeable person to me and other public representatives. I have often come across constituents on whose behalf he dealt with an issue and who found him very efficient. He had a reputation of being a hard worker in the constituency. That said,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Oct 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes.

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill Amended by Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Oct 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome this change. I remember the discussion we had in the Seanad and although the Minister did not accept the amendment then I am obliged that it was accepted in the Dáil. It would have been better to accept it in this House. The fact that we had such a long discussion about it probably influenced the Minister in his final decision. I welcome the amendment.

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill Amended by Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (25 Oct 2005)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome this Bill and support the comments made by the other Senators, as well as the aims of the legislation. The Minister of State, in accepting one of the amendments, moved in the direction of flexibility. There must be more options for parents, be they adoptive parents or otherwise. This would be good for both family life and employers, as employees with flexibility in their work would...