Results 1,121-1,140 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: The Minister said my intervention suggested there were no legislative provisions for the victims of crime. In fact, that is my point. There are legislative provisions for the victims of crime and what I suggest with these amendments is that we complete the process. The framework decision, which this country is legally obliged to implement, recognises that victims should have rights in the...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I will reserve my position for Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I would like to make one point about this, although it probably comes under section 8.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I can deal with it under this amendment. The Minister has spoken about the prospective effect of the change in the double jeopardy rule. I wonder why that is the case. I would like hear the Minister's clarification on it. We have a different constitutional position to the UK, but when the double jeopardy rule was limited in that country, it was made retrospective. It is a common law...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister for his explanation, but I am not entirely convinced. One could argue that the principle of double jeopardy which I classify as a common law right has been used and referred to in various judgments of the courts and has, at times, been invoked as a constitutional right. In this legislation we are interfering with that principle. Therefore, retrospection would not...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: Having clarity on this issue would obviate the need for protracted discussion on Report Stage. However, I fail to understand the Minister's argument. We are aware of the constitutional principle of the separation of powers and it is respected in this House or is endeavoured to respect it. The suggestion is that to abolish retrospectively the double jeopardy principle is to interfere with...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I did not table an amendment on this point because I wanted to hear the Minister's views on the matter. It is not an easy question but the debate has been useful and I reserve my position about tabling an amendment on Report Stage to deal with the issue because I am not quite content with the argument advanced by the Minister.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I think Senator Bacik is correct. The phraseology is contradictory. The Minister referred to the separation of powers yet in the same sentence we have the courts, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions certifying matters. The solution is that if we want to limit appeals to matters of exceptional public importance or if it is desirable in the public interest that such...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: When I was speaking to the amendment, the Cathaoirleach intervened to advise that the sitting was to be suspended. I had indicated that the Minister had referred to the separation of powers and I suggested the court, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions were in the same frame in this section. It should be a matter for the court to decide. If we are directing that an...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: That is the issue. It is appropriate that the screening to which the Minister refers should be used only in these cases. It is a matter for the court to decide and it would be better if the court decided on foot of submissions made rather than the phraseology used in the legislation.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I move amendment No. 40: In page 23, before section 19, but in Chapter 3, to insert the following new section: "CHAPTER 4 Evidence in Criminal Proceedings 19.—In this Chapter— "Court" includes court-martial; "Criminal proceedings" includes proceedings before a court-martial and proceedings on appeal; "Improperly or illegally obtained evidence" means evidence obtained by the Garda...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: The balance in the criminal law review group comprehensively covered the shield and the dropping of the shield in respect of character evidence. I welcome the fact that it has been taken up in this Bill. I fully support the Minister's amendment.

Seanad: Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin: Statements (3 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister for a comprehensive commentary on the report. I take issue with him referring to mischievous and baseless political points scoring because even that comment is misplaced.

Seanad: Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin: Statements (3 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: The central issue in the Murphy report is the institutional response to suspicions, complaints and knowledge of child sexual abuse between 1975 and 2004. It addressed the response of both the church and State authorities. In the light of the comments in the report about the role of the Garda, the health boards and the HSE, one is entitled draw to the attention of the Minister, the Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: On the issue of social partnership and unpaid leave in lieu of pay deductions, the editorial in The Irish Times today says it all - a Government out of touch. Having gone on for many months about the need to save €4 billion in the budget and having secured the support of the Opposition parties on the essential savings needed to bring the public finances under control, the Government has...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I second the amendment.