Results 16,861-16,880 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Yes.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: After almost an hour of listening to Senators sparring, for the reasons I have outlined I am not minded to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: If Senators are minded not to press this amendment, I will arrange to consult the parliamentary draftsperson with a view to facilitating any necessary change on Report Stage.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: On that basis.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Amendment No. 98 is similar to earlier amendments. I already made reference to amendment No. 29 and we discussed these issues and all of the related provisions in respect of section 11, to which the Senators referred. I do not agree with the approach of the Senators on this matter, as I have stated on record. I do not intend to accept the Senator's amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not wish to be out of order, but the answer is "Yes", I can accept amendment No. 98a.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I will accept it on the proviso that it speaks for itself and does not warrant the Senators making a contribution on it. There is no need to speak on it at length.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: We are making progress.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not consider the amendment necessary because all recommendations under the Act must be based on merit, having regard to section 7(1). Having regard to what Senator Norris stated earlier regarding ensuring the language is not overly verbose or prescriptive, I do not see the necessity for the amendment and I am not minded to accept it.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As I indicated, I do not believe the amendment adds anything to the legislation. However, nor do I believe it detracts in any way from the important merit-based principle. In the circumstances and on reflection, I am prepared to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am not convinced of the necessity for this amendment and having listened to the Senators, I am even less convinced. Senator McDowell made specific reference to the higher courts. For the record, as of last week, the gender split was 50:50 in the Court of Appeal, and 55% male and 45% female in the Supreme Court. It is 57% male and 42% female in the Circuit Court, and 57% male and 43%...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am not minded to divide the House on this proposal.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am being accused of bluffing when I am just being generous.

Seanad: Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Iam pleased to be here to introduce the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions (Amendment) Bill 2019. The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015. As Senators will be aware, the 2015 Act was enacted to provide certain health services to be made available without charge to successful applicants under the Magdalen Restorative...

Seanad: Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senators for facilitating this debate and for the responses to the Bill. I restate that the Government is committed to complying with all of the recommendations made by the Ombudsman in November 2017. As I have already stated, officials in my Department continue to liaise on a regular basis on the implementation of these recommendations. I met the Ombudsman two weeks ago and he...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Internet Pornography (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that the accessing of online pornography by children is a matter for considerable concern, even where that content is not inherently illegal. As stated by the Taoiseach in the Dáil last week, it is a matter of concern to all of us that many young people learn about sex through pornography, particularly as such material is not an accurate representation of what is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Internet Pornography (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I listened carefully to what Deputy O'Callaghan had to say. I do not currently envisage a role for IFCO outside its current statutory remit. In particular, I do not envisage a role in regard to classification of online material, which I think Members will recognise as the dominant distribution model for material of a pornographic nature. The issue of online material, as all Deputies will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Internet Pornography (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with the Deputy and I assure him that my Department and I will take our responsibilities seriously in that regard, although it is an area that requires input from a number of Departments. The Deputy specifically raised the position in the UK. Last Thursday, the UK Government announced that it was postponing the age verification scheme just weeks before its planned launch. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Online Safety (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for this question. Deputies will be aware that I outlined the position on ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime in January of this year. I updated the House on the significant progress made in the ratification process within the term of this Administration, particularly through the introduction of legislation to give effect to the key criminal law...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Online Safety (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The legislation will enable us to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime. It is important that any such ratification in legislative form will enable the Garda and other stakeholders to ensure the practical application. I acknowledge, however, that there has been a delay in the ratification of the convention. I am keen to focus on ensuring that the draft legislation is...