Results 1,681-1,700 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan
- Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: I raise two matters in respect of essential legislation, as the Minister for Finance describes it. On Thornton Hall, it now appears the construction of prisons proceeds by way of Government press release. I understand arrangements have been made by the Cabinet to proceed with a scaled down version of Thornton Hall.
- Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: I put it to the Minister that such a move would require special legislation to be enacted in the House. The Ceann Comhairle will recall that by virtue of the fact that the Thornton Hall development obviated the planning process, it proved necessary for the House to enact specific and peculiar legislation dealing with plans for the prison. Given that the Minister has changed these plans by...
- Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: In that case, will the Minister confirm that the Thornton Hall development cannot proceed owing to the failure of the Government to promise and process legislation?
- Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: On a number of occasions this morning, the Minister for Finance referred to the heavy Dáil schedule for the next two weeks and invited the Opposition to facilitate the passing of legislation. The Fine Gael Party will co-operate with the Government on passing the Defamation Bill, which is particularly relevant having regard to the events of the past 24 hours. Will the Minister for Finance...
- Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: The Minister for Finance will be aware that blasphemy was not included or referred to in the original legislation he, as then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, produced.
- Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: The inclusion of this provision is an act of folly on the part of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
- Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: If the Government decides not to proceed with that act of folly, we will facilitate the passage of the legislation.
- Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: Will the Government excise the portion of that Bill which represents the personal crusade of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform?
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: Even Ministers were involved we are told.
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: There is considerable merit in amendment No. 28, not only for this Bill but for the manner in which the Executive treats the Legislature. In recent years, we have become accustomed to legislation by regulation. The power vested in Ministers has been expanded and developed in a way that was not intended by the Constitution. This debate is broader than these amendments to the Bill. When a...
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: It was the courts that stopped that.
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: I understand the reason for the amendment. There are circumstances where such regulations would be not only important but also necessary in the context of certain types of surveillance and the protection of the individual. Is it the Minister's intention to introduce such regulations? It might not be, and this amendment might be no more than window dressing. He said the Minister may at...
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: Will the Minister's amendment to section 11 place an obligation on the referee to report to the designated judge?
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: There seems to be a shortcoming in this respect in that the designated judge may make a request for an investigation. Is the Minister stating that the referee will be obliged to communicate?
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: That is important. I am not sure about the precedent, but I am curious about the Taoiseach's involvement. Is the lead Minister not the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the relevant Ministers - the Ministers for Defence and, where the Revenue Commissioners are concerned, Finance - being the other Ministers in a less leading role? I note the Taoiseach's involvement. Has other...
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: May I move amendment No. 51 on behalf of Deputy Rabbitte? Perhaps the Minister might respond.
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: It might be recorded that we attempted to give our colleague a dig out.
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: I am in the Chair's hands.
- Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: On behalf of Fine Gael, I was pleased to facilitate the passage of this legislation. It was originally a "covert surveillance" Bill but the word "covert" was put to one side since publication. When the Minister talks about pieces of the jigsaw, however, resources and enforcement are other important components. We can pass all the legislation the Government wants but until the legislation is...
- Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)
Charles Flanagan: Question 32: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average processing time it takes for a claim for jobseeker's allowance to be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23304/09]