Results 161-180 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, line 18, to delete "from being elected or co-opted to, or". I would like to group amendments Nos. 2 and 3 to facilitate the House because they are related.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: There is an unfair provision preventing a person transferring from central to local government. This does not happen in other areas of government. We should not prevent a person in central Government standing in local government elections and vice versa, even if it means that he or she has to give up a seat. Otherwise we are implying that local government is not as important as central...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The Senator is in Government.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I wish to respond briefly to the Minister's points. We are not making the break between local government and national politics because we are allowing councillors to run for election in national politics. It is a one-sided break and that is unfair. It is not unforeseeable that somebody would wish to transfer from national to local politics, particularly people who have come in under this...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I am withdrawing it but I ask the Minister to reconsider it. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment No. 3 not moved. Question put: "That section 2 stand part of the Bill." Tá

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I am not sure if my party was opposed to this provision when it was originally mooted. However, I know from talking to people in my party that it is an idea which gained persuasiveness once introduced. The former Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, introduced this new provision to achieve a power balance between the manager and the mayor, given that the mayor...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: There is merit in what Senator Bannon has to say but there are also practical considerations in this regard. It was suitable and appropriate to hold the referendum on local government on the same day as the local elections. There should be a balance. Several referenda should not be held on the same day and we should ensure the people are not confused. I thought the work of the Referendum...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I support this proposal, especially its principle, and I agree with Senator Bannon's comments. This amendment could represent the start of the process of increasing the powers of local authorities, but much more needs to be done. The matters mentioned in the amendment are suitable for local authority consideration – I agree that a form of local accountability in relation to policing needs...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: A myth is being perpetuated that councillors are not taking responsibility, but this is not true because every local authority has a waste charge now. The Minister might not like the fact that dissent is being expressed.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: That is not true. People in my party voted for charges.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Many did so because they believe in charges and local taxes. The Minister is misrepresenting people who disagree. I know there are different views among such people, but they largely disagree with the type of tax regime that obtains. They are not saying they do not want to pay the taxes but are concerned about the injustice of taxes that are not income related or use related. The waiver...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 17: In page 6, before section 8, to insert the following new section: 8.–Section 5 of the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 is hereby repealed in so far as the section relates to limitation of election expenses and accordingly sections 72 and 75 of the Electoral Act 1997 are hereby revived to that extent.". It is anomalous that there are...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I am sorry to hear the Minister's remarks. I am worried at the idea of repealing the legislation on expenditure limits.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Spending limits should be imposed. I do not want elections to be run here as they are in the United States of America where it is all about extensive funding from large corporations. These questions arise from problems we have had in the past. If no limits are in place, candidates will be competing with people who are spending huge amounts of money, which will beg the question of the source...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 18: In page 6, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: " Section 14(1)(a) In paragraph (a), delete ', or'. " This amendment relates to an anomaly in the legislation. I refer to the question of allowing a person to run for and secure election to two local authorities. A casual vacancy therefore arises, undoing the mandate of the people. That is questionable. I...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 19: In page 7, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: " Section 217(1)(a) In paragraph (a), delete 'may' and substitute 'shall'. (b) In paragraph (b), delete '12 months' and substitute '2months' ". I am trying to facilitate the Government with this amendment. It may be aware that there is a constitutional problem regarding the way the legislation is drafted...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I disagree with the Minister's point that the system has been tested. The 1999 referendum fundamentally changed things and the system has not been tested since. The Minister said it will have the effect of ensuring councils adopt their estimates. The threat of an election would also concentrate minds. I do not think people would relish an election every few months. The Dáil cannot be...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: It was the choice of the Dáil. Local authorities do not have to go back to the people; they can adopt their estimates. My proposal would focus their minds and ensure they would get their act together. The threat that national Government can abolish local authorities indicates that local government is the lesser of the two. It is dictating to local government.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The most important thing is that section 28(a) does not provide for that. I do not know if that was the intention of the Administration at the time. It tabled a significant amendment on local government. Many challenges the Minister has not foreseen will arise. It is difficult to know what the outcome of court proceedings might be but I am sure someone will successfully challenge the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I support Senator Ó Murchú's call for the Minister, Deputy Ó Cúiv, to come before the House to discuss the issue of Irish emigrants. I note he is quoted today as saying that it is payback time for these emigrants and that many of them are worse off in their host countries than they would be here. I would like the Minister to explain what the Government is doing to support those emigrants,...