Results 20,501-20,520 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (4 Jun 2008)

Charles Flanagan: The Lisbon treaty proposes to give the parliaments of member states eight weeks after publication to vet a proposal and offer an opinion. Under the terms of the treaty, if a number of national parliaments object, the proposal must be reviewed. Each national parliament has two votes, with the Dáil and Seanad having one each. The review must take place if a third of the national parliaments...

Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (4 Jun 2008)

Charles Flanagan: It is important scrutiny is carried out by national parliaments and committees, and that committees are not a rubber stamp and tool of Government.

Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Earlier today in a press release the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who was skirting the House just now, requested the co-operation of the Opposition in the easy passage of the Sale of Alcohol Bill through the House before the summer recess. As there are only nine sitting days left and this Bill was only published today, it is one of five on the A list in the area of justice...

Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Charles Flanagan: It seems the Government is building up to a massive guillotine in the last nine days of this session. Ministers seeking co-operation from this side of the House should know it will only be forthcoming for legislation flagged well in advance with ample opportunity allowed for appropriate scrutiny of the sort expected under the Constitution. For a Minister to send out a press release implying...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (4 Jun 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of urgent importance, namely, the consequences for the criminal justice system as a result of the complete failure of our bail laws, notwithstanding changes in legislation and a national referendum a decade ago, the fact that crimes being committed by persons on bail have risen by over 60% in the past four years...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (29 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Question 124: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 404 of 20 May 2008, the detail of formal procedure in place at Athlone Institute of Technology; if his attention has been drawn to claims of bullying and harassment at the institute with particular reference to employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21601/08]

Legal Services Ombudsman Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Last evening, I made the rather obvious point that a certain momentum has been building up for reform in this area over the past number of years. I acknowledge a significant element of public disquiet in so far as the handling of complaints is concerned with regard to speed, transparency and accountability. A perception exists that matters are not as independent as they might be. This issue...

Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Earlier this year for party political, partisan reasons, the Government refused to accept a Fine Gael Private Members' Bill on cluster munitions, promising its own initiative. Having regard to the successful negotiation of the cluster munitions convention in Croke Park this week, where stands the legislation promised? Will it be published prior to the summer recess? Why was the Fine Gael...

Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: It will be no different.

Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: The figures show it.

Legal Services Ombudsman Bill 2008: Second Stage (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the introduction of this Bill. It puts on a statutory footing the office of the legal services ombudsman, which will oversee the handling of complaints by the Bar Council and the Law Society. It will also review the procedures on admissions policy and will make reports to this House from time to time. The creation of the post of legal services ombudsman is a most significant...

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: And his own party.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: It does not take 15 years for that.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I profess I do not have any specialist expertise or knowledge in this area. I rise merely to speak as a representative of one of the constituencies it appears will be adversely affected by the proposed changes. I wonder about the purpose of this debate. What credence or weight can be placed on our making statements here today? I hope the Minister when replying will enlighten us as to the...

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Yes and that, a Cheann Comhairle, would be quite the opposite to affinity. Let us examine for a moment what will happen in respect of Garda divisions. It is proposed that Garda divisions be changed to accord with county boundaries, yet we are splitting County Offaly. In regard to court districts, County Offaly is in the midlands circuit which extends from Sligo to south Laois. It is now...

Crime Levels (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Question 82: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the new measures he proposes to introduce to address the escalating levels of knife crime. [21185/08]

Crime Levels (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: The Government has been in office for one year during which time there has been a 27% increase in murders, a 20% increase in firearms offences, as published today and a 31% increase in drug-related offences. Ireland has become a more violent and vicious place in which to live. In 2003, eight murders were attributed to knife crime. By 2006 this number had increased to 23 and in 2007 to 36....

Garda Stations. (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: Question 87: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his vision for the future of rural Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21151/08]

Garda Stations. (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he meet with the Garda Commissioner at an early date to initiate a review on the matter of rural policing? How many Garda stations have closed and ceased operating since his party came to power in 1997? How many Garda stations are now operating on short time? In the late 1990s, his Government initiated the "green man" scheme where the operation of...

Garda Stations. (28 May 2008)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome——