Results 22,361-22,380 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Over the past five years one Secretary General and three Assistant Secretaries retired from my Department. A total of €1,094,572 was paid in retirement lump sums and special severance gratuities to the four people in question. Retirement lump sums accounted for €979,613 of the overall total and represented between 1.21 times and 1.5 times the annual salary on which superannuation...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I remind Deputies of the general position, which I set out earlier, and the respective contributions that can be made by legislation and otherwise towards meeting the genuine needs and concerns of victims. This applies also to the current set of amendments. I will not labour the point but will make a few observations on the proposals included in this group. At first sight these amendments...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am not accepting these amendments because the policy behind them is confused and because, as presented, they would cause drafting difficulties. More significantly, they would require elaborate systems for their operation, which would not be targeted but would use up resources better employed in providing services where there is a demand.

Business of Dáil (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, I would like to thank the Deputies who participated in the debate on the Criminal Procedure Bill. It is an important Bill, and although some of its effects may take some time to be seen, they will, nevertheless, be significant. By opening the possibility of retrials in the event of undeserved acquittal, the Bill ensures a...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is not the penguins, nor the zoo. This group of amendments deals with two broad areas, namely, the treatment of victims in amendments Nos. 1 and 2 and information to be given to victims in Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive. I acknowledge the Deputies' concern for victims of crime and the need to improve the manner in which their needs and concerns are addressed by the criminal justice system. I...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: While I heard what the Deputy had to say, I must simply agree to disagree with him. The balance the Minister has struck is correct and it is important to know the limitations of legislation in some circumstances and that tools like charters can work more flexibly and effectively. Ultimately, it is very important that people are protected. As Deputy Shatter stated, the best way to provide a...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The tortoise won the race.

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: This amendment repeats an amendment moved by Deputy Shatter's colleague, Senator Regan, last November on Committee Stage in the Seanad. At the time the Minister urged caution as the issue required careful consideration. He stated his view that issues of anonymity for persons convicted of sexual offences should be considered in the context of legislation governing those offences. This...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Government has outlined its position clearly. This is a systematic way to deal with the issues, in that a general scheme will be laid before the Government. One must go through the procedures to ensure what one does legislatively-----

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: When it is ready. I do not know the date. As the Deputy is aware, a great deal of legislation is being prepared by the Parliamentary Counsel and this must be done properly and comprehensively. These issues are always dealt with as speedily as possible, but I cannot give a date for publication. The Deputy seems to know, given the number of dates he was listing off a few minutes ago, but...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I do not propose to accept this amendment for two reasons. First, a legislative provision which gives a person a right to make an application to a court is normally understood as permitting another person to make that application on his or her behalf. Subsection (3)(a) follows this approach by simply providing that upon application by the person in respect of whom the offence was committed,...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I draw Deputy Rabbitte's attention to subsection (5), which he has referred to. It gives a sentencing court the power to prohibit the broadcasting or publication of all or part of a victim impact statement in the interests of justice. This mechanism provides the court with an alternative solution to that advocated by the Court of Criminal Appeal, albeit in obiter dictum remarks in the Wayne...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is necessary to avoid a situation arising in which a victim was found to be in contempt of court. A better solution is to leave it to the judge if he or she feels it necessary to ensure the non-publication of matters that strayed from the written submission and resulted in damaging allegations against a person. The existing provision in subsection 5 is comprehensive enough and gives...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I do not propose to accept this amendment. It seeks to bring about a provision that already exists in the legislation. It is, therefore, not necessary. Section 5 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993, which will be substituted by section 4, sets out the circumstances in which a sentencing judge is required to take into account victim impact evidence and the circumstances in which a victim has...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Tá sé sa Seanad.

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am responding to this debate because my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, is tied up in the Seanad.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned has made an application for rent supplement but that no decision has been made on her application. The Executive has further advised that the person concerned should contact the Community Welfare Officer at her local health centre regarding her application.

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (7 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department assumed sole responsibility for the registration of customers and subsequent allocation of PPS Numbers in June 2000. The number of PPS Numbers issued in each of the years since June 2000 is contained in the following table. Table perfect in Word. From 19-June 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 102,756 221,956 215,536 191,565 219,954 271,202 311,850...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The total amount paid in respect of carbon offsets for official travel by my Department for 2007, 2008 and 2009 amounted to € 4,811.00. The cost incurred in respect of Minister's travel amounted to € 235.91. This amount has been paid into the Carbon Offset Ireland Account which is administered by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. As the carbon offset rate...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The total cost of travel and subsistence paid to civil servants of various grades in my Department arising from travel to meetings or events in Dublin and Brussels from offices that have been decentralised for 2008, 2009 and 2010 to date is outlined the following table. There were various reasons for travel undertaken from the above decentralised offices to Dublin and Brussels such as...