Results 2,261-2,280 of 2,629 for speaker:Tim O'Malley

Written Answers — Suicide Incidence: Suicide Incidence (26 Jan 2005)

Tim O'Malley: Since the publication of the report of the national task force on suicide in 1998, there has been a positive and committed response from both the statutory and voluntary sectors towards finding ways of tackling the tragic problem of suicide. I am fully committed to the intensification of suicide prevention measures and, in this regard, work is now well underway on the preparation of a...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (26 Jan 2005)

Tim O'Malley: The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Responsibility for funding rests with the executive. My Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's western area to investigate...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Jan 2005)

Tim O'Malley: As the Deputy is aware, Sustaining Progress makes a commitment that "the Department of Health and Children will carry out a strategic review of existing service provision, in consultation with relevant interests, with a view to enhancing health and personal social services to meet the needs of people with disabilities". This review has commenced and it is anticipated that it will be completed...

Seanad: Mental Health Services. (26 Jan 2005)

Tim O'Malley: I thank Senator Henry for giving me the opportunity to outline the position in respect of this issue. Responsibility for the provision of mental health services at St. James's Hospital is a matter for the HSE eastern region and the HSE south-western area. According to figures supplied to my Department, the cost of the St. James's Hospital area 3 mental health service will be in excess of €9...

Seanad: Health Board Services. (26 Jan 2005)

Tim O'Malley: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The Government has made services for older people a priority and is fully committed to the development of a comprehensive health service capable of responding quickly, fully and effectively to the health needs of older people. In recent years, health and social services for older people have improved, both in hospitals and in the community. Since...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: The positions are static security posts in State buildings. Every such post requires five persons to meet the commitment. We are speaking of specific locations, namely, the Courts Service, a Department of State, the Office of the Attorney General, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, the National Gallery of Ireland and the board of the National Museum of Ireland. The Minister is specific...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: We can return to it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: This is a simple drafting change to delete the word "application" and insert "objection" in section 92(5).

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: The Minister is opposed to this amendment for the reasons he outlined last Friday during the debate on a similar subject arising from amendment No. 94, which concerned section 60. The Minister stated that, in the context of a criminal proceeding, the role of the ombudsman commission is purely investigatory in nature and that it would be wrong for it to have a prosecution role in addition to...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: The Minister is opposed to amendments Nos. 117 and 118. The intention behind them is to extend the current provisions to provide for the ombudsman commission to investigate on its own initiative any matter regarding the activities of the Garda Síochána, particularly policing practices. This is unnecessary because adequate provision is made in section 98 for the commission to examine certain...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: The Minister is not prepared to accept this amendment. The purpose of section 100 is to ensure that appropriate administrative arrangements are agreed between the Garda Commissioner and the Garda Síochána ombudsman commission on certain important operational activities. The aim is to ensure that the resources of both organisations are used efficiently and effectively and that opportunities...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: That is a good suggestion and we can look at it.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: This is the usual type of provision which provides for the making of a ministerial order appointing a day for the establishment of this part of the Bill. Such an order must be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. It might be useful if I set out the background to provisions in Government amendments Nos. 120 to 127, inclusive. The Minister proposes to establish a new Garda Síochána...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: This is the usual type of provision providing for the establishment of the Garda Síochána inspectorate.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: Subsections (1), (2) and (3) provide for a three-person body to be appointed by the Government with the appropriate gender clause and the appointment of one of those persons as chief inspector. Subsection (4) sets out the selection criteria for members of the inspectorate. It covers the appointment of a senior police officer, serving or retired, from outside the State, the intention being...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I thank Senator Maurice Hayes for his comments. I will deal with the issue of publication later.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: In order to give the Government maximum flexibility subsection (1) does not specify any definitive period of appointment for any of the inspectors. It seems likely that different aspects of the work of the Garda Síochána will be examined from time to time. Some areas will be more complex than others and the time involved to complete inspections will be less in some cases than others. The...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: The amendment places an unnecessary restriction on the flexibility I wish to leave available to the Government in this important area. Subsection (1) of the new section 108 to be inserted following acceptance of amendment No. 123, does not specify any definite period of appointment for any inspector so as to give the Government maximum flexibility in this regard. Different aspects of the work...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I thank the Senators for their remarks. It would not be normal for a person to be appointed more than once.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Tim O'Malley: I move amendment No. 124: In page 67, before section 105, to insert the following new section: 109.—(1) The objective of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate is to ensure that the resources available to the Garda Síochána are used so as to achieve and maintain the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its operation and administration, as measured by reference to the best...