Results 2,561-2,580 of 4,931 for speaker:Mary White

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: In the Dáil, the Minister for Defence outlined his experience of dealing with gangs in Limerick and the evidence he provided in that regard is compelling. Two weeks ago I visited St. Patrick's Institution, part of which is devoted to catering for children between the ages of 16 and 18. Many of the children who are being held there work as couriers for the mobs and gang leaders in Limerick....

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: It is your constituency.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: He was outlining his experience.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: It has taken much hard neck on my part to speak. Five people are speaking on this issue, of whom I am the sole lay participant. There are two barristers, a professor of criminal law and the Minister. However, I am speaking from a commonsensical point of view. I do not agree with Senator Alex White and I beg to differ with the Minister. I believe that one's experience as a representative...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: It has everything to do with it. I am not a legal person and I am speaking on this issue because I believe this measure must take effect. One awakens every morning to the news that someone somewhere has been shot, and something must be done in this regard. The socio-economic consequences of such gangland warfare and organisations must be dealt with in a firm manner. Moreover, there should...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Is it appropriate to quote the comments of former judge, Mr. Feargus Flood, in the newspapers at the weekend?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Yes. He said that he had presided over gangland trials where juries had returned the wrong verdict. In what was described as the most outspoken contribution on the Bill by a sitting or former judge, Mr. Flood said the plans of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to send gangland trials to the non-jury Special Criminal Court were necessary to maintain...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: The Bill states that "In subsection (1) 'expertise' means experience, specialised knowledge or qualifications". That does not mean that any garda will be called on. We presume the person called will have expertise in this area. Until a month ago I knew very little about gangland activity. One month ago, Councillor Arthur McDonald asked me to visit Carlow because of the number of bank...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: He is helping me on an all-Ireland project on ageing. He brought a case to the High Court claiming that he should not have to retire at 60. An assistant commissioner should not have to retire at 60. His expertise is lost to the force. I would have that man on any project I was working on because he is a great person with tremendous knowledge. The Garda Síochána is being deprived of his...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Is Senator Donohoe saying they are the only ones who can offer this testimony?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Why does Senator Donohoe say that?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Senator O'Donovan eloquently explained what is meant. In case Senator Donohoe thinks I was not aware of gangs, nothing could be further from the truth. I received a detailed briefing from gardaí at the highest level on what is happening and I intend to have them come to the audio-visual room in the autumn to present to all Members of the Oireachtas the tremendous work they are doing to try...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Senator Donohoe misread-----

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: I am telling him that he did.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: You did.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Does Senator Donohoe want us all to sit as dummies and nobody to say anything?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: I do not want to hold up the passage of the Bill. It is innovative and has to be passed. The Minister would be in dereliction of his duties if he had not had the courage and the nerve to bring the Bill to the Oireachtas. The Bill was passed in the Dáil by 118 votes to 23 and that speaks for itself. It reflects the people of Ireland-----

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: God, Senator Bacik is great for overstepping the mark herself.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (14 Jul 2009)

Mary White: Hear, hear.