Results 26,421-26,440 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: Could we have some clarity on what exactly we will be voting on?

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: Which amendments are accepted?

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: I take it the other 35 amendments in the name of the Tánaiste are included.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: They have not even been looked at.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: That is the point I made on Second Stage.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome the Tánaiste's thoughtful response and his commitment to reconsider the position. I am putting forward two separate propositions. The first of these is the actual constitutional basis of the provision. This goes beyond the notion of being able to provide an opinion as to future events as opposed to an opinion as to past or current facts, which are a different matter. However,...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: If the advice I received is correct, it appears that the constitutional prerogative of the court to be free to take action would be undermined and that it would be required to accept a chief superintendent's evidence, in the absence of any other evidence, as to the likelihood that an applicant will commit offences on bail and be then required to refuse such bail. If the Tánaiste provides...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: Since, in the absence of this legislation, it is possible for a chief superintendent to provide opinion evidence, what discernible change will the provision bring about?

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: Any garda can do so.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: If a garda is free to give evidence, surely a chief superintendent may do so.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: What does the Tánaiste intend to achieve with this section?

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: Is the Tánaiste satisfied that a chief superintendent's opinion alone would be sufficient grounds to refuse bail?

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: I know these matters but I cannot tell you how I know them.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: I meant to bring a copy of the Shortt judgment with me because I wanted to mention it. Deputy Ardagh is correct, the entire judgment made horrifying reading. Wise and learned opinion was quoted from a former US Supreme Court Associate Justice, Mr. Justice Thurgood Marshall, in giving the Supreme Court's decision in the Shortt case. It gave a clear message to the Legislature, and I suppose...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: They hire bounty hunters to get them.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: Swedes are very compliant.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: We have had a reasonably lengthy discussion on this issue and I would like to move on to important issues such as the seven-day detention provision for listed offences. I would like the Tánaiste to comment on his change of mind since he received a letter on that matter. Will he indicate the other amendments he is minded to take, as we approach the end of the debate? We are on section 11...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: I know Deputies are hanging around. This has been a very constructive and good debate. We made useful changes to the law and found anomalies. We discussed 11 sections out of 51. A total of 156 amendments were tabled and we have not discussed serious issues such as seven day detention. It cannot be acceptable that we simply pass a Bill having discussed 11 sections. Will the Tánaiste...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: Yes.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Howlin: Are we not allowed to introduce amendments?