Results 2,661-2,680 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Medical Research and Training (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: 1215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to offer sponsorship programmes for those studying medicine in Ireland which would contract them to work for the HSE for a specified term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20733/22]

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “ ‘Act of 2018’ means the Data Protection Act 2018; ‘Act of 2019’ means the Parole Act 2019; ‘local district headquarters’ means the local district headquarters of the Garda Síochána which is closest to the place within the county where he...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: The number of hours does not make any difference. The Minister knows-----

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: Absolutely, but An Garda Síochána would actually have some chance of being able to enforce this if people present at local stations rather than elsewhere. I know there is primary legislation and that we are amending it here. I may have misread it and I hope the Minister will correct me if I have but, on the top of page 9 it says that: A person may give a notification under...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: When they are resident here, they must present to-----

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: Is it not unfair to an offender who lives in Granard, County Longford, to have to present in Castlebar? Would it not make more sense for them to present in Granard? That is what the legislation says.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: They do not have to present to a station in that county, they can present to any station.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: The big issue is the word “any”.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: In fairness, this group of amendments is fundamental to the Bill itself. When we have dealt with them, the rest of the debate will run more smoothly. The series of amendments I have tabled are fundamental.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: I will not go into the detail of cases but there are newspaper reports of cases where individuals have been delisted for managing vice rings and for various other convictions relating to sexual offences, including those convicted of possessing material relating to child sexual abuse. That is in the public domain. I personally hate to see where victims waive their anonymity because they are...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 2: In page 8, line 2, to delete “18 years” and substitute “17 years”. The age of sexual consent in this country is 17. Why is there a difference in the age here? There seems to be a lack of consistency between the age of consent and the threshold regarding an individual being placed on the register and the length of time he or she is on...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: That is fair enough and I take the point the Minister is making regarding being 17 versus 18 years of age. Regarding the five years, surely this should be based on the risk assessment carried out and available to the Judiciary at the point of sentencing. Why are we tying the hands of the courts? The Minister will very cogently argue against mandatory sentencing on the basis we are tying the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 3: In page 8, lines 4 and 5, to delete ", which period shall not exceed 5 years,".

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Denis Naughten: I agree with the Minister on the point she made regarding someone coming to reside in an area. There is a big difference between 48 hours and three days from the point of view of someone coming into and leaving the country who wants to exploit this. I ask the Minister to have a look at the matter again prior to Report Stage.