Results 2,761-2,780 of 4,915 for speaker:Jim O'Keeffe

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: Any Government with the power of its convictions and the interests of the country at heart would do that. That is what I am asking the Minister to do immediately. Let us not put any more legislation on the long finger, let us not defer action. Let us grab the bull by the horns and enact legislation that makes sense, has broad acceptance and will make a difference to Irish householders...

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: If the Government fails to allow the Bill to pass to Committee Stage, it means one of two things. It either agrees with the substance and general direction of the Bill——

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: ——but it refuses to put the interests of the country first, or, alternatively, it disagrees with the proposal and it feels that householders do not need protection, do not need their fears assuaged, and can make do with the law that is in place. Either way, the Government must make a choice. The least we expect of it is to stand by what it believes in. I am accusing the Government of...

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: ——to defend their homes by refusing to support the Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: For the past two days, the Government has engaged in political shadow boxing and has ignored the plight of householders, many of whom feel threatened by the prospect of a break-in. Fine Gael has drafted a sensible Bill which would tip the law back in favour of householders.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: This comes in the wake of a 12% rise in burglaries, according to the latest Garda figures. The Government has no reason not to support the Bill. The Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy McDowell, agree with the thrust of the Bill because it makes sense. Given recent statements from the Government parties, it was not unreasonable for me to expect the Bill would be favourably received. Instead,...

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: The Government does not even have the political conviction to oppose the Bill because it essentially agrees with it, as does the Minister, Deputy McDowell.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister what sort of debate they expect will happen this summer, given that the Dáil goes into a three month recess next week. The truth is that the parties in Government cannot agree among themselves. They want to delay the Bill indefinitely.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: Worse, the Government parties have made facetious assertions about the Bill which have no basis in fact.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: The Taoiseach's statement that the Bill would allow someone to be shot in the garden, but not inside a home, suggests he has not even read the Fine Gael proposals. This bears no resemblance to anything drafted by Fine Gael. I have already referred to the Minister, Deputy McDowell, dreaming up situations where the Bill might be challenged, such as with regard to gate-crashers.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: These comments are facetious. The Minister knows Fine Gael is referring to burglars, not party-goers.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: Fine Gael has received strong support from the public for the Bill. We have been suggesting for at least two years that something must be done to ensure the rights of homeowners. Deputy Kenny made it one of the key justice proposals in his Ard-Fheis speech.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: We want to ensure that people are not forced to retreat from an intruder in their homes, that they can use reasonable force to protect their homes and that they will not sued for doing so.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: The Government should grab the bull by the horns and support the Bill. If the Government refuses to do so, it is playing politics with the right of householders to defend their homes. Fianna Fáil and the PDs should remember that householders have long memories.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: Despite the continuing interruptions by the Minister——

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: I received an e-mail from the United States this morning. It states: I read with interest your plans to try to change the laws to protect homeowners from been sued while protecting there home and families from intruders. Having been born in Ireland and living most of my life there until I moved to the USA eight years ago, I have seen at first hand the changes in Ireland over the. . . years.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: It continued: Gone are the times when you could expect to be safe when you locked your door at night, or walk home at 2 a.m. . . . from the TV club in Harcourt St. to Artane where I lived. When I visit Ireland now I feel unsafe wherever I go day or night . . . I see the Minister for Justice has shelved the idea put forward by your party. From my viewpoint this is another victory for the...

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: I make one final plea to the Government to do the honest, decent thing and allow the Bill through Second Stage. If there are details to be cleared up on Committee Stage, let us do so in the normal fashion. If the Government refuses to do so and does not accept the central thrust of the legislation, it will be answerable for the consequences as it will have sided with the criminals, intruders...

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: The Government, both the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats parties, will be answerable to the electorate for the consequences. This is its final chance. I beg and appeal to it to put home owners first.

Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Jim O'Keeffe: That consideration may be given on Committee Stage.