Results 3,641-3,660 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: International Criminal Court Bill 2003: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2006)

Jim Walsh: Next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (6 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: I ask the Leader to organise a debate early in the next term on industrial relations in the public service and semi-State companies. We have discussed Aer Lingus today and Iarnród Éireann in the past with regard to the disruption to the travelling public caused by disputes. In any well-regulated, dynamic economy, the customer is king but unfortunately that message has not got through to...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (6 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: That is a question of the reliability of the contractor.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: On amendments Nos. 38 and 39, it does not appear that the paragraph would make sense upon removing the word "who". One could remove "who is" or there would be nothing wrong with leaving "who". If "who" is removed instead of "who is", it will read a person "is convicted of a second or subsequent offence" and lead into "shall be sentenced", which would be changed as a result of the Minister's...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: Like Senator Cummins, I welcome the passage of this comprehensive Bill, which will have beneficial effects. I am not sure whether it was Senator Henry or Senator Norris who referred to the fact that balancing in the criminal justice system is always a challenge. In this Bill we have seen a rebalancing to the extent that it is necessary, including with regard to witness statements, which if...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: I move: "That the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 be recommitted in respect of amendment No. 3."

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: Members have canvassed an interesting point in regard to these amendments. This section follows the Canadian model and provides that a judge can take into account where inconsistent statements are subsequently withdrawn. It is important that there should not be impediments in this regard. I can see, as Senator Tuffy said, that solicitors will make an argument when the witness is hostile...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: I take an entirely converse view to that expressed by Senators Norris and Henry. I fully support sections 113 to 119, inclusive, and consider them an essential component of the Bill. I take on board the comments made by Senators Norris and Henry in regard to protecting children when it comes to the operation of ASBOs. That is dealt with in sections 159 to 166, inclusive. The issues have been...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: There are many who could not afford to do it.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: I will repeat a point I made on Second Stage. Would it be possible to hold a person for another year or two years if his or her sentence was to expire before he or she was 19 or 20 years of age rather than imprisoning them? I greatly dislike imprisoning young people, particularly if they have displayed good behaviour in detention centres. Prisons can become institutes of higher criminal...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: This section deals with reckless endangerment. Under this section it becomes a more serious offence for someone in authority over a child to intentionally or recklessly cause or permit the child to be placed in a situation which would create a substantial risk. This offence carries the maximum penalty of a fine, or ten years imprisonment or both. On the face of it, I fully support this...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: There was considerable debate on mandatory sentencing on Second Stage. I differ from Senator Cummins in believing that if the Oireachtas decides a particular crime merits a mandatory minimum sentence that is the sentence that should be given. I do not have any difficulty if judicial discretion is used in order to suspend a portion of it but that is preferable to a lower sentence. At the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: I raised this matter on Second Stage. I welcome the provision to make it an offence to participate in a criminal gang which the Minister said is based on the Canadian criminal code. It has not been widely used there and probably will not be widely used here because it is difficult to prove. Its effect, however, is that anybody who participates in, or in any way contributes to, a gang involved...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister's comments in this regard, including his promise to consider the matter. I agree fully with him that serious moral questions arise in this regard. Some diverse views were expressed in Canada during the controversial and broad debate on this issue there. Witness protection programmes are absolutely essential in the fight against crime. We need to do everything we can to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: God forbid.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: I mentioned earlier the need for a psychiatric assessment where it is deemed necessary or where a superintendent deems it desirable. I would be more comfortable with the use of a questionnaire as much psychoanalysis can now be done through the use of such methods. There is provision in the Bill for the use of such techniques to be added to the assessment process as part of its modus operandi....

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: It is very unlikely.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: The new GP card might cover it.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: It would be remiss not to welcome the introduction of the provision that gun clubs, irrespective of whether they are rifle or pistol clubs, must seek authorisation. This is a new section and it is the first time this provision has been introduced. I compliment the Minister in this regard. Section 34 deals with the possibility of establishing an inspectorate to ensure that gun clubs are fully...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Jim Walsh: The arguments made by Senator Norris are plausible, particularly in so far as the proposal would protect the Garda against false accusations. There is an onus on the accused to co-operate and he or she would be committing an offence by not co-operating in the first place. If proceedings are videotaped it will bring a uniform approach to the procedures whereby the gardaí extract hair or swabs...