Results 381-400 of 891 for speaker:John Minihan

Seanad: Inspector of Prisons Reports: Motion. (22 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: On the other hand, the director of criminal justice at Civitas in the UK has said that prison surveys reveal that the average prisoner commits approximately 140 crimes per year. Imprisonment prevents that crime, along with reassuring victims and the public in general that something is being done to tackle crime. The basic point is that criminal justice is a complex policy area. Imprisonment...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank Senator Fitzgerald for allowing me to speak before him as I have another meeting at noon. I am glad to have this opportunity to outline a few points on this important legislation. To set the context for this legislation and today's debate, I would like to quote Mr. Justice Ryan. On his appointment in September 2003 as chairperson of the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: With his armband on.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (16 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome and support this action to ensure we continue to have the necessary legislation in place to provide as best we can for the security of our State. When the renewal of these provisions is discussed in this House or in Dáil Éireann, contributions typically begin with reference to the circumstances in which this legislation was enacted, namely, the Omagh bombing. The House does not...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (16 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I presume it is in order for me to address the Minister of State.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (16 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: The House does not need me to set out the awfulness of that atrocity. It is without question so I would rather focus on the contentious issue of whether we need to renew these provisions. The valid question of balance between maintaining the security of the State and maintaining appropriate civil liberties persists. Since its establishment in 1976 the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal Reports: Motion. (15 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: To indicate there is no ill-feeling, I would like to begin by quoting a distinguished Member and former leader of the Fianna Fáil Party who said in County Clare many years ago, "As I was saying". Any democracy needs a fully functioning police force that commands the respect and confidence of its citizens. Our democracy needs such a force. Reform of the Garda is necessary and that is the...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal Reports: Motion. (15 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Any democracy needs a fully functioning police force.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal Reports: Motion. (15 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I would like to withdraw and reserve my position to speak later. I would like this matter raised as there is a sequence laid down in Standing Orders. The Minister or Minister of State has the privilege to come in whenever he or she wants. I am quite happy to allow him to speak.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal Reports: Motion. (15 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: The Senator's comment applied to me. It concerned me just walking in to speak. I came in to take the slot prescribed for my party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I join with previous speakers in seeking a debate on child care. No single party has a monopoly on advancing this issue. From interacting with the community, all politicians recognise the need in this regard. Of late, all parties have been putting forward proposals. All parties deserve to have these views aired so we can reach a consensus to advance initiatives and directives in the interests...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister to the House and I also welcome the Bill, the aim of which is to provide for the development of the Grangegorman site in Dublin as a modern campus for the Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT, and to provide the former Eastern Regional Health Authority with upgraded facilities. When the Government decided in December, 1999, that the Department of Education would purchase...

Seanad: Nursing Homes: Statements. (1 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for coming at such short notice to respond to these statements. I appreciate the chance to make some points arising from the exposé aired on television on Monday last. There is no doubting the strength of the reaction among the public, the media and in both Houses of the Oireachtas. I wish to add my voice to the expressions of shock,...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Statements. (25 May 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister and his officials. In comparison to three or six months ago, Iraq has drifted out of the headlines. Much of the news reporting now is of daily death tolls — 30 people were reported killed on Monday and 35 on Tuesday of this week. This is reminiscent of newscasts about Northern Ireland in the past. I welcome this discussion as an effort to ensure the same numbness does...

Seanad: Report of National Task Force on Obesity: Statements. (24 May 2005)

John Minihan: I begin by adding my voice to the expressions of congratulations to the task force for producing this timely and valuable report. Since the Government established the task force in March 2004, it has engaged in a detailed process to develop a strategy to halt the rise and reverse the prevalence of obesity in Ireland. This is a most worthwhile pursuit. Under the excellent chairmanship of Mr....

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

John Minihan: I join previous speakers in extending my sympathy and that of my party to the families who were bereaved by yesterday's horrific accident in County Meath, and to those in the wider community who must be feeling a great deal of pain today. All parents see their children off to school and all parents expect their children to come home. Such an incident must have a terrible impact on them, the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

John Minihan: No, it is not.

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

John Minihan: Twice.

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. It is with a certain amount of trepidation that I enter this debate in the House this afternoon. It is not that I do not welcome the contributions of the Members. Rather, I am concerned about two aspects. First, I am mindful of an article published over the weekend in the national press that was entitled "Keep Suicide out of...

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

John Minihan: The article states: Suicide is an emotive subject on which it is all too easy to stir up public indignation... Whenever someone, especially a young person, takes their own life, there will always be a willing market for a politician or pundit who demands that something must be done... The State cannot stop your relationships ending, or your loved ones dying; they cannot stop people failing...