Results 4,101-4,120 of 4,915 for speaker:Jim O'Keeffe

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I suppose there is a general power in that regard. Perhaps the point I have made is covered in that provision. I will not press this issue further.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: That is fair enough.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I am glad the Minister has deigned to advise the House about the reason for this mysterious process. Since I last spoke on the Bill I have received a second additional list of amendments. This is in addition to the seven or eight lists of amendments that have been given to me since this morning. It is objectionable, now that we have commenced the debate on Report Stage, to have even more...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: We understand he had to get his photograph taken in Dublin Castle. He could not avoid that opportunity.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: It is not a matter for the Minister to allocate the time that should be made available to this country's Parliament to discuss the 284 amendments before the House which, according to the Government, must be dealt with over the next 30 hours. Suggestions from the Minister that the Opposition is wasting time because its Members raise points——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: ——which they consider legitimate is a further indication of the absolute arrogance of this Minister and the contempt he has for the Parliament.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: His further comments reinforce my point. I have no problem with the relocation of the definition of the Committee of Public Accounts to a different part of section 3. However, it leads to a further matter which the Minister can deal with now or at a later stage. According to the Minister, a number of issues will be dealt with in the Bill. One of these is a whistleblowers' charter but I have...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I have put down an amendment to section 75. I have consistently believed that there must be scrutiny in this House of the operation of the Bill. That involves the proposal I made to establish an Oireachtas security committee. Does the Minister have a comment on that?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: The Minister's view of such a committee is relevant.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Does the Minister's view relate to mine?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Does the Minister agree this committee should be fully resourced and have similar powers to those of the Committee of Public Accounts?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Does the Minister agree that the Chairman should be a member of the Opposition, to move it outside the loop?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I have no problem with the amendment, but I expect the Minister to answer the question.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: It would be useful to clarify the issue once and for all. I understand that "Garda Síochána", literally translated, means "guardian of the peace". However, the Bill is referred to as "the Garda Síochána Bill", which would mean "the guardian of the peace Bill". When we refer to it with the definite article, we have a hybrid outcome, in that we refer to the force as "the Garda Síochána",...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: It is useful to debate this issue which goes to the root of what we are discussing. Having reflected on the matter, however, I have come to the view that we should probably retain what has been there over years. As far as I am concerned, if it was good enough for Kevin O'Higgins in 1925, it is good enough for me in 2005. I am prepared to accept the Title as it stands.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: The purpose of the amendment is to continue to ensure that the authority of the present regulation continues until new regulations are made under the new Act. Is that the idea?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Section 119 continues the existing regulations.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Section 115 will be the legislative basis for new regulations.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I have no problem with the amendment.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Deputy Costello made a substantive point that must be examined in much more detail. I wish to raise a drafting point. The Bill as presently drafted states, " "Disciplinary Regulations" means regulations made under section 115". The proposal in the amendment is to delete the three words "means regulations made" and to add "means— (a) the 1989 Regulations, as amended under section 119, for as...