Results 461-480 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: The balance in the criminal law review group comprehensively covered the shield and the dropping of the shield in respect of character evidence. I welcome the fact that it has been taken up in this Bill. I fully support the Minister's amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister for his explanation, but I am not entirely convinced. One could argue that the principle of double jeopardy which I classify as a common law right has been used and referred to in various judgments of the courts and has, at times, been invoked as a constitutional right. In this legislation we are interfering with that principle. Therefore, retrospection would not...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: Having clarity on this issue would obviate the need for protracted discussion on Report Stage. However, I fail to understand the Minister's argument. We are aware of the constitutional principle of the separation of powers and it is respected in this House or is endeavoured to respect it. The suggestion is that to abolish retrospectively the double jeopardy principle is to interfere with...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I did not table an amendment on this point because I wanted to hear the Minister's views on the matter. It is not an easy question but the debate has been useful and I reserve my position about tabling an amendment on Report Stage to deal with the issue because I am not quite content with the argument advanced by the Minister.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I think Senator Bacik is correct. The phraseology is contradictory. The Minister referred to the separation of powers yet in the same sentence we have the courts, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions certifying matters. The solution is that if we want to limit appeals to matters of exceptional public importance or if it is desirable in the public interest that such...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: When I was speaking to the amendment, the Cathaoirleach intervened to advise that the sitting was to be suspended. I had indicated that the Minister had referred to the separation of powers and I suggested the court, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions were in the same frame in this section. It should be a matter for the court to decide. If we are directing that an...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: That is the issue. It is appropriate that the screening to which the Minister refers should be used only in these cases. It is a matter for the court to decide and it would be better if the court decided on foot of submissions made rather than the phraseology used in the legislation.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: The Minister's reply is predictable, particularly in the context of our previous discussion on the matter. There is no question that the victims' charter is comprehensive. If its provisions are implemented in an effective manner, the charter can go a long way towards meeting the needs of victims in being provided with information and involved in the criminal prosecution process. I welcome...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: The Minister said my intervention suggested there were no legislative provisions for the victims of crime. In fact, that is my point. There are legislative provisions for the victims of crime and what I suggest with these amendments is that we complete the process. The framework decision, which this country is legally obliged to implement, recognises that victims should have rights in the...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I will reserve my position for Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I would like to make one point about this, although it probably comes under section 8.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: I can deal with it under this amendment. The Minister has spoken about the prospective effect of the change in the double jeopardy rule. I wonder why that is the case. I would like hear the Minister's clarification on it. We have a different constitutional position to the UK, but when the double jeopardy rule was limited in that country, it was made retrospective. It is a common law...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: The purpose of these amendments is to take account of the position of victims of crime and to provide them with legal representation. Amendment No. 18 refers to the information given by the Garda Síochána to victims of crime in terms of early release on bail and the terms of such release. Amendment No. 19 refers to information in respect of parole and the notice of prosecution for breach...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: That would be too much.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Eugene Regan: The question has been raised of whether we face a national emergency or disaster because of the flooding. The Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, indicated that as Dublin was not affected, a national emergency was not being declared. Given that the car of the Minister, Deputy Lenihan, has since been submerged in water along the Strawberry Beds, perhaps we can now declare a national...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: I also want to raise the matter of farm incomes, as referred to by Senator John Paul Phelan. The Irish Farmers Association estimates farm incomes in 2009 will show a drop of 28% on top of a 13% drop in the previous year. Farmers particularly have been affected by the recent flooding, on top of such a devastating fall in income. There are also villages and towns which are badly affected....

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: I revert to the issue of a cap on the pay of banking executives. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Lenihan attempted to explain the sequence of events regarding the cap on the pay of the new chief executive or managing director of AIB. He said when he was informed of the matter he made no decision on it and, as any Minister for Finance would do in the circumstances, he brought it to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: -----by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey. I ask that the Minister come to the House and explain the situation. A new licence was granted in record time to another operator and a local businessman who took the initiative of setting up this excellent service has been done down by the Minister for Transport.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: We have a free press.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: There is no doubt AIB has outwitted the Minister for Finance on its choice of managing director and on executive pay.