Results 4,881-4,900 of 4,915 for speaker:Jim O'Keeffe
- Leaders' Questions. (4 May 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: The secrecy of the ballot is not secure.
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: We would all like a higher standard of debate.
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Did the Minister of State ask his own colleague, Deputy Liz O'Donnell?
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: The Minister of State was not in the House.
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: That case is still before the courts.
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for his compliments. It is quite astounding that he should quote the advice of the Constitution Review Group, the Whitaker report of 1996, to shore up his argument for an immediate amendment, in particular not to have an all-party committee examine the issue. Has he forgotten that subsequent to that report was the amendment which apparently caused the problem in 1998, put...
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: In amending the Constitution we should follow the principle of "hasten slowly". Our Constitution is the basic law of the State, protecting our rights and opposing tyranny. It is not the preserve of the Government or even of the Opposition; it belongs to the people. Therefore it must be amended with due deliberation. If one were amending the rules of the local flower club or cattle show, one...
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: They should be made available. This is not something that arose only in recent weeks as we were notified on Spy Wednesday, the Wednesday before Easter, of the Government's intention. If there is a problem, let us have a full debate on its extent. I raised a series of questions with the Minister on that issue. I received 12 pages last night, at 6 p.m., followed two hours later by a further...
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Why did the Minister take so long to respond to my legitimate queries? They came under three headings â defining the problem, exploring the options and the Government's preferred option. It is necessary to examine those points fully. The Minister either had the answers and should have given them to me straightaway or, if he did not have them, did he come to a decision without having...
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Have all the options been examined? What about carrier liability? When I asked if consideration had been given to alternative means of deterring such persons from arriving in Ireland, the Minister in the package he sent to me last night referred to carrier liability arrangements designed to prevent the arrival in Ireland of persons without proper passports or visas. These provisions, however,...
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: I raise the issue as one which should be explored. There are no direct flights to Dublin from Lagos, Bucharest, Manila or any of the other places to which the Minister has referred. A possible legislative approach has been dealt with in some detail by Mr. Colm MacEochaidh, a colleague of the Minister at the Bar and a member of Fine Gael. He argues coherently that as no court or judge has...
- Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: That is part of the problem. There are many aspects of the matter which I would like to bring to the attention of the House which could more sensibly and reasonably be considered in the context of an all-party Oireachtas committee examination. I return to a point I made earlier. If the problem has arisen as a result of Article 2 of the Constitution, it seems the Minister is proposing to amend...
- Written Answers — Montessori Teachers: Montessori Teachers (30 Mar 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Question 158: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether it is unfair and unjust to fully qualified Montessori teachers working in national schools to be regarded and paid as unqualified persons; when the latest report on the issue was received by him; and if he will take the appropriate steps to provide recognition of those with Montessori degrees. [9729/04]
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (30 Mar 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Question 188: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to safety belts for children on school transport provided by, or contracted by his Department, especially in relation to special needs children; and if there is an insistence on the provision of same. [9730/04]
- Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Mar 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Question 200: To ask the Taoiseach the cost to the State in 2002 and 2003 of maintaining a dedicated legislative drafting service in the form of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9545/04]
- Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Mar 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Question 201: To ask the Taoiseach the consideration he has given to the dissolution of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the establishment of satellite offices as has occurred in other comparable jurisdictions, in the context of Government decentralisation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9543/04]
- Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Mar 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Question 202: To ask the Taoiseach the consideration he has given to the dissolution of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the appointment of at least one parliamentary counsel to each Department decentralised, in the context of Government decentralisation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9542/04]
- Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Mar 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Question 203: To ask the Taoiseach the number of Acts, both pre and post-1922, which are in force in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9582/04]
- Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Mar 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Question 204: To ask the Taoiseach the approximate number of pages of both pre and post-1922 Acts which are in force in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9583/04]
- Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Mar 2004)
Jim O'Keeffe: Question 205: To ask the Taoiseach if, in the context of successful and efficient outsourcing of the transposition of EU directives by barristers in private practice, he will direct or encourage a greater use of outsourcing in the drafting of legislation generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9544/04]