Results 521-540 of 1,414 for speaker:Barry Ward

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I am very happy to welcome this Bill. It sets out some important issues we need to discuss in this Chamber. At the outset, I acknowledge the work the Minister, Deputy McEntee, my party colleague, has done in the area. As Minister for Justice, she has put particular emphasis on the resolution of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which all Members...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I will first say that I appear in court on behalf of the Garda Commissioner and I am a member of the ICCL. I do not believe that either circumstance conflicts me, but I wanted to declare it at the outset. The questions I wish to ask relate to false positives and the concerns in that regard. I have listened to what the Garda has said about this essentially being a data-processing tool...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: Let us say that garda A is sitting down and working with the technology and the technology generates a match. Is there a concern, or what protocols have been put in place to address the concern, that the technology corroborates the garda’s view to the point where he or she might have a doubt but dismisses it on the basis that he or she is relying on the technology rather than his or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I accept that, but in circumstances where a garda is investigating a serious offence and is under considerable pressure to identify someone, what do we do to avoid the danger that the garda, however well trained, might naturally feel pressure to find someone to prosecute, investigate or whatever the case may be? What is there specifically to disincentivise following the chain in a way that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: One of the points that has come out of these discussions is the importance of the protocols from the Department and within An Garda Síochána. Is there any proposed protocol or measure that will penalise someone or is there any consequence for a garda who gets it wrong when he or she should objectively have got it right?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I thank the witnesses.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I want to raise the same issue. What I want to say is not a political commentary on what has happened but to say that sports and politics do not mix. What is really unfortunate about this situation is that individual players who only want to play the game and do their best to represent Ireland are now being put at the centre of a political controversy. They do not deserve that. What is...

Seanad: Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: Like others, I join in expressing my condolences to the Bruton family and our colleague Richard.John was a young man both in heart and in body and, at 76, too young to die. Throughout his career, he was young for what he was doing. He left office as Taoiseach just after he turned 50, so the fact that he continued to be so involved in public life, but in a very understated way, is a credit...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, to delete lines 1 to 4. Amendment No. 1 seeks to amend section 2 of the Bill, on page 4. Section 2 inserts a new section 6A into the Coroners Act 1962, as amended, and makes a number of provisions. I welcome this Bill. It contains important parts. The Bill acknowledges the fact that a sunset clause will come in on 21 February regarding Dublin...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I understand entirely where the Minister of State is coming from. These are issues that were canvassed on Second Stage and the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, probably gave a similar view. I was aware of the opinion of the Attorney General regarding independence. I do not agree that there is a legal impediment to this, and there probably is not, but my objection is based on the...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: Yes.

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, to delete lines 5 to 24.

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, line 39, to delete “for one further period” and substitute “for such further periods”. On what was said about the terms and conditions, there is no doubt this legislation will substantially change the terms and conditions of coroners. It will not only result in them being limited to holding office for five years, it will...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I appreciate what the Minister of State said. Obviously, we do not have the benefit of seeing the Minister's legal advice, and while I accept it is against indefinite renewal, I do not see any legal impediment to that.I see a good practice impediment. Again, I think the notion there is a review after five years solves that problem. You can put systems in place to ensure it is not a...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, to delete lines 31 to 36, and in page 10, to delete lines 1 to 8 and substitute the following: “ “14A.(1) The Minister may decline to appoint, or remove from office, a coroner or deputy coroner if he or she— (a) is, or has been, convicted on indictment of an offence, (b) is, or has been, convicted of an offence involving fraud...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I agree with Senator Horkan that it is important to take on board what the Coroners Society of Ireland is saying. It has written to the Minister and to Members of both Houses. Engagement with it is important. I said this on Second Stage. I know a public consultation was opened by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in October. I was aware of it. It seems the Coroners Society of Ireland was...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I move amendment No. 5: In page 10, line 12, to delete “and section 6A(6E)”.

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: Before the Bill passes, may I make one comment?

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I again acknowledge the importance of this legislation. I acknowledge that a sunset clause is coming on 21 February and we have to do something about that. I will say, however, with respect to the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, who has nothing to do with what I am about to criticise, that it is not appropriate to bring legislation such as this to the House and say Committee, Report and...