Results 6,101-6,120 of 9,148 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 4:In page 21, line 21, to delete “12 months” and substitute “6 months”.

Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 1:In page 12, line 24, to delete "12 months" and substitute "6 months". This is to reduce the period of 12 months to six months. It is just for the council to adopt and publish guidelines concerning judicial conduct and ethics or revisions of those guidelines once received by it.

Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: Then I should also deal with section 17, in respect of which I have a similar amendment. It is to change the period of six months to three months. Section 17 deals specifically with the judicial studies committee. My third amendment relates to section 18, which points to the reason for my tabling these amendments. The amendment to section 18 is to deal with the personal injuries...

Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: That is a good point.

Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Judicial Council Bill has been about 20 years coming. The origins of this Bill can be traced back to a report prepared by a working group on a courts commission established in 1999. It was asked to report to the then Chief Justice, Liam Hamilton, on the question of judicial conduct and ethics. One of its recommendations was the establishment of a judicial council to promote efficiency...

Parole Bill 2016: Fifth Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister should not get carried away.

Parole Bill 2016: Fifth Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister is beginning to sound like the Minister of State, Deputy Boxer Moran.

Parole Bill 2016: Fifth Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I wish to emulate other Members. I welcome the passage of the Parole Bill. It is important legislation and it will be of benefit to the criminal justice system. It will be of particular assistance to the victims of crime who now will know when persons who perpetrated crimes will be eligible for and be able to apply for parole. The victims of crime will now also be able to make submissions...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: These are all necessary consequential amendments and I support them.

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: One of the advantages in not being the Minister is one does not have to respond on every amendment. I will take up what Deputy Sherlock said. Section 27 which is being inserted into the Bill by way of amendment No. 37 takes care of the Deputy's concern. It provides that the board, in deciding whether to grant parole, shall take into account the nature and gravity of the offence to which...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: Again, this replicates the provision that was in the original Act. We are talking about a revocation of a parole order. When a person is given parole it is legally quite complicated. The person has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment and he or she is being released from prison. That has to be effected. The proposed legislation will effect this through the issuing of a parole order....

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: In the Bill as drafted and passed through Committee Stage, section 22 had a provision dealing with parole orders, section 24 dealt with variation of parole orders, and section 25 dealt with the revocation of parole orders. In many respects there is not much difference between that and the new sections the Minister is proposing, which deal with parole orders, refusal of application and...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I appreciate Deputy Connolly's interest in the legislation. When the Bill was originally drafted I put down the statutory provision that a prisoner could not apply for parole if he or she was serving a life sentence until he or she served 12 years. The effect of that, if it is enacted, will take a great deal of pressure off the Parole Board. At present, the Parole Board has to consider...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not purport to answer for the Minister. The difference, from the previous version of this Bill, is that now the applicant will have legal representation. That will enable the applicant to ensure that he or she is provided with all the relevant information before his or her application can be made or considered.

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister is correct when he said the essence of what was in Part 3 of my Bill has been retained in the amendments. Under Part 3 of the legislation, the parole process is set out. In the Bill, as originally drafted, we included sections dealing with guiding principles, criteria for parole, eligibility and consideration for parole. In many respects, the Minister's draft has it in a very...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: These are probably the most significant amendments that have been tabled by the Government. They will change the Bill as originally drafted. Under the Bill as passed on Second Stage - it went through Committee Stage as well - there were to be panels and panel convenors. Under the legislation as originally drafted, there were to be reviews and hearings. Reviews would take place on the...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: These amendments seek to set out the statutory regime in respect of the staff and the chief executive of the board. I am sure neither the Minister, nor I or anyone else wants this to turn into a large quango. I do not believe that will be the case. The Parole Board currently operates efficiently on limited resources and I do not see any reason it should have to become much bigger as a...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: These amendments amend the Part of the Bill that governs the Parole Board. Amendment No. 17 seeks to provide a more precise definition of the functions of the board than was outlined in section 7 of the Bill as originally drafted. I am happy to go along with that. The amendment is effective and beneficial. As the Minister stated, amendment No. 18 sets out specifically what the...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome this debate on the Parole Bill and I share the sentiment expressed by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on our joining together to enact it. I put down many amendments which got through on Committee Stage and I have not put down further amendments for this Stage. I support the amendments the Minister has referred to, namely, amendments Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, which in effect expand and...

Parole Bill 2016: Report Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is our Bill.