Results 6,521-6,540 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I am also in favour of anti-social behaviour orders, ASBOs. Anti-social behaviour is becoming a larger part of crime in Ireland. It is still somewhat hidden and statistics should be calculated on the problem. People in my area, not one or two but several, have given up council houses, leaving themselves homeless, in order to escape anti-social behaviour. These may be elderly pensioners...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: There is a certain blurring but there is also an area where definition is needed and that is why we are bringing forward this legislation. This area is not covered by criminal legislation and joyriding is not a specific offence.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: It is but not all joyriding involves stolen cars. There has been criticism of such legislation in the UK but there has also been much positive feedback. Many local authorities and people in communities are involved and many reports state that it has improved areas, which is of benefit to everyone including the children and adults involved in anti-social behaviour. This can help nip such...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: The Minister has grasped the reason I raised the issue. It is not so clear cut whether a person who drives a stolen car into property and damages it can be prosecuted for any other criminal offence.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: The offence of stealing a car differs from that of joyriding and causing damage or danger to property or persons. Perhaps it is another day's work but it is not necessarily true that someone who carried out such an action could be prosecuted for stealing a car because it is a separate issue. Sometimes, the offence of joyriding and causing damage or danger to property or persons is not carried...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: Section 17(2) states, "For the purposes of section 1(1)(d) of the Statutory Declarations Act 1938 a member of the Garda Síochána may take and receive a statutory declaration made under subsection (1)." Subsection (1) refers to the person making the statement rather than a person who is at the time suspected of having committed an offence. Is there not a conflict of interest in giving powers...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I appreciate the Minister's argument but it is in the interest of a garda taking a statement to secure a declaration. I hope that I have interpreted this correctly. Essentially, the garda is taking the place of a commissioner for oaths or a solicitor, who would be acting independently in taking the statement. On that basis, is there not a conflict of interest?

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: Could people not use that in their defence in court? If they cannot, should they not be able to do so?

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I apologise for my continued enthusiasm for this theme but I wonder how a judge might react.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the decision by the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, to reduce the height limit for joining the Army, as this is progress, but why is a height restriction required? Will the Leader arrange a debate on this matter and invite the Minister to attend the House in that respect? According to some figures, 10% of women and 2% of men will still be excluded despite the decision. If one...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I will concentrate on the topic of anti-social behaviour orders. The Labour Party supports their introduction and that of good behaviour contracts. The idea is modelled on legislation in place in the UK for a number of years. As far as I know, the anti-social behaviour order was first introduced there in 1998. The UK system includes anti-social behaviour contracts, which are similar to good...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I echo the comments of Senator Brian Hayes and Senator O'Toole in welcoming the decision by the US Supreme Court. The decision demonstrates the operation of the basic democratic concept of the separation of powers and how the law can check the abuse of power by a government. Sometimes people say the law is an ass but this case shows that the law works very well, including in the United...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I, too, welcome the Bill, which is a very good idea. I am not the Labour Party spokesman on local government and only found out about the idea this week. I received a very helpful statement from the Dublin City Business Association explaining the concept. It made reference to its website, www.dublinbids.com, which contains a lot of information on the matter. The schemes could benefit my...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: Towards the end of his speech, the Minister stated the requirement for this amending legislation arises irrespective of our participation in battle groups. In this regard, he is basically accepting a point raised by the Labour Party. Former Labour Party spokesman on defence, Deputy Sherlock, pointed out in the Dáil and in correspondence to the Minister that the Defence Acts as they stand may...

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome this debate on an issue about which I feel strongly. Adult and further education is a key area of the education system. Mention has been made recently of fourth level education, which appears to be a new term because I do not remember it being used in the past. Adult and further education should be called fourth level education. The concept of lifelong learning should be the central...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (20 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: What are the schemes a parent of a child in a special needs school might access during the summer school holiday period to ensure continued classes, tuition, supports and so on? Can schools be requested to continue classes for the child concerned and on what basis?

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Second Stage. (20 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the Bill, which is a good initiative. I have worked as a conveyancer, which was my main job while a solicitor, and I never encountered a fee tail or lease for life renewable forever. Despite studying them at length in Professor Wiley's book at college, I did not fully understand what they were. Working with the Law Reform Commission and introducing this type of legislation is a good...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: Yesterday was the 61st birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma and Nobel peace prize winner. She has been detained under house arrest by the Burmese military for the past three years and has been detained for nearly 11 years overall by the same regime. Can the Acting Leader inquire as to whether there is anything this House can do to put pressure...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (15 Jun 2006)

Joanna Tuffy: This emergency legislation was adopted originally in 1998, so it has been in place almost ten years. Each year it is renewed and that is why we are here again today. It comes around very quickly because it does not seem like a year since we last dealt with it. It is on the Order of Business for both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Minister of State has mentioned that a report was laid by the...