Results 6,721-6,740 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Deployment (29 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: We do not just have to read the report that was published recently by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland; we can read the reports of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and the Policing Authority, which have criticised the low numbers of specialist child interviewers within An Garda Síochána. It is a difficulty and problem that exists within the force. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Criminal Law Review (29 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the review into the conduct of rape trials that he announced in June 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49980/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Criminal Law Review (29 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will abide by the Acting Chairman's instruction. Last June the Minister directed that there be a review of the way in which rape trials are conducted in this State. He sought this review in the aftermath of a very prominent trial that took place in Northern Ireland. He made the good decision to select Dr. Tom O'Malley to conduct the review. Has the review been completed, where is it and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Criminal Law Review (29 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government needs to strengthen public confidence in the prosecution of rape and other sexual offences. Unfortunately, it is the case that some damage has been done to public confidence in these very important prosecutions. The Government needs to concentrate on a number of specific areas. First, we in this House and the Seanad introduced a new definition of "consent" last year. This...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Criminal Law Review (29 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: There are certain steps the Government can take that would make it easier for complainants. For instance, the Minister was recently on television with Leona O'Callaghan, a complainant and a victim of serious rape who deserves to be commended on coming out and speaking publicly about it. What she said was the most harrowing aspect of her time before the courts was the length of time it took...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda National Protective Services Bureau (29 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 26. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the roll out of the new specially trained Garda units to handle cases involving vulnerable witnesses, such as, child abuse and sexual crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49600/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (29 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 33. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address the drop in the number of community gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49601/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (29 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 44. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the review into the conduct of rape trials announced by him in June 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49599/18]

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Let us not get carried away.

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: It will not support it.

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will be sharing my time with some colleagues, and I am pleased to say that I will be sharing the time equally with them. I welcome the Labour Party Bill before the House this evening. Fianna Fáil will be supporting the legislation. It is important to note that for centuries women in Ireland, and women throughout the world, have been discriminated against. Not only have they been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all of the delegates for being here today and for the considerable amount of effort they put into their submissions. They will be of great assistance to members during our consideration of the legislation as it progresses through the Houses. This is a difficult issue. I am conscious that all of the witnesses look at it from the point of view of problems arising. For example, those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am sure it is also the case that many people who go abroad and sexually abuse children have never had a criminal conviction here. They are probably as big a threat as people who have been convicted.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. I was looking at head 10, the new section 14B on disclosure. Does Ms Counihan have any concerns about how this could in a way drive sex offenders underground? It is for the public benefit as there may be a threat to individuals so the Garda would inform people nearby of what happens. If that becomes common, many sex offenders will not stay registered and they will drift into the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does the Probation Service have any concerns about the idea that people may be driven underground if there is a capacity for disclosure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: They are a bigger threat to the public when they are underground and the office does not know where they are.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Assistant Chief Constable Gray for coming down. We have electronic monitoring on the Statute Book but it has only been used really on a pilot basis. In her statement, Ms Gray has said it is not used exclusively for sex offences but rather for general offences. Is it used for the purpose of monitoring people on bail in Northern Ireland and as a condition for that bail?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Nov 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important and sometimes when people present monitoring, it is seen as an additional penalty. Our contention is that it should not be seen as an additional penalty but rather as an alternative to incarceration. Sometimes that is the way it operates in Northern Ireland.