Results 6,941-6,960 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Other Senators have largely covered the matters I wished to raise. I ask the Minister and the Department to reconsider this issue. The idea that the right to education no longer applies once a person turns 18 years does not fit in with reality on the ground. Most students will complete second level education at the age of 19 years as a result of transition year and the policy of many primary...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, before section 2, to insert the following new section: 2.—It is hereby declared that, in enacting this Act, the Oireachtas has had regard to the following principles:— (a) legislation in the area of education of persons with disabilities must be based on international human rights standards; (b) the overall objective of such legislation must be equal...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I am not sure I agree with the Minister of State. What the amendment seeks would be akin to putting a charter in the legislation. The Minister of State said that certain things are inherent in the Bill but this spells them out more specifically. Paragraph (e) mentions the involvement of the person with the disability as an element of the process. The rights-based system is also specified...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 4: In page 7, paragraph (b), line 20, after "for" to insert "the child concerned and the". The purpose of the amendment is to broaden section 2(b). As currently worded, the section requires attention to be given to the needs of the other children and not the particular child with disabilities. Our amendment seeks to correct that imbalance.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I support the amendment. I have experience of dealing with this issue that was raised with me by parents of children with special needs in a local school catering for children with autism. When I raised the issue with the Department of Education and Science, however, I was told it concerned the Department of Health and Children, and vice versa. The lines were crossed in that case but the...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 18: In page 14, subsection (5), line 22, after "them" insert "and shall publish in Iris Oifigiúil any rules and procedures adopted pursuant to this section." This section is defective in that it does not require publication of the rules adopted under section 14. Our amendment seeks to rectify this.

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 19: In page 15, subsection (6), line 40, after "member" to insert ", on notice to the person concerned,". The purpose of these amendments is to avoid any doubt in the event of an application to the High Court to compel persons to comply with directions and that those applications be made on notice. It would be unfair if such an application were made without notifying the...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 21: In page 17, subsection (2)(a), line 39, after "information" to insert "or requires production to it of a document for the purpose of determining whether or not such document is privileged". The Labour Party feels the legislation is flawed in the way it deals with privileged documents. As drafted, the Bill requires in section 24(a) that a commission must examine a...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 35: In page 25, subsection (2), lines 31 to 36, to delete paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) and substitute the following: "(a) inform the person that it intends to amend the report, including by omitting any part of the report based on evidence received without observing fair procedures, and give the person an opportunity, if desired, to apply to the Court pursuant to...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: The amendment may not be worded in the best way possible but it attempts to address a problem. It is not clear whether or not a person could go back to the court after subsection (2) has come into operation. He or she probably could. It is uncharted territory. I will withdraw the amendment with a view to having it reintroduced on Report Stage and to give the Minister of State an opportunity...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 42: In page 28, between lines 41 and 42 to insert the following paragraph: "(a) utterances by witnesses, solicitors or barristers, whether oral or written to a commission;". There is some protection of privilege and immunity for witnesses in the Bill but there is no privilege for lawyers comparable to that which obtains in the High Court. This is an omission because such...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 16: In page 12, subsection (3), line 34, after "evidence" to insert "and, where evidence adverse to the good name of such a person is disclosed under subsection (1), the commission shall not rely on or disclose such evidence in a report unless the person concerned has had an opportunity to challenge such evidence by cross-examination and by presenting contrary evidence...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: There is a big difference between being able to respond to something in written form as opposed to verbally. If a person was allowed to attend and pick into the evidence, he or she would have a much better chance of saving his or her reputation than if he or she put something on paper. This is an obvious point which explains why we have courts, evidence and cross-examination in the first place.

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: The Labour Party amendments raise a similar point to that raised by Senator Brian Hayes. Amendment No. 2 proposes that the commission's terms of reference be approved by a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. Amendment No. 3 proposes that the terms of reference may be amended by a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. Our amendments have the same objective as that outlined by...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: The Minister of State appears to suggest that if one allows the Oireachtas to set the terms of reference there would be less focus in drawing them up. I do not understand that reasoning. Ultimately, the Government will determine whether or not a proposal is passed in these Houses. If the Government allows the Opposition to have an input, it will mean there is a better chance of considering...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Perhaps a bigger crowd.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: My colleague, Senator McCarthy, mentioned the use of Oireachtas envelopes. There has been much muddying of the waters about these envelopes. There is nothing wrong with a Member of the Oireachtas using Oireachtas envelopes when writing to his or her constituents. The impression has been given by many commentators, including political commentators, that there is something wrong with that.

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the legislation in principle. There is no doubt that we need alternative forms of inquiries into matters of public interest. This type of commission of investigation was recommended by the Law Reform Commission and, it is to be hoped, will be useful in terms of inquiries. The Labour Party has raised issues of concern about the legislation in the Dáil and we will do so again in this...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I, too, would like to speak about the new wing at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, which is lying idle. I am told by a local Labour representative that one of the local newspapers this week contained a photograph of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and a consultant for that hospital regarding the announcement of a new system which they...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: The system relates to elderly patients with chest illnesses. The idea is that these patients would be seen as out-patients, thereby freeing up beds. The article also refers to the appointment of three new consultants. That is great news, a good story and a good photo opportunity for the Minister of State. However, as Members are aware, the new wing built at a cost of €96 million, one part...