Results 6,981-7,000 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sexual Offences Data (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: When victims of sexual offences and rape are interviewed after the trial process has completed they state they find the whole process very harrowing and a very surprising experience. I introduced legislation last week to amend the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act to provide a complainant at the earliest stage with advice and information in respect of what the process would involve....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UN Conventions (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when Ireland will ratify the optional protocol to the convention against torture which was signed up to on 2 October 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29922/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UN Conventions (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will try to keep within the time limits the Acting Chairman has prescribed. The question to the Minister for Justice and Equality concerns the optional protocol to the convention against torture. The Minister will be aware Ireland signed up to the optional protocol nearly 11 years ago, on 2 October 2007. However, we still have not ratified it. Why has Ireland not done so? When does the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UN Conventions (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: This week we launched our campaign to have Ireland elected as a member of the Security Council a number of years from now. I very much support that campaign. For the purposes of the campaign, we have gone about informing our colleagues in the international community that Ireland is a country that complies with the highest standards of human rights and general international standards as set...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UN Conventions (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is welcome that the Minister and the Government have emphasised the importance of Ireland's standing on the international stage. I hope he will also bring these principles to bear when he is considering the GRECO report which the Cabinet will consider today in the context of the Government's other proposals. On the ratification of OPCAT, it is worth pointing out that last year the United...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when he plans to seek approval to take the necessary measures to seek approval from Dáil Éireann to opt into EU Directive COM/2018/226 and regulation COM/2018/225 relating to e-evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29635/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if criticism relating to judicial independence levelled against the State in the recent report by the Group of States against Corruption will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29634/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Code of Ethics (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 64. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the fact that only 50% of gardaí who have received training in the new code of ethics have signed a declaration form to testify they subscribe to same will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29638/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (5 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 73. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address the CSO figures which show increases of almost 15% in 2017 in sexual offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29636/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: It will appear on her roll of offenders. I thank Dr. Don Thornhill, Dr. Brian Doherty and Mr. Ultan Ryan for attending the committee. I know it is a difficult task for the first people who must set up a new statutory body. People look at successful bodies. At the beginning, there is significant work to be done, notwithstanding the fact that the legislation presents it as though it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: There are two potential oppressors on the regulatory authority. On the one hand, there are the interests of the legal profession and, on the other, the interests of the Government. Part of the reason there was opposition to what was originally proposed by the previous Government was that it would have given the Government too much control over the regulation of legal services, particularly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Lawyers are never going to be popular. Shakespeare said, "Let's kill all the lawyers". It is not a question of lawyers being popular. From the public's point of view, however, there are legitimate concerns about the legal profession, namely, complaints procedures, costs, and, one which may not get much traction in public, education, in order to broaden the diversity of those coming into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Will the authority have sufficient staff to deal with this? The Law Society and the Bar Council currently carry out those functions. They can be quite time-consuming and heavily dependent on staffing. Will the staffing be in place when the authority comes online with that responsibility?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have noted when people contact me - I am sure other legislators have too - that there can be a lack of awareness on the part of the public as to whom the appropriate complaint should be made. There is a bit of an awareness that if one has a complaint about An Garda Síochána, one directs it to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. I am conscious, however, that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is a public concern that the costs of the legal profession are too high. I presume the objective behind the establishment of limited liability partnerships, and in the future, multidisciplinary partnerships, irrespective of whether they are a good idea, is to reduce costs. What is Dr. Doherty's assessment as to what steps can be taken for the purpose of trying to reduce legal costs or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does Dr. Doherty have any concerns about the establishment of limited liability partnerships in circumstances where at present if somebody sues a partnership, the partnership is fully liable for the claim against it? If it is a limited liability partnerships, obviously that liability is limited. Is that an issue of concern?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: While this is provided in the legislation, does Dr. Doherty believe it will have a positive impact in reducing costs if there is a higher incidence limited liability partnerships? What is the public benefit of limited liability partnerships?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I direct this question to Dr. Thornhill. The education of people entering the legal profession is extremely important not only for the purpose of having well qualified lawyers who are important in any society but also because, as in every other country, one can only become a judge if one is a lawyer. We have had a discussion for many years about the judiciary Bill. One of the objectives of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Has the Bar Council nominated anyone yet to replace Mr. Justice Barniville?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Thank you.