Results 7,101-7,120 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Second Stage. (11 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I have no difficulty with legislation the purpose of which is to penalise and try to prevent fraudulent claims. However, in this legislation, the balance is weighted against genuine plaintiffs and claimants and in favour of the defendant and the insurance industry. Senator Feeney said that we are all held to ransom by fraudulent claimants. The vast majority of claimants are genuine, and many...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Second Stage. (11 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Exactly.

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004: Second Stage. (11 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I will raise additional points on Committee Stage. The Law Society has expressed concerns about mediation. It said that this would add additional costs to the system, as opposed to reducing costs, and would put pressure on the plaintiff to bow to the wishes of an insurance company. Pressure could be brought to bear on the plaintiff at that stage and this needs to be taken into account. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I support Senators Brian Hayes and O'Toole in their calls for measures to address the needs of victims in the criminal justice system. Without making any judgment on the case, the family of Brian Murphy raised valid concerns about their experience in the court. It is something that was discussed already in the House when the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: ——we need to support all sides within it and make sure that it is fair and balanced. I would like the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to be invited to the House to discuss again the Hanly report on staffing proposals in the medical service. In particular, I would like the critique raised at a conference in Kildare over the weekend to be explored, which criticises some of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: It is important that we discuss the Minister's guidelines on one-off rural housing. However, it is not only an issue for outside Dublin; it arises in County Dublin as well. Permission for many houses is turned down on the same basis as in counties outside Dublin.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I have not made a long speech. This issue applies to Dublin as well. There is also the issue of infill housing. Permission has been turned down where people have a site beside, or in, their gardens. We need clarification.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I hope sustainability will still be part of whatever guidelines are produced.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I broadly welcome the Bill. Much of what the Labour Party sought in its 2000 policy document is contained in the legislation, including many necessary reforms. I agree with previous speakers that the legislation is important both for the public and the Garda. My experience of dealing with the Garda has been positive but there have been problems, as evidenced by reports in the media and...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I am merely raising the concerns and suggestions of the Human Rights Commission, which the Minister should consider. I welcome the proposals for joint policing committees. As a former local authority member, I welcome this move. Much work of this kind is already being done on an informal basis. Community gardaí often liaise with local residents' associations and public representatives....

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: That is welcome. The AMAI makes the point that most crime occurs in urban areas and cites the examples of Drogheda and Dundalk as large urban areas which should not be excluded from this process. Due to the informal involvement of residents' associations, they should have some involvement in the joint policing committees. The Labour Party proposed that special local authority strategic policy...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I would like to raise with the Leader the call yesterday in Killarney by the Irish Hotels Federation for a certificate system to allow children in hotel bars after 9 p.m. This relates to the legislation passed in this House which bans children from being in bars after 9 p.m. The federation raised a valid concern about the difficulties and problems this will pose for the business. It will have...

Seanad: Grant Payments. (26 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I was unclear about the position of mature students from reading the documentation from the Department of Education and Science. Mature students obviously will form a growing part of those engaged in third level education. This issue arises frequently. Mature students are obviously in a different position from younger students; they often have financial commitments they would not have had...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, lines 23 and 24, to delete "IN PART". This is a technical amendment. When I raised the matter last time, the Minister explained the situation, but the Labour Party's legal adviser still thinks there is a problem with the wording. Perhaps the Minister has re-examined it.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: Perhaps I could seek clarification. I could not find the relevant place, but apparently another part of the Bill refers to policing the regulations in full. If that is stated somewhere else in the Bill, there is a contradiction. Perhaps the Minister might examine the question when the Bill comes before the Dáil. That is what I have been told, although I could not find the reference.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 3 to 8 and substitute the following: "(c) it shall not be lawful for an employer to require an employee compulsorily to retire from his or her employment on reaching a particular age if on reaching that age the employee is able and willing to continue in employment." We had a very long discussion about this on Committee Stage and I will not...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 6: In page 15, to delete lines 19 to 32. The Labour Party has resubmitted this amendment because the original legislation allowed section 25 to apply only in certain limited circumstances, which are listed, whereas this legislation encompasses circumstances other than those prescribed. The Minister of State argued on Committee Stage that the section, as amended in...