Results 7,421-7,440 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I do not know what the war in Iraq has to do with this. It is a red herring. While it is an important issue, it is not relevant to the Bill. Having regard to what the Senator said, I wonder if we are afraid of the accession countries. I met two Latvian parliamentarians at an event I attended yesterday and they would model themselves on Ireland. Latvia is ambitious and wants to be confident...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: There is a good deal of confusion in the Government about the state of the economy.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Do we regret the passing of the referendum on the Nice treaty?

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: It is a positive move to allow the people concerned to work here and contribute to our lives. I hope we will do likewise in their countries. We are already contributing to their economies in terms of investment. Senator Leyden's fears are unfounded. I disagree with what he said.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: That is ridiculous.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, to delete lines 13 to 16. This amendment deletes the penalty on indictment of up to ten years' imprisonment or a €250,000 fine for an employer employing a non-national without a work permit. I agree with the Government move to make it illegal to employ a non-national without a work permit and to bring in a penalty, but this penalty is heavy-handed. The...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: On a point of order, that is not in the amendment.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: On a point of order, the amendment proposes to delete one of the penalties. It would not interfere with the offence or the smaller penalty but delete the greater penalty. It does not propose to reward employers who employ people without a permit.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The proposal relates to part of the section.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, line 14, after "Slovak Republic" to insert "and any other state which, after the passing of this Act, becomes party to an instrument whereby it accedes to membership of the European Union". I have reintroduced the amendment because I still believe it would be better to have a framework under which citizens of future accession countries would be allowed to...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: One never knows.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, to delete lines 15 to 28. The purpose of this amendment is to delete subsections (3), (4) and (5) of section 3. I welcome the Government's move to allow people from the accession countries to come here and obtain employment without work permits from 2004. The subsections I wish to delete are unnecessary. I returned to the country this afternoon, having been...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I agree that we have to be cautious about our economy and monitor it, but we also need continued growth and additional employees. Our concern should be that we will not be sufficiently competitive. To be competitive, however, we need employees from other countries. Employees here would confirm that and I am sure they believe the Government is being overly cautious as regards this legislation....

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister of State and the various Senators who contributed to the debate on the Bill. I welcome the general thrust of the Bill, subject to the points I made during the debate and the amendments I brought forward. I also thank the staff of the House for dealing with my Report Stage amendments so speedily.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the Government's provisions to give people from the accession countries full access to the labour market in 2004. Its wish to send an unambiguous signal that we intend to promote integration from the outset is a positive objective but the safety clause is contradictory in that context and demonstrates an ambiguity about our economic circumstances and an unfair attitude to those...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I support the calls of Senators Norris and Ó Murchú for a debate on Iraq. I agree with Senator Ó Murchú's comments on the war and we should facilitate the Senator and other Government Members by holding a genuine and full debate which permits them to freely express their opinions through a vote. Members should not have to vote along party lines on this issue.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I second the motion. I agree with Senator Ryan that we need to look at the way in which we deliver our health service. The health strategy deals with the current system, but makes no provision for radical reform. It permits the continuation of the health apartheid that exists in the system at present. I urge people to consider the Labour Party proposals as a starting point for a debate on...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I do not agree to the grouping outlined.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I do not agree to the grouping of amendments Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: No, they relate to substantially different points. One deals with the right to run for election, while the other deals with the dual mandate. I have separate points to make on each issue.