Results 7,521-7,540 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes, to be honest. All of us in political parties have to accept that there are things we can improve in the voluntary political system and that we can reach a consensus on such matters.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The Labour Party has a good—

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: When the Labour Party was last in government it had a good record.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: We are talking about—

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The point I made was that nobody was saying he or she was perfect. This would be a good reform. Everybody had the notion that the Minister would be a breath of fresh air, that he would be reforming and different from old-style politics. Why will he not take this on when he has the opportunity do so? I would have thought that this would be an issue close to his heart. This is an opportunity...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The Senator should trust the people.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I support the position of my colleagues on the Opposition benches. The Government is wrong to roll back on a modernising and reforming Act that has not been long in existence. It is mistaken in its intentions and there is great potential for a public backlash. The Bill will ultimately work against the Government's interests. I fully concur with the sentiments of Senator McHugh that the public...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - National Development Plan. (27 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I asked the Tánaiste to come to the House to outline the approach of the Government to managing the spend of €2.5 billion allocated to research and development in the national development plan. This country is committed to continuing to develop the knowledge based economy. The Tánaiste has often said that to sustain Ireland's economic growth we need to make the change from the investment...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I support the amendment to the Order of Business. We have a duty to uphold the Constitution and not pass unconstitutional legislation. The legislation is unconstitutional. Article 15.2 does not allow a person to be a Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas. This had to be enshrined in the Constitution. How can this be done, therefore, in legislation with regard to a county councillor who is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Councillors will be allowed to run for the Dáil and they will be the ones to challenge this legislation. They have a mandate from the people and it cannot be taken away except through the Constitution.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I support the Fine Gael position on this Bill. I firmly believe the Bill is unconstitutional and that I and my fellow Senators have a duty to uphold the Constitution. I agree with Senator Bannon's submission on the constitutionality issue. For example, Article 15.14 requires that no person may, at the same time, be a Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas. If any Member of one House becomes...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: That has not been challenged. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: If the Minister will allow me to finish, I will go into that and explain it. The wording of the Bill itself signifies that there is a problem, legally and constitutionally. It does not just prevent one from holding a seat; it actually prevents one from running for election. The proposed new section 13A states that one cannot be elected to a local authority if one is a Member of either House...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: As Senator Norris said, Dr. Tom Hyland was recognised for his work on education in East Timor yesterday by being awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Limerick. He is continuing his work. I note that the Senator is helping his fundraising efforts by holding one of his one man Joycean shows. The Leader should ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House in order that...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008: Statements. (19 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his presentation. I welcome the work of the local drugs task forces and the progress made to date on the strategy. Drug taking is, and will continue to be, a growing problem. A drugs transaction between two young people took place recently beside me at a bus stop in my area. They were not the stereotypical drug addicts. While we must recognise...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008: Statements. (19 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Exactly. That is something we do not have here. Perhaps we should try to work with business people to try out this type of service which would be a runner and could make money. Art and multi media centres are very important because young people are interested in these aspects which would harness their creativity in a positive way. More must also be done about investing in facilities for young...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Second Stage. (19 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank the Minister for his Second Stage contribution. I agree with him that the Bill which is long-awaited is badly needed. Much of relates to a 1978 report. I welcome broadly the provisions to address the limits in the present law. It is important to modernise the legislation. I welcome the fitness to be tried provision and, in particular, the "not guilty, by reason of insanity" verdict to...

Seanad: Cancer Screening Programme: Motion. (19 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: My contribution will be brief. Much of what I wish to say has already been said by my colleagues in the Labour Party. I reiterate that the Minister failed to deliver on the Government's commitment in the Fianna Fáil manifesto to extend BreastCheck nationwide by 2002. That is disappointing. I welcomed the announcement in recent weeks that the programme would be extended to counties Carlow,...

Seanad: Cancer Screening Programme: Motion. (19 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: The Minister promised in his party's manifesto that the BreastCheck programme would be extended nationwide by 2002.

Seanad: Cancer Screening Programme: Motion. (19 Feb 2003)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes.