Results 8,061-8,080 of 10,319 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

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.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am supportive of the amendment. It makes sense considering the fact we passed the data protection legislation recently.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (3 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 220. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the percentage of the prison population serving sentences for drugs-related offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28820/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Data (3 Jul 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 255. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the INIS has changed policy with regard to the publication of quarterly statistics for student visas as part of the international education strategy; the process by which it was decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29267/18]

Penal Reform and Sentencing: Motion (28 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this debate. This report into penal reform and sentencing is a very good report and I hope it does not just gather dust on the shelf of a Department, like other reports. There are very many fine and important recommendations within it that deserve to be acted on and I ask the Minister to read it carefully. I commend the members of the committee who...

Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017: Referral to Select Committee [Private Members] (28 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice and Equality pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 141.

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) (Amendment) Bill 2018: First Stage (28 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 by affording relevant information and legal advice to victims of alleged offences involving sexual violence, gender based violence or violence in a close relationship and to provide for related matters. The purpose of this legislation is to give greater support and...

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) (Amendment) Bill 2018: First Stage (28 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (28 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 52. To ask the Minister for Health his views on figures from an organisation (details supplied) which indicate that the number of patients on trolleys in St. Vincent's Hospital in May 2018 was higher than in November 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28303/18]

Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all Members who contributed to the debate on the legislation. Many Members spoke in support of it. I will not deal directly with the comments they have made in my response but I appreciate their support. I fully recognise that this is not some simple solution to the problem we have in this country in respect of crime. I fully recognise and agree that to resolve or cut down on...

Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I will be sharing time with Deputies Lawless, Michael Moynihan and Breathnach. I will outline the context for saying we need to strengthen our bail laws. We can only understand the need for strengthening our bail laws by looking at recorded crime statistics. It is appropriate that this debate commences on the day when the Central...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the Minister, his advisers and our guests. The last time the Minister was here, the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities had not been ratified so I commend him on the fact that it was done in 2018. I am sure he recognises that there is further work to be done, however. When does the Minister think the optional protocol will be ratified and fully in place?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree it is important that we concentrate on the abilities of people as opposed to their disabilities. This is particularly important in respect of employment and improving access to employment for people with disabilities, which one may also call "abilities". What can Government do to encourage people in the private sector to recognise the abilities of people with disabilities, and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Update on Disability Issues: Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (27 Jun 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is a great untapped resource for the Irish economy of which we are not availing. We are nearly at full employment but there is a whole section of society where levels of unemployment are too high. The objective should be to get incentives and awareness in the private sector up to the levels in the public sector. The Minister said the Disability Bill 2016 had gone through Second...