Results 8,101-8,120 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (19 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: 42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recent call by the Chief Justice for reform of the civil justice system in order to allow access to justice for all citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44212/17]

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: From the Seanad (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I join the Minister of State in welcoming the passing of this important legislation. For too long victims have been the poor relations in the criminal justice system and the State and the criminal justice system have looked on the process in the courts as being about the determination of the guilt or innocence of an accused. While that is the primary function of the system, we have to...

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: From the Seanad (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I apologise to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister for not being in the House but we were at a committee meeting on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017. I had put my name to this amendment but, since doing so, I have been contacted by a helpful official in the Department of Justice and Equality, who made a number of points which I found compelling. The proposed...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Just to agree with that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Chairman. He communicated that to me by way of a letter and has just stated the ruling again. In fairness to him, it is an instruction that he has received from the Bills Office, so I do not hold him in any way responsible for ruling amendment No. 25 out of order. The basis for it being ruled out of order is that it incurs a potential charge on revenue, but I find that...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Can I clarify the position on the grouping? I am going to speak to amendment No. 1. Does the Chairman wish me to speak to the other amendments immediately after that?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 1:In page 8, to delete line 7. The amendment proposes the deletion of the definition of the "Director" of the office of the judicial appointments commission. The purpose behind all of these grouped amendments is to try to change the proposed legislation, which has within it a proposed mechanism which will have an office of the judicial appointments commission and,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: What is it supposed to cost?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister knows so tell us.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: The question I wish to put to the Minister is the current cost per annum of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board. The reason that I put out the figure of €5,000 is that it was my recollection of a report in the Sunday Business Posta number of months ago which reported that the expenses of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board last year was in the region of €5,000. I...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: No. It is not agreed.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 4:In page 8, line 23, to delete “, and has never held,”. This relates to the definition of a layperson. The amendment seeks to remove from the definition of "lay person" a person who previously held juridical office. At present the Bill states:“lay person” means a person who— (a) does not hold, and has never held, judicial office,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Will I continue with mine or will we deal with amendment-----

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Amendment No. 11 seeks in page 8 to delete lines 34 to 36, and in page 9, to delete lines 1 and 2. That is for the purpose of removing what is the definition of the relevant period. The legislation as drafted stipulates that a person cannot have been a barrister or solicitor in the period of 15 years immediately preceding the latest date on which he or she may apply. Again I believe that...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I want to ask the Minister about retired judges. I am aware that the programme for Government has said there would be a lay majority and a lay chairman of the commission but perhaps the Minister will give his own personal and political opinion. Does he think it is a good idea that retired judges are excluded from membership of this commission? Consider the fact that we go to retired judged...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 5:In page 8, lines 26 and 27, to delete “, and in the relevant period specified by subsection (2) for the purposes of this paragraph, was not,”.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 7:In page 8, to delete line 29.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.