Results 801-820 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Written Answers — Anti Racism Measures: Anti Racism Measures (24 Sep 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Under the auspices of the National Action Plan Against Racism, the following are bodies which have received funding to address racism in 2008 or to which funding has been committed: National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (which also gets its core funding from my Office), Model Education, Arambe Productions, The Africa Centre, Health Service Executive, Metro Eireann,...

Written Answers — Integration Strategy: Integration Strategy (24 Sep 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 968 and 969 together. I would refer the Deputy to my statement on integration strategy and diversity management, Migration Nation, which I published on 1 May and which discusses the issues to which these Questions refer. In that statement, I specifically referred to the need to avoid the creation of parallel societies, communities and urban ghettoes. I went...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (24 Sep 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The Dublin 7 Schools' Cultural Mediation Project was financed under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform/ Pobal Integration Initiative. It was provided with funding for one year only. Funding has been sought for a further two years. I regret, however, that resources for this project are not available to me at this time. In the deployment of resources to cater for migrant...

Written Answers — School Uniforms: School Uniforms (24 Sep 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I jointly issued a press statement on this topic with the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe, T.D. yesterday. We have agreed recommendations on school uniform policy. These recommendations are based on extensive consultations I made this summer. The report containing the recommendations will be published on the Department of Education and Science website in the near...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: There are currently almost 2,000 English language resource teachers working in our primary and post primary schools at an annual cost of some €120 million. This has risen from 262 teachers in 2001/2002. The arrangements for enhanced provision of English language resource teachers were set out in a circular from my Department which issued to schools in May 2007. The previous restriction of...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The Attorney General put a great deal of thought into this section at the drafting phase, for the good legal and civil liberties reasons Senator Bacik outlined. He found it appropriate to use in section 48A — the additional power about which Senator Bacik spoke — the phrase "reasonable cause". The garda involved can only act on this new power where he or she has a reasonable cause to...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I refer to section 48A. Senator Bacik spoke about an additional power being conferred on the Garda Síochána. The Senator is correct. An additional power is now being given to an individual member of the force to enter into a family home, in effect, or a domestic dwelling.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Senator Bacik did not specify the extra power that the Garda received. As I understand it, I am responding to a concern Senator Bacik has on civil liberties grounds in connection with this additional power being given to the Garda under section 48A to enter a home in limited circumstances where reasonable cause is the issue.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: This is the power to take away the cans or bottles of alcohol in a situation.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: That is the other power.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Does Senator Bacik think that is draconian or somehow in breach of civil liberties? That is why I am rather puzzled. I would have thought, coming from Senator Bacik's strong perspective of civil liberties, the issue of entering a house would be more important than a garda, anticipating an element of urban menace, deciding that he or she wishes to remove the can of alcohol.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The Senator may be right, but I am reliant on the advice of the Attorney General, who deemed this part to be constitutional. I apologise if there was confusion between section 48A and section 19 8A.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: We believe this part is in conformity with the Constitution. That is the best advice we have received from the Attorney General. I emphasise, in order for Members and others outside the House to be clear about the discussion, that rather than consider the theoretical legal implications of a measure, we are discussing the powers conferred on the Garda to make assumptions about why a person...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I can answer only as best I can, short of allowing Senators to write my replies and utter them. This section applies to under-age and over-age people. It allows the Garda to anticipate the possibility of a public order offence. The purpose of this section is precisely so that the gardaí can anticipate such offences using their eyes, invaluable experience and judgment to form a clear view...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I have provided as complete an answer as I can offer at this stage. I am not refusing to answer questions, but I have offered as comprehensive a reply as I can in the circumstances.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Yesterday on Second Stage I remarked on the concept of pre-emption. I know the Senator is aware of such concepts as they apply both legally and otherwise. It does not require further explanation.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I will reiterate what I stated on Committee Stage. I hope the code of practice will generate the result which is presumably intended by way of this amendment. The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has indicated his flexibility and pragmatism, as always. My experience of working with the Minister for the best part of four years is that he is flexible and pragmatic with regard to not commencing...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I had better be very careful about procedure. I thank Members for their contributions to this legislation. I hope this Bill and the legislation to follow in the autumn will begin the great journey of compliance in regard to the misuse of alcohol in Ireland. Hopefully, there will be many more occasions such as this where we will get the chance to negotiate and discuss a topic which has been...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The making of regulations to require labelling of alcohol containers is already provided for in section 22 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. This legislation permits the making of a statutory instrument specifying particulars to be affixed to containers at off-licence premises in which alcohol is sold for consumption thus enabling the premises concerned to be identified. While the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Unlike Senator Alex White, I am not a lawyer. I am not, therefore, a competent person in terms of the detailed legal issues raised. The Minister and I have been informed by the Attorney General that an amendment on these lines is not required. I do not propose, therefore, to accept the amendment. I am guided by the legal expertise made available to the Minister in this regard. I am not...