Results 8,241-8,260 of 11,785 for speaker:Niall Collins

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: I hear them as well.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: Will the Minister give us his opinion on the provision of non-legal services? As outlined in the submission, is he open to restricting the range of non-legal services which might be provided in future under the multidisciplinary practices?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: I move amendment No. 155: In page 65, line 5, after “partnership.” to insert the following:“Nothing in this Act shall affect the right of a professional body to regulate the conduct of the members of that body and to make rules of membership for that purpose.”.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: I apologise for being late. I did not hear the Minister's introductory speech entirely. With regard to multidisciplinary practices and alternative business structures, has the Minister received conclusive proof that legal costs will reduce for the consumer? The Minister mentioned competition. If there are a number of multidisciplinary practice structures that manage to corner the market...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Suicide Prevention (12 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 156. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to publish Garda procedures dealing with suicidal drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7140/14]

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: It was proven that it is not fit for purpose.

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: This was brought into the public domain last week, was raised again today and I am raising it now. It is necessary for us to get a response in respect of the comments made by the confidential recipient to the whistleblower. It is simply not good enough. What we have seen in the Minister's statement is a play on words in respect of what the GSOC statement said in respect of whether there...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: There is no doubt the last 48 hours have been a defining period in what is an exceptionally dysfunctional relationship between An Garda Síochána and the GSOC, which is all happening under the Minister's watch. It is a very regrettable situation. To recap, we had the penalty points controversy which dominated the headlines and has served to damage the morale of the force. We also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 415. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the total amount of money spent on civil legal aid in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6220/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 417. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of money spent on family mediation services under the Legal Aid Board in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6223/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 416. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the total amount of money spent on criminal legal aid in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6221/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: There is no doubt that all members of the Judiciary have acted independently since they were appointed. Nobody has ever offered to me, or anybody else of whom I am aware, any evidence that there have been examples of political bias exercised by members of the Judiciary. There is a debate around the appointments process. We need to look at it and possibly consider shortening the number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: This is an insider's debate. This is not an issue people queue up in our clinics or stop us in the street to discuss. However, it is a very important one to try to uphold the independence of the Judiciary. For some-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: For some, there is a view that people who have a political affiliation are somehow fast-tracked. We need to find a mechanism to stamp this out. With regard to the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, I make the point that for the two judges who were removed and are no longer on the Bench, namely, former Judge Brian Curtin and former Judge Heather Perrin, no pre-screening process could...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: This is a very important issue.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for that. I may not have heard his initial reply clearly or correctly so will the Minister provide confirmation in respect of three issues for me? Will the Garda Commissioner come under the remit of the Garda Ombudsman Commission in the aftermath of the proposed changes? Will the legislation be amended in order to allow serving members of An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: In the context of the questions he posed, I hope Deputy Niall Collins will understand that I must formally bring to Cabinet the proposals for the heads of a Bill to amend the Garda Síochána Act 2005. I do not, therefore, want to discuss in detail what will be those proposals. However, I can confirm - as I did not Monday evening last - that where serious allegations are made in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 4. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform the judicial appointments process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5572/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: The Minister is in the middle of a consultation phase at present, although I accept that this may have concluded on 31 January last. In view of the fact that there will be anything between ten and 15 retirements from the Judiciary during the coming year, will legislation to reform the judicial appointments process be brought forward? We discussed this matter in the House on a number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: The Minister outlined why he has now decided to refer it to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. The Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality was united in its view that the matter should have been referred much sooner. Be that as it may, we have had a number of public utterances from current and former members of GSOC about some of the constraints and...