Results 8,461-8,480 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: If the Chair were being elected they would be down there.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: There is a tradition of gardaí attending joint meetings with local authorities on road safety and speed limits issues. These have not met very often but this provision will ensure that these issue will be decided upon and agreed with the committee as part of its responsibility.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: We are due to resume Committee Stage at 11.15 a.m. tomorrow, 9 December.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: I will be brief. In section 31 there is mention of Members of Dáil Éireann but no mention of Members of Seanad Éireann. I ask the Minister of State to include the word "Oireachtas" in the section by way of an amendment on Report Stage. I suggest that section 31(2)(b) be changed to insert after the words "local authority, members of Dáil Éireann", the words "and Seanad Éireann resident...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: No, but it is important. The term "Members of the Oireachtas" would cover those. In fairness, there is a right to be heard. Senators would have a broad objective. Should he wish to be more specific the Minister of State could include the word "resident". I compliment Senator Jim Walsh on this. He has put in a great deal of work behind the scenes with the Minister in discussing a formulation....

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: I support the amendment. Senator Jim Walsh made a very strong case to the Minister on the subject of local authority representation on the policing boards. It is very important that local authority members are involved as opposed to representatives of subsidiary local authority organisations. Local authority organisations include county development, enterprise and other boards, but the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: I understand the case being made by Senator Cummins in trying to ensure that these new arrangements would be reflected in negotiations with the representative associations. The Garda Commissioner would carry out these consultations. Including the provision in the legislation might be too rigid but it is important that we voice that concern here. I support the amendment because the principle...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: The amendment is worthwhile and it must be ensured the committees are established. The word "may" is weak whereas "shall" is much stronger. I sympathise with the Minister of State, having been in the same position many times in the House. Perhaps he is anxious to change this. I suggest the Minister insert the word "shall". I would welcome that because it would ensure this will happen. If it...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: The Minister of State is putting his best case forward in this regard. However, seldom do we have such agreement in the House on amendments.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: The Minister of State will do so. That is why he is such an eminent senior counsel. The word "may" has been an issue in legislation before. The Minister of State may come up with a better word than "shall". He could use the Minister "will" which is also a strong word. There is tremendous support in the House and throughout the country and among local authority members, whom we represent, for...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: This is important. The Minister of State has said he will come up with some ingenious response which I await with great interest. It is the first time in a debate on proposed legislation in the House that we have had so much support for changing one word. I know the Minister of State would, in his heart of hearts, favour this measure which I suggest he could introduce on Report Stage. We will...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: If Senator Cummins puts it to a vote, he would put us in a very embarrassing position.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: The Minister's amendment allays the GRA's fears. The GRA was concerned about external association. The GRA is also associated with EuroCOP and other organisations such as the Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations and it is important that such associations should continue openly, with the approval of the Minister. Section 13 of the Garda Act 1977 allows the Minister to...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: One is nominated by a professional body and its affiliate organisations have direct contact with its nominees to the House. We are elected by councillors and Oireachtas Members.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: The Minister's officials will meet the GRA's representatives in January. Will he confirm the meeting will take place? The GRA is happy with the Bill generally but it wishes to raise other issues. I welcome the Minister's amendment, which covers the points raised in the GRA's submission on the legislation. This ensures Senator Cummins and I will not have a difficulty meeting one of our...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: We have not disagreed regarding the ICPSA.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: If they were allowed.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: Such a scheme existed in the 1970s throughout the country, although I am only familiar with the one in Roscommon. All the houses in the scheme were sold on to gardaí and are now gone. Those houses were provided by the National Building Agency. The same may apply if the Minister decides to initiate a similar scheme. Senator Cummins has put a good case and in the circumstances I see no reason...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: The reserve force would be part of the community and its members would live in it. The Minister's idea is to recruit the reserve force from within the community. The Minister is reasonable in his approach. The Senator's points are worth considering, particularly with regard to built up areas in cities where it is hard to get accommodation. It would be worth investigating.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Terry Leyden: To follow up Senator Dardis's point regarding noxious weeds, we had much less ragwort than now when the Garda was involved in this area. This created a certain fear among people as regards that noxious weed. I compliment the Minister on securing an increase in the number of gardaí, about which we hear nothing. Once the Minister obtained Government approval for funding to increase the force...