Results 881-900 of 1,702 for speaker:Barry Ward

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Barry Ward: Before the Minister responds, are there any other comments which members may wish to make before we conclude? I will give members one minute if they wish to raise any other distinct issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Barry Ward: That is more in the nature of a comment than a question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister. I know the past two weeks have not been easy but I want to say to the Minister, and I know she has said this on a number of occasions, that our concerns are very much with the families affected by the attack on 23 November. We hope for a speedy recovery for everyone. I wanted to express that on behalf of the committee, and I know it is something which has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Barry Ward: I appreciate that. The committee is now adjourned until Tuesday, 12 December at 4 p.m. when we will meet in private session on housekeeping matters. I thank everyone.

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Barry Ward: I am happy to speak on this topic. As somebody who spent 11 years in local government, many of them with the Acting Chairperson in the Blackrock ward on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, I have a great deal of experience of the workings of local government, both good and bad. There is an important narrative to local government in Ireland, which is that over the past 25 years,...

Seanad: Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023: Second Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Barry Ward: On behalf of the Fine Gael group I welcome this legislation. I think it makes absolute sense. The offence of coercive control being outside the canon of offences that are included in the sex offenders register does not really make sense, so it is entirely appropriate that they would be brought in under that. I know colleagues will agree that of all people, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has...

Seanad: The Royal Hibernian Academy (Amendment of Charter) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: “Amendment of lines 68 and 82 of the Charter of 1861 6. The Charter of 1861 shall be read and construed— (a) as if the following words were deleted therefrom where the same appear in lines 68, that is to say the words “within the City of Dublin or ten miles thereof.”, ...

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: I will not take as much time as I would like on this issue but I want to say a couple of things. I was actually on Parnell Square last Thursday when this happened. I heard the screams of the children outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire. It very quickly became apparent how much distress and panic there was on the street at the time. When the emergency services arrived, I saw the...

Seanad: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus roimh an Bille seo ar son an grúpa Fine Gael. In fairness, this is very important legislation and it is entirely appropriate that the Minister, as somebody who has particularly spearheaded initiatives against domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, would bring it before the House. It is also appropriate that there would be a single agency with...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (8 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: Senator Ruane referred to what I said on Committee Stage about these amendments. I do not accept that the Garda should be put in the same category as the police in the United States, particularly, or even in the UK. I think they are better than that but in saying that, I can see that there are bad apples in the barrel. There always are. I recognise the point Senator Ruane is making...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: We are running up against the clock. Rather than allowing the Commissioner to come in at this point, I will come to the members who are waiting and allow Mr. Harris time to answer thereafter. I will come to Deputy Daly and will then come to Deputies Pringle and Costello. We will take the three Deputies together, if that is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: I wish to put on record that as a practising barrister, I regularly appear for the Commissioner; I suspect he is unaware of this - not that I have any pecuniary interest or anything like that, but I want to declare that. I wish to address three issues. First, I refer to legal training for gardaí who appear in the District Court. I know presenting sergeants and presenting inspectors...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: We had engagement with the Commissioner earlier and one of the big issues that came up was the recruitment and retention of gardaí. In some respects the Garda is a victim of the successful employment situation whereby there are many options for people with the skills that gardaí have. An issue that arises in my area is the cost of housing. For gardaí at Blackrock Garda...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Barry Ward: I know where Senators Ruane and Flynn are coming from on this, although I do not necessarily agree with them. My understanding is that if facial recognition technology were to be used at a point in the future - I know there is desire in certain quarters for that - and if that were to pass, it would have to come back to this House anyway. It could not be done under this legislation even as...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Barry Ward: I said at the outset of this Bill that it is very important that we put in place protocols governing the use of Garda bodycams and material that is going to be gathered in regard to members of the public in a public place or, indeed, in a private place, for example, a home. Those protocols have to be tight, as I have said to the Minister before. They need to guarantee the safety and privacy...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Barry Ward: I accept Senator Flynn's bona fides in saying where the amendments are coming from. I spent a lot of time in my professional career defending the people Senator Flynn spoke about and the High Court jurisprudence is littered with cases that have been taken against unjustifiable and arbitrary decisions by gardaí to stop and search people and so on. The Senator is right about that. My...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Barry Ward: Dé Máirt seo chugainn.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Barry Ward: Amárach ar 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Barry Ward: This morning, along with hundreds of my colleagues at the criminal Bar, I stood outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street in an unprecedented demonstration of dissatisfaction by barristers over their pay. I know the issue has been mentioned. That action was repeated outside courtrooms throughout Ireland by people who work in the criminal justice system in small towns in...