Results 9,861-9,880 of 10,319 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan
- Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: We will be supporting the motion. If both Houses support this resolution, this State will establish a tribunal of inquiry for the thirty-first time since the foundation of the State. Of those 31 tribunals of inquiry, it is interesting to note that six of them have been into activities of An Garda Síochána. In fairness to An Garda Síochána, seven of them have been into...
- Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (16 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: 52. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any analysis has been completed on reasons for the substantial fall in Garda Reserve numbers between 2014 and 2016. [7628/17]
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset let me give members a brief overview of some terms that apply in respect of prisoners. One hears about parole, temporary release and remission, but the three terms are different. Remission is an entitlement that virtually all prisoners have to have one quarter of their sentence deducted. It does not apply to life sentences. If I were given a sentence of four years, I am...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all the members for their contributions and efforts. I will deal first with what Deputy Clare Daly said. She made the point that she would like to see community representatives on the board. That is a good idea. We need to assess how we could identify community representatives. A criticism, which may be legitimate, is that the membership of the board may look too legalistic....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: Fr. Wallace.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I agree. The imprisonment is the punishment.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I am not saying that they should be punished 50% of the time that they are in there. Being in there is the punishment. On the general issue of a sentence and someone going to jail, it is not just a question of trying to rehabilitate, although that should happen all of the time while people are in prison. Rather, a part of the function of a sentence is punishment. Am I being mean?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I know.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I agree.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I agree, and I will remove it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I have given that commitment.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I will call it the "Wallace amendment".
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: That is a fair point.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: It is an anachronism.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: When drafting a Bill, I must examine other legislation. Generally, legislation excludes individuals who have been convicted of a term of imprisonment or adjudicated bankrupts-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: -----from being on boards. I am sure there are some boards where that is probably still necessary. I agree with Deputy Wallace about bankruptcy. I believe the current President of America went there thrice. It is not the end of the world. I am not making any judgment.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Prisons (Solitary Confinement) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I want to re-emphasise the point I made before. It is unacceptable to use solitary confinement as a punishment. It is a form of deprivation of association with people. It is a form of sensory deprivation and the reason it is happening is because the prisoner has engaged in indiscipline or has broken prison discipline rules. There must be other methods, I would have thought, of ensuring...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Prisons (Solitary Confinement) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: I am sorry that was not a question. I have just realised that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Prisons (Solitary Confinement) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)
Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.