Results 11,701-11,720 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I wish to raise the issue of the announcement today by the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency of the number of vessels apprehended in Irish waters in the first quarter of this year. I ask the Leader to either have a debate on this issue or to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Mary Coughlan, to examine this serious situation. Out of 14 vessels arrested, 13 were Irish...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I rarely beg the Cathaoirleach's indulgence on the Order of Business. Let us assume that two vessels with fish dock in Castletownbere, one of which is Spanish and the other of which is Irish. The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority officers can board the Irish vessel and check the quantity of fish and any technical log book regulations but have no power to board a Spanish vessel. This is...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: At this minute, a significant Dutch fleet is catching thousands of tonnes of fish off our coastline and is being neglected by the Irish Navy and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. At the same time, fishermen, some of whom are struggling to survive, who come in with one box of monkfish over quota are landed before the Circuit Court with penalties that far outweigh the offence in...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (9 Apr 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: My colleague caught me off guard by finishing his contribution so quickly.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (9 Apr 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: It is the Senator's prerogative. Given that we are dealing with the legal profession in this Bill, I congratulate our Taoiseach-in-waiting and Leader of Fianna Fáil who is a member of that profession. It is probably a great honour for the profession that Deputy Brian Cowen is in this position. I wish him the best of luck. If he has as much success as the outgoing Taoiseach, we are in for...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: We have just had a debate.

Seanad: Civil Marriage: Motion (27 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after ''That'' and substitute the following: "Seanad Éireann notes the following legislative developments since 1992: the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 which decriminalised sexual relationships between men; the Unfair Dismissals (Amendment) Act 1993 which deemed as unfair dismissal on the ground of sexual orientation; the Refugee Act 1995...

Seanad: Civil Marriage: Motion (27 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I have already proposed the amendment to the motion and I will say a few brief words in the time allowed. As the Minister indicated, I chaired the last Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Constitution and in January 2006 we produced a report known as the Tenth Progress Report: The Family. For the record it should be noted the Taoiseach wrote to the then Chairman of that committee, now...

Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Gormley to the House and compliment him on a job well done to date. I am pleased that matters are going well. It has always been my view that the notion of the Green Party coming into Government with Fianna Fáil is a wake-up call for our party. We have our faults and failings on the issue of waste management and other environmental matters and the new...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I concur with Senator Mullen's praise for Ruhama's great work and this side of the House has no issue with it. This Bill deals with human trafficking. I obtained information from research undertaken by Ruhama that the number of people, primarily but not exclusively women, who have been trafficked into Ireland, is less than 90. I referred to these figures on Second Stage last week. In my...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: On Tuesday, 11 March 2008. Report Stage ordered for Tuesday, 11 March 2008.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The Minister of State earlier outlined the position in respect of amendment No. 8 which everyone welcomed as a step in the right direction. The new section 6 proposed in the amendment relates to "Soliciting or importuning for purposes of prostitution of trafficked person." Perhaps the Minister of State might bring clarity to the situation, if not now then on Report Stage. As I understand...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I am unclear in my mind about this issue. The amendments tabled by the Labour Party and by Senator Mullen suggest a charter of rights for victims of human trafficking. While the concept is laudable, I am not sure whether it can be dealt with practically within our domestic legislation as opposed to dealing with it as a whole within the European Convention on Human Rights. While not wishing...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I am a little unclear about the amendment in that the purpose of the Bill is to deal with those who trafficks and exploit people, primarily women. It is agreed that between 90% and 95% of those who are trafficked for sexual exploitation are women. The thrust of the legislation is to deal with traffickers who are the principal culprits. The women, unfortunately, are victims and they deserve...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I raised this issue when I spoke on Second Stage of the Bill. We should learn from international law, including developments in Europe, Great Britain, Canada and Australia, not to take the easy option. This problem does not arise in respect of the enlarged EU, despite what Senator Mullen said about difficulties for Bulgarians and Romanians, because EU citizens have rights. However,...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the amendment proposed by the Minister of State on behalf of the Government. It goes a long way to allaying my fears regarding concerns that unfortunate women are trafficked and led into a life of prostitution or sexual exploitation. It may not necessarily be prostitution as the exploitation could take the form of other services. There is the view that those who use such people,...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I can see clearly where my colleagues, Senators Mullen and Alex White, are coming from. The Labour Party amendment and Senator Mullen's amendment are almost identical in their drafting. I fully concur with the sentiments expressed. I made the point forcefully on Second Stage that people who are trafficked here, particularly for sexual or other exploitation which is akin to slavery, must be...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I wish to briefly raise two issues. I ask the Leader to stimulate a debate on an environmental issue concerning the serviced sites initiative, an important measure introduced by local authorities. A problem in this area arose in the past and was partly resolved by local authorities providing serviced sites to young people, sometimes at approximately 10% of their market value, a wonderful...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The same applies to the building societies. Their approach is similar to that of the subprime lenders in pointing out that they are not prepared to give a mortgage, which creates a practical difficulty. I request the Leader to arrange for a debate on this matter. I am sure this problem is encountered by people in many counties and not only by people in County Cork. I also request a debate...