Results 11,841-11,860 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----are going about the lawful and peaceful-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----development of the community and where people are graduating with honours from colleges, which is a mark of great honour and credit to the communities, or where schools are working with children-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----the protestors who turn up at those events are, as Deputy McDonald suggested, not typical of the people who engage in peaceful protest on this issue. I suggest that they think again. I do not understand why they prevented a mother going to see her sick daughter after the finish of a council meeting.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: First of all-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I want to ask the Deputy-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----in the interests of the many gardaí who serve this country and its people with distinction, heroism and bravery-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----whether when she made a reference to dogs she was actually including in that our Garda Síochána.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I think it is important, notwithstanding that the Deputy is given to fairly colourful rhetoric when she speaks here, that she actually address this issue. Gardaí do not deserve to be spoken of in those terms.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: At many of the protests, I have heard language used to both female and male members of An Garda Síochána that I certainly felt was not appropriate.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I have to say that, in all of my years in politics with the Deputy sitting on Deputy Coppinger's right, I have never heard him resorting to that kind of language. In all fairness to him-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----we have had many political disputes, but I have never heard Deputy Higgins resort to that kind of language. I understand that there is a lot of hot temper flying around the Chamber at the moment.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: In fairness to Deputy Higgins, I just wanted to acknowledge that. We have had many very detailed discussions and disputes on political matters.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Let me reiterate that it is a cornerstone of our Constitution and democracy, which I will defend, that we have an independent Garda, an independent Judiciary and an independent complaints procedure. That may not be good enough for Deputy Coppinger, but the Constitution of this Republic and an independent Garda operation are paramount for me and anybody who respects the former.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Let me say this as well. It would be absolutely inappropriate for me, any other serving Minister or any politician to comment in any detail on a Garda matter that is under way.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: First, in our democratic system it is a matter for An Garda Síochána to investigate crime. Second, we have an independent Judiciary.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Gardaí have to be free to investigate crime without political interference of any kind. That is why it is exclusively a matter for An Garda Síochána to decide, in accordance with the law, who is to be arrested and detained as part of any investigation. Equally, it is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether people are charged and matters are...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I uphold the Constitution. Like any member of the Government, I am required to do so. I respect the independence of the Judiciary, the independence of the Garda and the availability of an independent complaints system. It is important for anyone who speaks on these matters in this House not to reflect in any negative way on the independence of these institutional and constitutional...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I would like to refer briefly to the events at Fingal County Council the other evening. Like other Members of this House, I served as a member of that county council for a period. I regret what happened to the Fianna Fáil Mayor of Fingal County Council, Councillor Mags Murray, whom I have known over a long time. When she wanted to leave the council meeting to visit her daughter who...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: As part of a protest, certain people prevented her from getting to her car in order that she could visit her daughter in hospital.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: All I will say is that they are not representative of people who have political issues and opposition to the whole issue of water charges.