Results 14,901-14,920 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I mean a gap. There was a gap. We are satisfied that this Bill will fill that gap.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Most Members know what "lacuna" means.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is a gap, which is being filled by the Bill. I welcome the fact it provides comprehensive protection for all children under the age of 17.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Kenny said it.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Would the Deputy have implemented those recommendations?

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (1 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The participation of women in the Irish labour force has risen dramatically in recent years, from 40.1% in 1994 to 55.8% in 2004, and this trend is continuing alongside record numbers in employment. The CSO study "Women and Men in Ireland 2004" provides an interesting picture of how women's role in the labour force is changing and how this pattern may continue to develop as older age women...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Early Childcare Supplement, or ECS, was introduced in Budget 2006. The scheme is under the remit of the Office of the Minister for Children. The administration of the scheme is being undertaken by the Department of Social & Family Affairs, on an agency basis. The scheme is a universal one and all parents or guardians of children up to six years of age are eligible. It is expected that...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (1 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 — 2010, which are being implemented by the newly established Office of the Minister for Children. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 —...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (1 Jun 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The first part of the Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy....

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The membership of the committee comprises Mrs. Justice Susan Denham as chairperson, Mr. Justice Kevin O'Higgins, Mr. Justice Esmond Smyth, Judge Miriam Malone, President of the District Court, and Professor Tom O'Malley. The steering committee reviewed sentencing systems worldwide and identified those of Scotland and New South Wales as the most relevant to our situation. Professor Cyrus Tata,...

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: They are very dangerous people. It is proposed the orders will be available in circumstances where the offence is a scheduled offence——

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——certain lesser offences under public order legislation and the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and the court considers it appropriate to impose a sentence of three months or more. A restriction of movement order may impose such restrictions as the court thinks fit including a requirement that the offender be in a specified place at a certain time. The period for which an...

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ln this regard, the Minister is also providing that the granting of temporary release from prison can be subject to the restriction of movement and electronic monitoring. As I mentioned earlier, the traditional approach to sentencing is for the Oireachtas to lay down by law the maximum penalty appropriate to a particular offence and for the courts, having considered all the circumstances of a...

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Or Ard-Fheis guidelines.

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Statutory guidelines would involve an undue interference in the independence of the Judiciary. The decision on what kind of sentence to impose is a judicial determination, not an Ard-Fheis determination——

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy should have no fear. Servants of the State were not required to compile the entirety of this script. The decision on what kind of sentence to impose is a judicial determination and, save only in exceptional circumstances, I hold the view that the Oireachtas should be cautious in prescribing mandatory sentences. Deputy Jim O'Keeffe is no doubt aware that the Law Reform Commission...

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——the more effective dissemination of decisions which are regarded as being authoritative in nature, especially decisions of the Court of Criminal Appeal. I understand the Courts Service and Supreme Court Judiciary are operating a pilot database of judgments of the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeal which has been launched on the Courts Service website along with High Court judgments.

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Perhaps they could be displayed at the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis rather than the extensive reviews and sentencing promises of Deputy Kenny. As I mentioned earlier, the steering committee, in reviewing sentencing systems, worldwide identified those of Scotland and New South Wales as the most relevant to our situation. In this regard, New South Wales has a judicial commission whose major function is...

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: They alone can take all the circumstances in a particular case into account and the Courts Service board has put in place a highly skilled committee to look at sentencing. If Deputy Jim O'Keeffe examines the impressive membership of this committee, he will agree the Minister should await the conclusion of its work before coming to decisions on the issue which is the subject matter of Deputy...

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (30 May 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The problem with the narrow approach mentioned by the Deputy is that it does not address the issue of the protection of young men as well as young women.