Results 1,861-1,880 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 19: In page 5, line 23, after “section 2 or 3” to insert “or section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997”.

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I just want to make a point on the Bill. The one thing I am very clear on is that there is no end to the amendments we could actually consider. People have been contacting me about this over the years, but also recently. Since there is such an urgent need for legislation in this area, our objective should be to establish a framework. As I said in my opening comments on this, the framework...

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 17: In page 5, line 14, after “section 2 or 3” to insert “or section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997”. As the Ceann Comhairle said, we discussed this issue on Committee Stage. In the original Bill I drafted, to amend the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997, I had the harassment elements included in a...

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: On Committee Stage and subsequently, the Minister indicated that there is a justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill coming next year and that she will give further consideration to the instances concerned in light of it. There are cases where what I propose is warranted. I am asking not that a determination be automatic but that it be open to the court to make one. I trust the judges in...

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to amend my amendment at page 4 and to drop “to delete lines 35 to 38” and add something after the existing section 4. I will read this section, as it stands, for clarity. It reads: 4. (1) A person who— (a) by any means— (i) distributes or publishes any threatening or grossly offensive communication about another person, or (ii) sends any...

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: It will be printed in any event because of the amendment we have already made.

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, I do.

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: On that basis I withdraw the amendment.

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: We have already accepted an amendment.

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 15: In page 4, to delete lines 35 to 38, and in page 5, to delete lines 1 to 7 and substitute the following: "4. (1) A person is guilty of an offence where he or she, by any means— (a) distributes or publishes any threatening or grossly offensive communication about another person, or (b) sends any threatening or grossly offensive communication to another...

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Minister of State for accepting the potential of my proposed subsection (2). I do not know whether it is technically possible to amend my amendment simply to add that subsection to the existing section 4. The Ceann Comhairle might be able to advise whether it is technically possible to do so. We had a lot of debate on this issue and it goes to the heart of online bullying....

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: People will know this Bill has been a long time in gestation since I introduced it three years ago. Technology has changed as well and so we need to look very carefully at every aspect of it. All of the debate thus far on the Bill has focused on the sharing of intimate images. That element is only one part of the Bill but a very important part, and one that has come into greater focus in...

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome the acceptance of amendment No. 5. It is the amendment I recommended from the group. I am concerned that some of the other amendments might add a complication, particularly to the issue of consent. It should not be a matter of being able to contest it by way of a new definition as opposed to the normal understanding of consent. The acceptance of Deputy Jim O'Callaghan's...

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I am delighted we have got to this stage of the debate on this important legislation. I want to thank the Minister, Deputy McEntee. Unfortunately she cannot be with us but I thank her for her co-operation with me in advancing this legislation to this point. The net issue in this group of amendments is the definition of "intimate image". We are trying to ensure that the sharing of...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: It is straightforward. I support the amendment.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: It seems as if this is happening quickly inasmuch as there is only one Report Stage amendment from the Minister. It is an important Bill and it is important to get it on the Statute Book in this session if we can. The issue of money laundering and terrorist financing was discussed at great length on Committee Stage and previously on Second Stage. The speed of Report Stage should not in any...

Appropriation Bill 2020: Second and Subsequent Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: On a point of order, the debate is supposed to be concluded. Is any Deputy who comes in now simply going to be allowed to speak?

Appropriation Bill 2020: Second and Subsequent Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: Two justice Bills are due now and people are scheduled to speak here until 11.15 tonight. I am just being reasonable.

Appropriation Bill 2020: Second and Subsequent Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: Fine.

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I do not want to take up my time with mentioning this, but giving Opposition parties five minutes to respond undermines the commitments made after the Lisbon treaty to deal with European affairs in a much more structured way. I hope we can revisit that. Normally we would now be talking about the detail of the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, and the EU's recovery and resilience...