Results 1,921-1,940 of 2,396 for speaker:Barry Ward

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 May 2022)

Barry Ward: Two days ago I raised the spectre of the new Chief Executive of Hong Kong, the fact that he is a former security minister there and that he has been involved in the past in crackdowns on pro-democracy demonstrations, particularly in 2019 and since then. Overnight, we see the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen as an expansion of that crackdown on those who were involved in the 2019 pro-democracy...

Seanad: Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Barry Ward: These motions are self-evident and make perfect sense. I welcome the fact that the Government has taken steps to fast-track them and opt out of the delays that might have come with the updating regulations and the new ones, and with the opportunities available to Ireland. International co-operation benefits Ireland in particular. As a small and geographically peripheral country, that level...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legal Services Regulation (10 May 2022)

Barry Ward: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, my colleague, neighbour and friend from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, who is here to deal with this matter. I am grateful to him for coming in because this is an important issue, namely the unwinding of cuts to criminal legal aid fees. It is not a secret that I am a criminal barrister and I still work in that sphere and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legal Services Regulation (10 May 2022)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister of State. I do not deny that the fees were cut at a time when there was a need to make cuts. It is not the case that criminal and legal aid fees were responsible for escalating legal costs, given that they are controlled by the Government so that is an aspect that is not relevant. Even if it were the case that the Government cannot identify a looming crisis, that is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2022)

Barry Ward: I join with my colleague, Senator Ahearn, in calling for an invitation to be extended to our Ukrainian parliamentary colleagues. We saw terrible things there and the terrible devastation being wreaked by the Russian forces. The takeaway message for me, however, was the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian politicians. Their extraordinary determination to overcome this is...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: I want to agree with Senator Malcolm Byrne. This is a clause that has been entered pro formainto legislation across the board for probably more than 15 years. It fundamentally ignores the fact that within local government, the membership of local authorities, there are councillors with huge expertise in a whole range of areas. The Minister and I served on the same local authority. She and...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: Senator Doherty, in particular, and I have had a number of conversations about the Bill. I welcome the intentions behind it and acknowledge much of what has been said during the debate. We are surrounded by a breadth of experience in this area, which is unfortunate, be that on the part of a Senator who has been the subject of sexual assault, Senators who have been involved in calling it out...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: In the centre of Dún Laoghaire, there is a beautiful old fire station that operated for many years as an enterprise centre. In recent years, a decision was made for that building to become the new site of the Educate Together school that is due to be based in Dún Laoghaire. Since that decision was made a number of years ago, nothing has happened. I understand the building is now...

Seanad: Automated Data Exchange for Police Co-operation: Motion (26 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following...

Seanad: Automated Data Exchange for Police Co-operation: Motion (26 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: I welcome the Minister to the House. Because this is the first opportunity have had to address the issue, I congratulate the Minister and the Department, as well as An Garda Síochána, in particular, for the work that has been done in Ireland and internationally in regard to the Kinahan gang. We have taken extraordinary steps forward. If ever there were a case for international...

Seanad: Automated Data Exchange for Police Co-operation: Motion (26 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: Amárach ar 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: I join the congratulations that have been extended to Senator Clonan. It is great to have another Blackrock person here because there are now only four of us, as far as I know. We can never have enough Blackrock people.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: Senator Clonan has been a friend of mine for a long time. One will meet him, Aideen and Duke around Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire, whether it is on the pier or wherever else. What is very important is what has been spoken about in the context of the competitive and involved nature of the campaign we had for the seat. It is very important and shows the level of interest and commitment...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (5 Apr 2022)

Barry Ward: Táim ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis na Seanadóirí Lombard agus Dolan. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus gabhaim comhghairdeas léi as an méid oibre a dhéanann a Roinn. Tá a lán ráite anocht faoin obair atá déanta agus an t-airgead atá ar fáil do rudaí atá ar siúl ar fud na tíre. I want to focus on two...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Barry Ward: Other Members have mentioned the census, which is coming up on Sunday. It is an exciting opportunity in relation to the time capsule that has been included. I congratulate the CSO on that idea. I am not sure it exists anywhere else in the world. When I looked at the 1911 census in relation to my grandparents, it was fantastic to find their households recorded. I encourage people to think...

Seanad: Support to Ukraine: Motion (30 Mar 2022)

Barry Ward: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. I support the motion and I am delighted that Fine Gael has brought it forward. With regard to the support we are offering Ukraine, I have to say I am tremendously proud of the response of Ireland and the Government and of our communities and people throughout the country. We have had the generosity and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Barry Ward: Today, the Government announced the auto-enrolment scheme for pensions, which I welcome. Nobody has ever accused pensions of being sexy, but there is the reality in the demographics in Ireland and in the changes in the population that mean that we have to prepare for a pensions crisis that is coming down the road. It is entirely appropriate therefore that the Government would put this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rehabilitative Opportunities within the Prison System: Discussion (29 Mar 2022)

Barry Ward: I apologise for not being here earlier as I was in the House. I have watched part of the meeting online. I want to touch on what Ms Gavin said. I endorse what she said about prison sentences having nothing to do with what the media think they should be. This is why we have judges sentencing and not the media. The Minister for Justice has made proposals on minimum sentences to be served....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rehabilitative Opportunities within the Prison System: Discussion (29 Mar 2022)

Barry Ward: I am not sure I understand the point made about why we cannot use open prisons more. Does Ms McCaffrey agree that we should be putting more of the prison population into open prisons and having structured activities within them?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (23 Mar 2022)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to deal with this issue. It has been ongoing for some time and I have raised it in the House on a number of occasions. A group in my area called SOS Dublin Bay, made up primarily of sea swimmers, is concerned about the quality of water in Dublin Bay and has raised this issue with me on a number of occasions. The group has written to...