Results 61-80 of 1,467 for speaker:Geraldine Feeney

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, and thank the Minister, Deputy McDowell, for his presentation. Not alone will he be a reforming Minister but a dedicated one also. The Prison Visiting Committee Act was introduced in 1925 by the then Minister, Deputy Kevin O'Higgins. It was set up to be an independent prison watchdog on behalf of the public and a defender of offenders' rights....

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: I accept that it is at least one third. Senators Terry, Henry and Tuffy have referred to political hacks criss-crossing the country to collect expenses. I would hate to think that the Senators would classify councillors as political hacks. All Senators know that councillors are the people who work hardest in the community. I do not need to remind Opposition Members that they are quick to...

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: I do not see why councillors should not sit on prison visiting boards.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: Senator Tuffy and other Opposition Senators asked why people with special expertise are not selected. The Minister has outlined why he would not like criminologists and similar people to be on the boards. The areas of education and medicine are covered by the prison service. We all know that prisoners can be very well educated after they have finished their prison sentences.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: —19% of prisoners were on temporary release. I refer to the coalition that was led by Fine Gael. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, might confirm that the relevant figure is now about 7%.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: I have probably strayed from the point.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: I have been listening and I appreciate that Senator Brian Hayes has asked me to return to the subject of this debate. Can I point out the importance of the visiting committees? They had an important role when Nora Owen was Minister, as they highlighted overcrowding and drug problems in the prisons. One does not hear of such problems today as a consequence of the good leadership of this...

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: The Senators opposite would accuse us of trying to hide. My interpretation of the 1925 Act is that any person may apply for a place on a prison visiting committee. I cannot give names, but I assure the House that I know of one or two eminent people, who are not politicians and are not associated with any political party, who have served on such committees. It gives me great pleasure to...

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: It was not an attack.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: The word "attack" is too strong.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: The Minister accepted the amendment.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: The Senator should have listened to the Minister's speech.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: Senator McHugh was not here when the Minister spoke.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: The Progressive Democrats support the amendment.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: Take a bow.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: Rightly so, as it is better.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: I ask the Leader to seek the views of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on up-coming EU legislation which would allow free movement of medical practitioners within members state without being registered with the regulatory body in the state they are visiting. This means that a doctor can come into this country and practise for up to 16 weeks without being on the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: While I support Senator Ryan's call for a debate on self-regulation, unlike him, I believe the public interest is enhanced rather than hindered or handicapped by it. I sit on the Medical Council representing the public interest. The medical profession takes the issue of self-regulation seriously and is honoured and privileged to be self-regulated. The medical practitioners (amendment) Bill...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: I wish to share time with Senator Hanafin.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Geraldine Feeney: I join in welcoming the Minister of State to the House and thank him for remaining throughout the debate. I wish him every success, together with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Government, in what has not been an easy task. I am convinced by the case the Government has made to allow the use of facilities at Shannon by the US. I will be brief as much of what I intended to say has...