Results 81-100 of 2,156 for speaker:Tom Parlon

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (20 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: I accept what the Senator has said and it would be a very worthwhile provision in the Bill. However, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, did say he was preparing this legislation as a matter of priority. I do expect that it will be expedited quickly.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: Too much of our public administration is still concentrated in the capital. In Dublin, we have rapid population growth which is putting pressure on public services and threatening to damage the quality of life. In certain rural areas, the opposite is happening – population decline is putting pressure on the viability of public services and threatening to damage the quality of life. This is...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: There is good hurling.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: I thank the Senators who have made such a positive response. Senator Higgins spoke of the sheer coincidence of some of the more recently suggested locations for decentralisation. He mentioned Cahersiveen and Roscrea. I would remind Senator Higgins and other Fine Gael Senators that this is not a new phenomenon. In a previous Administration, both a Labour Minister referred to by Senator Brendan...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: It is probably a phenomenon that will last into the future, and there could be some coincidences with regard to the Government Departments being moved. It is no coincidence either that many Senators gave very positive and enthusiastic pitches for towns within their own constituencies – not that Senators have constituencies, but they might have in a future situation. I myself have been the...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: Perhaps. The Minister, Deputy McDowell, would no doubt be concerned about such a figure if that were the case, and I think it is not. Previously, there was a lot of difficulty moving people, and we know of some outrageous circumstances where people were moved to new premises only 100 metres away and sought compensation for such a move. It is generally accepted now that there is a very...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: I notice that people interpret speeches differently. I referred to many of the towns included as gateways and hubs, and I referred to three towns. The decision will not be made by me but by the Cabinet. There is a very strong Government commitment to decentralisation, and a similar commitment by Senators. It is a very sensible project for the Government. When the decision is made, the area...

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: The position is as set out by the Senator. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, agreed to examine the provision. However, on further examination the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform finds that the Senator's concern is already provided for in the Bill. She suggested the deletion of the qualifying term "that established the team" on the basis that where a member state joins a team...

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: As explained on Committee Stage, section 5 provides that a joint investigation team will be established for a specific purpose and for a limited period and that, where it is necessary to do so, that period may be extended for an additional period or periods as agreed by the competent authority concerned. This appears to be a perfectly reasonable provision.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: The amendment would provide that the establishment of each joint investigation team should be costed prior to establishment. As was explained on Second Stage, one of the guiding principles for the Garda Síochána, as indicated in the Garda corporate strategy for 2000 to 2004, is to ensure the Garda carries out its functions in a way that obtains the best value from Garda activities. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 are being discussed together. Sections 4 and 5 allow the State to join a joint investigation team which has been established on such terms and conditions as the Irish competent authority may agree with the competent authorities of the member states involved in the original establishment of the team. Section 4(3) deals with the criteria to be taken into consideration by...

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: I thank the Senators who have contributed to the debate. As many of them said, it is an important Bill and the tone and content of the debate has been very constructive. The importance of co-operation between member states' operational police is recognised by the Treaty of Rome. It is an objective which the Government supports in full. The concept of joint teams is not new but one of the main...

Seanad: Sustaining Progress: Statements. (27 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: Sustaining Progress continues the successful formula of its predecessor agreements of a consistent policy framework in the macro-economic, distributional and structural areas. The new agreement aims, within the parameters of the programme for Government, to build upon the progress made under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. It is appropriate to current circumstances and reflects the...

Seanad: Sustaining Progress: Statements. (27 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: I thank Senators for their contributions, which, in the main, were complimentary in accepting the great progress made under the partnership system. This is the sixth such agreement. Senator Higgins raised the issue of job losses, but ours is still the second lowest unemployment rate in Europe. As Senator Mansergh said, there are some good news stories in this regard and I was happy to be...

Seanad: Sustaining Progress: Statements. (27 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: —and less so this time. It can be difficult to get a consensus. In addition, the sophistication of negotiators has improved substantially over the years. It took a long time to achieve consensus this time. The fact that it is an 18-month pay agreement is probably a weakness, but that is as much on which consensus could be achieved. The Government would have wished for a longer pay agreement...

Seanad: Sustaining Progress: Statements. (27 May 2003)

Tom Parlon: Absolutely. Payment is dependent on verification of results and I expect it will be strongly adhered to. The Government agreed to pay terms which are generous by comparison with those in our trading partners and which will, over the period of the agreement, provide protection for living standards. In return, we can expect the trade unions to deliver on the commitments entered into, in...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Tom Parlon: I am a recent recruit to parliamentary life. Like some other Members, I celebrated my first anniversary in the last week or so.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Tom Parlon: I thank the Senator. It did not take me long to notice that most of us have to cope with working long hours here during the legislative and committee sessions and with the insistent demands, in all seasons and on all days, of supporters and organisations, locally and nationally. Neither I nor the Minister for Finance ever held out the promise that if this Bill is enacted, the everyday...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Tom Parlon: The phrase "Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas" is a bit of a mouthful for ordinary conversation, but what it describes in practice is the administrative and support machine that provides the back-up of essential services to serve and sustain these Houses and their Members in discharging their public functions here. The essence of the Bill is that it provides for the Houses of the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Tom Parlon: I thank all the Senators for their contributions which were well thought out. Opposition speakers have received the Bill warmly and been quite generous in their praise for the contribution of the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, in improving facilities for staff and Members of the Houses.