Results 141-157 of 157 for garda speaker:Thomas Byrne

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (22 Jun 2010)

Thomas Byrne: Question 305: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position with regard to the forthcoming Garda recruitment drive; the age limits that will be in place; if current age limits on serving members of the Garda Reserve who wish to become gardaí will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26802/10]

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2010)

Thomas Byrne: ...thing to say and to do, but there is no other way of preventing this abuse of children. They are certainly not begging for themselves, and they should not be. Under the Bill, members of the Garda are given the power to move people on, and a garda is entitled to give a direction to a person who is begging if he or she believes the person is acting in a manner which constitutes an offence...

Courts and Court Officers Bill 2009: Second Stage (24 Sep 2009)

Thomas Byrne: ...Dunshaughlin because if a place can be found for that courthouse it will be provided. The current location is unsafe but no suitable alternative has been found. That is important not just for the Garda, witnesses and alleged criminals but also for the local economy because of the influx of gardaí, lawyers, witnesses and so on that it brings. I welcome this Bill and the new complex. I...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2009)

Thomas Byrne: ...daily lives, not only in County Limerick but in my constituency in County Meath, where many of the gangs from Finglas have decided to live. Crime is an important issue in my part of the country. A garda giving evidence in court does not determine guilt or innocence. He or she does not determine whether an organisation exists. His evidence will simply be part of what the judge must weigh...

Commissions of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jun 2009)

Thomas Byrne: ...in repeating what has been said, other than to welcome the Minister's promise to get back to the group shortly and to arrange serious discussions at a top level. I am glad she has spoken to the Garda Commissioner. I am conscious that the Garda investigation into this matter is ongoing. Although Deputies have a different role in this investigation, we will give the force all the support...

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (24 Jun 2009)

Thomas Byrne: It seems odd that when the objective of the legislation is to prevent crime and murder and tackle gangs, the most contentious point seems to be whether we give powers to the GSOC against gardaí. It takes away from the focus of the legislation which must be quite specific. I agree with the Minister's approach that perhaps it will be necessary to give this power to the GSOC in the future but...

Garda Stations. (2 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I was prompted to raise the issue of Garda stations in County Meath by a petition some constituents from Dunboyne sent to me. It is not the first time I have raised the issue of Garda resources in my constituency in response to a petition. I acknowledge the great work gardaí do day to day in my constituency in the fight against crime and dealing with serious accidents. There was a serious...

Road Safety. (26 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: ...people and a young baby were brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and, thank God, nobody sustained serious injuries. My thoughts are with those caught up in the incident and the gardaí and emergency services who performed wonderful work on the day. However, this accident highlights yet again the need for a review of road safety on the N2 and in particular the urgent need...

Banking System: Motion (25 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: ...so is to restore the country's financial reputation, which I am convinced the Government is trying to do. There has been serious action on investigation. Deputy Michael McGrath and I wrote to the Garda Commissioner a couple of weeks ago to ask him for more resources for the Director of Corporate Enforcement. That has been done. We politicians must now step back from the investigation...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: ...involved with it for a number of years in terms of share holdings. That lie is incorrect and is unfair on Fianna Fáil Members who have not come across that bank and were delighted to see the gardaí investigating it today. It is important that Fianna Fáil fights back and rejects these accusations being made conveniently by the Labour Party when it should be offering economic solutions...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: ...awaiting a report on issues that have taken place many years ago. Tribunals have not thus far been able to determine civil or criminal liability. They make findings of fact and if the DPP and the Garda want to pursue the matter further, they have to start their investigations from scratch. This is not adequate. Tribunals of inquiry owe their immediate origins to the Tribunals of Inquiry...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: ...voted to them by the Parliament. That system, which we still utilise, is out of date and no longer works. Irish tribunals of inquiry were established to investigate the deaths of individuals in Garda custody, the accident off Whiddy Island, the Stardust tragedy and the Kerry babies case. I spent my teenage years watching news reports on the beef tribunal.

Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2008)

Thomas Byrne: ...to say something but it is not absolute and can be withdrawn in certain cases. Generally speaking, this covers people who have a duty to receive information. If one reports something to the gardaí in good faith, qualified privilege applies. One cannot be sued for it unless, under the old law, one did it with malice, which is different from doing it maliciously. One did it with malice,...

Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)

Thomas Byrne: .... There may not always be a proper reason for it, although the fear is justifiable in the case I have mentioned. In general, there is no question that there is much good news on the justice and Garda front. We have a record number of gardaí in the country, which is an unquestionable achievement. Closed circuit television systems are being rolled out and it is about to be introduced to...

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Thomas Byrne: ...July. This may be hard on people who bought cars with lower emissions before the changes were announced. I represent part of the town of Drogheda and in the bad old days there were cases when the gardaí ripped out vending machines for non-oral contraceptives. How will the VAT change for these contraceptives impact on vending machines? The only impact will be greater profit for the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Oct 2007)

Thomas Byrne: Question 548: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the policing of County Meath and in particular the numbers of gardaí required to be based in Laytown and Duleek stations to serve the growing population of this part of County Meath. [24067/07]

Tackling Crime: Statements (Resumed) (3 Oct 2007)

Thomas Byrne: ...said, however, that is no consolation to those who are affected by crime, especially serious crime. A particular problem in my constituency and other areas of expanding population is the lack of gardaí, which leads to a fear of crime. While the adage that we have nothing to fear but fear itself applies, it is also true that fear itself is problematic. People are rightly afraid in their...