Results 141-155 of 155 for long speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of Parole Bill 2016: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...at present on a non-statutory basis to people who have been convicted and sentenced to a sentence of eight years or more. It is only for serious criminals, people who have been sentenced to a long time in jail. At present our parole system does not operate on a statutory basis. It operates on an informal basis run ultimately by the Minister for Justice and Equality but on the basis of...

Bail (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...was very anxious that legislation would be introduced to strengthen the bail laws. The Bill brought before this House today constitutes a strengthening of our bail laws and targets individuals who may be categorised as persistent offenders or individuals who have long previous records in respect of convictions. It is not a threat to our civil liberties. Courts will always seek to...

Committee Report on Garda Oversight and Accountability: Motion (2 Feb 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...statutory body that is responsible for investigating allegations of Garda wrongdoing. We have the correct statutory system in place by having GSOC there to do it. I am concerned that sometimes when complaints are made to GSOC, and serious ones have been made regarding members of An Garda Síochána, it can take a very long time for those reports to be completed. I refer, in...

Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Second Stage (25 Jan 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not know if the Ceann Comhairle makes awards to Deputies for hard work and working long hours, but if he does, I would like to nominate Deputy Jonathan O'Brien and myself as we started our public duties in Leinster House at 9 a.m. at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality and are still going some 13 hours later. He may consider that nomination.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Goods Regulation (24 Jan 2017)

Jim O'Callaghan: 413. To ask the Minister for Health if the range of low-protein products available through the long-term illness scheme has been kept up to date; if the low-protein products required for persons suffering from Phenylketonuria is provided for under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2632/17]

Courts Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...was not going to be changed by the legislation. There was no reason to introduce legislation because there was a matter before the courts. It may not be necessary to introduce legislation in the long run. I wanted to give that as an explanation as to why Fianna Fáil will not be supporting Deputy Smith's amendment, though I have a lot of sympathy for it. The reason we will not be...

Prisons (Solitary Confinement) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Dec 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...to use the prison system as a means to train persons who are within the prison system. On the specific issue of solitary confinement, we know that solitary confinement has been a part of the prison system for as long as the prison system has been in operation. It dates back to classical times. There have been numerous references in literature to people who were confined. Charles...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Oct 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...any medal for bravery for introducing this legislation. It is perfectly coherent legislation that all Oireachtas Members should be thinking about. It is something that should have been done in this House long ago, I accept that. I welcome the fact the Minister, Deputy Ross, is interested in this area but it is instructive that the Minister, who has been in the Oireachtas for 35 years,...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Oct 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...and the courts stated it needed to be put to the people. There are hundreds of other examples where Ministers have been given what the Taoiseach would refer to as a "wallop" by the courts and long may that continue. Nonetheless, the manner in which judges have been nominated by the Government has been shrouded in mystery and the people do not know the basis on which individuals are...

Paternity Leave and Benefit Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jul 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...over recent years. We now have a very broad interpretation of what is the family. Nonetheless, the most important aspect of any family is in respect of the upbringing of children. For too long we have placed a great emphasis upon mothers to bring up children. This Bill now recognises that fathers have a crucial role to play but, more important, it allows the State to give recognition...

United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (27 Jun 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...appears that on the playing fields of Eton, they also do silly things. The second lesson is to beware of populists. The debate in Britain was won because of the self-interested and self-promoting advocacy of populist commentators who, not long ago, had transformed themselves into politicians. People need to realise that politicians who promote simple solutions, who condemn their...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2016 (Resumed) (22 Jun 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...in this country. That is something that is being explored and that we need to move further on. Of the €350 million allocated to the justice and equality Vote, a considerable amount of money is devoted to ensuring we have an efficient, responsive and fair immigration system. That is something we need to work on, because the delays in it are too long. We need to ensure that the...

Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters Relative to the Cavan-Monaghan Division of An Garda Síochána) Report: Statements (25 May 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...House in 2004. The reason the Oireachtas introduced such a method of investigation was that we wanted something cheaper and quicker than traditional tribunals of inquiry, which can go on for too long. It is important to point out that the primary difference between the tribunal of inquiry procedure and the commission of investigation procedure is that, in respect of the latter, the...

Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion (25 May 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...the British state who seek to expose collusion on the part of certain sections of the British military. In the 1980s, John Colin Wallace was an intelligence officer in Northern Ireland. He, along with Fred Holroyd, another British Army officer, exposed serious wrongdoing and illegality on behalf of the British forces in Northern Ireland. He was subsequently prosecuted and convicted of...

Crime: Statements (5 May 2016)

Jim O'Callaghan: ...in drugs and its impact upon our local communities is a complicated problem and requires a variety of solutions. Primarily this House is a house of legislature. We prepare and introduce laws along with the Seanad and the President. Obviously, there is an important role for this House to play as a house of legislature to deal with the problems caused by gangland violence. Of course,...