Results 1-20 of 608 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Patrick Costello

Family Law (Divorce) (Amendment) Bill: First Stage (14 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Family Law (Divorce) (Amendment) Bill: First Stage (14 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 to provide for swifter access to divorce proceedings. This legislation will further modernise our laws around divorce. Divorce was prohibited in the State until the 1995 referendum, which allowed divorce where people had been separated for four of the previous five years. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Prison Service (2 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: It was confirmed to me in recent weeks that the progression unit within Mountjoy Prison has been closed and that it is being used to deal with excessive numbers of sex offenders. My concern is for the inmates who were in the progression unit, which is an important part of the incentivised regime policy within prisons. There are basic, standard and enhanced regimes for prisoners and it...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Prison Service (2 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: The challenge is that the tangible incentives the Minister for Justice referred to in her prepared response are gone. Moving out of the progression unit means moving from an environment with no drug use to one with significant issues with drug use, and moving from an environment where education is available to one where educational options are frequently closed, with fewer teachers and fewer...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (2 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: A minor frustration in relation to this Bill is that it is yet another amendment of an Act that has been amended and amended. It would have been in everybody's interests to produce a consolidated version of the various amended Defence Acts and produce a clear piece of legislation instead of one needing six or seven Acts to try to understand what is going on. We certainly have a habit in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: Recently the Policing Authority produced its report, Oversight of Policing Response to Child Sexual Abuse 2023. To quote the report, "The area of interagency working is a key area where continuing challenges present." The report highlights the need for enhancing multi-agency collaboration at a strategic level and at an operational level. The most straightforward way of doing this is...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I rise to underline some of the elements from the pre-legislative scrutiny report that would strengthen the Bill but are strong enough in the legislation as written. When the committee considering the matter, it highlighted important things in relation to the governance framework, sustainability, environmental, social and governance factors, divestment from fossil fuels, prohibition of...

Fair Procedures in the Administration of Justice Bill 2024: First Stage (16 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide and guarantee that administrative decision makers operating under Article 37 of Bunreacht na hÉireann are obligated to dispense of their quasi-judicial functions in accordance with due process and fair procedures, to give the Minister power to designate such bodies and to give the Minister power to issue...

Fair Procedures in the Administration of Justice Bill 2024: First Stage (16 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: The issues surrounding apartment and fire defects have highlighted in some instances the deficiencies in the Multi-Unit Developments Act. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to review this legislation. Given the Government's time is drawing to a close, will this review start and, more important, finish before the programme for Government finishes?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Patrick Costello: Gaza is on the edge of famine. It is man-made starvation caused by the deliberate actions of the Israeli Government. This comes on top of the horror and the brutality we have already seen. As we as we have already said, the EU Council meeting is coming up at the end of this week. What actions will the Taoiseach be asking from our European colleagues on this? We need a strong European...

Law Reform (Contracts) Bill 2024: First Stage (5 Mar 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for third party rights in relation to enforcement and performance of contracts; to provide for orderly consequences of discharge of a contract due to frustration; and to provide for related matters. At the outset, I should give great credit to the Law Reform Commission report on the reform of contract law, which...

Law Reform (Contracts) Bill 2024: First Stage (5 Mar 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Patrick Costello: I wish to raise a serious issue relating to Cherry Orchard Hospital and the impact it is having on families. A briefing paper from the multidisciplinary team last August highlighted the significant clinical risk relating to a move, including the potential for high mortality rates. Will the Minister of State meet with families and residents to address their concerns before any move takes...

Recent Arson Attacks: Statements (27 Feb 2024)

Patrick Costello: Yes.

Recent Arson Attacks: Statements (27 Feb 2024)

Patrick Costello: I thank my colleague, Deputy Farrell, for generously sharing his time. I thank the Minister for coming in for this debate. I was on my feet last week to address a Topical Issue debate. I spoke a lot about my concerns in this area. I will start with one thing I did not raise at that point, which is that there are a lot of very positive things happening. Where new people have come into...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Patrick Costello: My question is for the Minister with responsibility for disabilities. Will the Minister commit to ratifying the optional protocol of the UNCRPD in the lifetime of the Government? There is not much time left.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Feb 2024)

Patrick Costello: I welcome the Government's decision not to oppose the Bill. I welcome the commentary and feedback. For me, one of the clear things here is this is already done in many other countries. I appreciate what is being offered as concerns about the Bill. I highlighted some of these. However, it would be a tragedy if we allowed them to become roadblocks. Other countries have overcome them....

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Feb 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, for her time. I am delighted to bring forward the Bill to Second Stage. It is almost a year to the day since I introduced it, and the past year has certainly been interesting for broadcasting. It has perhaps shown the need for the Bill and made the need for it even more pertinent. The Bill is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (14 Feb 2024)

Patrick Costello: Unfortunately, based on the Commissioner's public statements, his statements at the committee and his idea that there is no systemic planning and that it is simply a matter of one-off events, I do not share that confidence. Furthermore, it is not just a question of the person who lights the match. Our criminal law provides that anyone who aids, abets, counsels or procures is an accomplice...