Results 1-20 of 975 for speaker:Barry Ward

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Naturalisation Applications (29 May 2024)

Barry Ward: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Higgins. Is í seo an chéad uair atá seans agam é sin a rá ó ainmníodh mar Aire Stáit í. Comhghairdeas léi. Táim buíoch di as teacht anseo inniu. I wish to talk about a social inclusion measure in the naturalisation process. At the outset, I wish to say clearly that I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Naturalisation Applications (29 May 2024)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am conscious that she is answering on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, who cannot be here this morning. I wish to make a few points. First, I have no doubt about the robustness of the process. In fact, it can be an obstacle to a lot of people in an unduly bureaucratic way, but I recognise it is a process that needs to be followed. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 May 2024)

Barry Ward: First, I agree with what my colleagues said about the need for special education and the provision for everybody who needs it. There are two things I wanted to raise specifically under today's Order of Business. The first is in regard to the regulations that came in on 20 May for e-scooters and e-bikes. It is a welcome development. We needed some sort of regulation or recognition of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Barry Ward: First, I agree with the increase in penalties. It makes sense. What we are dealing with, as Deputy O’Callaghan said, is many young men in particular being penalised by this. It is important to distinguish between the summary and indictable elements of the existing legislation because you will see in the District Court many young men being prosecuted for what I think is very minor...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Barry Ward: I am afraid not. I am just conscious of a Bill we have in the Seanad where colleagues of mine have brought forward amendments, Senator Regina Doherty particularly, related to statements or references being given at sentence stage as things that would be subject to cross-examination by the prosecution, for example. That was ultimately put into a Government Bill. A stand-alone Bill obviously...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (16 May 2024)

Barry Ward: In welcoming the Bill on behalf of the Fine Gael group, I acknowledge what the Minister of State said about the genesis of this Bill and the fact Private Members’ Bills from Senators in this House, particularly from Senator Regina Doherty, have given rise to many of the provisions in this Bill. It is worthy of recognition that the Government sometimes does listen to what...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (16 May 2024)

Barry Ward: Dé Máirt seo chugainn.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (16 May 2024)

Barry Ward: Dé Máirt seo chugainn ar 1 p.m.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 May 2024)

Barry Ward: I congratulate the Minister of State on the legislation. This is a very important Bill. It is also a very weighty one, containing 220 sections. The job it is designed to do is a mammoth one, so it is very important. It is quite shocking that up to now we have not had proper regulation of such an enormous industry. I acknowledge that it is an enormous industry, not just in terms of the...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 May 2024)

Barry Ward: -----have to be vetted? How practicable is that? Has consideration been given to how that gambling exclusion register will operate? It is a helpful element, particularly in the context of the potential pitfalls that come with online gambling and placing the obligation on those providing the services to have that in place. It is a very important element but I wonder how functional it is...

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Barry Ward: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and congratulate her. This is the first time we have been in the Chamber at the same time. I was delighted with her appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs and wish her the very best in a job I know she will do in her usual style and with great excellence. I am delighted that she is here for Europe Day. I...

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Barry Ward: Will the Senator take a question?

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Barry Ward: I asked the Senator if he would take a question.

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Barry Ward: Dé Máirt seo chugainn, ar 1 p.m.

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Barry Ward: Mar aon le Seanadóirí eile, ní raibh mé chun labhairt ar an mBille anseo. Tháinig mé toisc gur iarr an Seanadóir Seery Kearney orm a bheith anseo agus ár dtacaíocht a thabhairt don Bhille. Ach nuair a bhí mé ag éisteacht leis na Seanadóirí eile, cheapas go raibh rud éigin le rá agam. I wanted to pay tribute...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (2 May 2024)

Barry Ward: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach chun an nithe i dtosach suíonna seo a fhreagairt. This important issue affects families throughout the country. It relates to neonatology services, particularly in children's hospitals, and the provision of neonatal intensive care units, NICUs. We have a problem. There are NICUs in maternity hospitals, but where...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (2 May 2024)

Barry Ward: I accept entirely the bona fides of the Minister and the Minister of State. Having listened to what the Minister of State has said, I do not think there is an understanding within the Department of the urgency of this matter. It is not enough to make reference to an investment of a full-year cost of €2.6 million “to enhance the service in preparation for the establishment of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Barry Ward: I want to raise a number of issues, primarily in light of the decision that was made by the Taoiseach correctly to issue an apology to the families of the Stardust victims. In that context, one issue I have raised on a number of occasions in this Chamber is the lack of action by the Government and successive Governments with regard to the victims of thalidomide, who have been waiting a much...

Seanad: Court Proceedings (Delays) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Apr 2024)

Barry Ward: The section creates the right for people to be compensated in circumstances where there is a breach of their right to have proceedings dealt with "within reasonable time". I have two questions about "reasonable time". I know that later in this section, there is an expansive definition in section 11(4) of what factors will be considered for what constitutes "reasonable time". The Bill...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Barry Ward: In terms of implementing the pact, how much of it will be done through primary legislation and how much by secondary legislation?