Results 1-20 of 218 for speaker:Tony Kett

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2008)

Tony Kett: As someone who is going through the uncertainty to which Senator Prendergast referred, I support her call for the appropriate and adequate funding of certain cancer services. Will the Leader ask the appropriate Minister — I am not sure whether it is the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government — whether legislation will be considered for the regulation of management...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Tony Kett: I support Senator Corrigan regarding this week's District Court decision to dismiss the case of the alleged sexual assault of a 20 year old disabled girl because she failed a competency test. That the laws are such that one loses protection upon entering adulthood at 18 years is a disgrace. When the House passed the Disability Act 2005, I believed we were levelling the playing pitch for all...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (17 Oct 2007)

Tony Kett: As it is my first time to encounter my old friend, Deputy Pat Carey, as a Minister of State in the House, I congratulate him on his new appointment. I have complete confidence in his ability to deliver on his remit, knowing him from his days on Dublin City Council. Earlier, I reflected on our time in the council chamber when he sat on one side of me and the Minister for Education and...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Tony Kett: The Senator does not know yet. The jury is out.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Second Stage (26 Apr 2007)

Tony Kett: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I also welcome the opportunity to say a few words about the Bill. I congratulate the Minister on the introduction of legislation which I believe will strengthen the hand of the Garda and all those involved in implementing and upholding the laws of the land. I hope it will also bring about a situation where the modern-day gangland boss will no...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Tony Kett: Senator Ryan could have shared some of my time. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon. I am pleased to make a contribution to the debate on this important Bill. There is no more heinous crime than that of sexual abuse, which involves the taking away of the innocence of childhood. Society rightly acknowledges the seriousness of this crime and abhors the fact that such individuals...

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Tony Kett: People have been murdered while asleep in their homes and children have been terrified, with traumatic psychological consequences. That emphasises the seriousness of the situation and is the reason we need to develop our legislation to protect those people. I compliment Senator Morrissey for doing that. Almost 60 home owners will be burgled every day. Most of us know people who have...

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Feb 2007)

Tony Kett: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am glad to be in the back row because I am missing all the bullets here. I compliment Senator Morrissey on bringing this Bill forward and for the thought, effort and energy he has put into it. The purpose of the Bill is to amend civil and criminal law to allow for the use of justifiable force in the face of an intruder who enters a person's home with...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second and Subsequent Stages (27 Feb 2007)

Tony Kett: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to the House and am glad of the opportunity to make a small contribution on the Bill. The legal system is central to the notion of what it is to live in a civilised society. At different times, the laws of the land impact to a greater or lesser extent on every citizen. We look to the law and the courts to ensure there is a safe and fearless...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second and Subsequent Stages (27 Feb 2007)

Tony Kett: We did, but we should now be in a position to set the terms to finalise them.

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second and Subsequent Stages (27 Feb 2007)

Tony Kett: Senator Walsh alluded to the level of payments tribunal lawyers receive. Enough is enough. I encourage the Minister to follow his heart and mind on this issue and set a date for the ending of the tribunals of inquiry. On that note, I welcome this amending legislation and wish it well in its passage through the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Tony Kett: Last week Senator Daly sought an update on the progress of the Disability Act and the Leader gave a commitment in that regard. We should invite the appropriate Minister to the House to discuss all aspects of it nine months after its enactment. I would be particularly interested in hearing about the assessment of needs, which was one of the first aspects to fall into place. I understand the...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Dec 2006)

Tony Kett: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, to the House. I also welcome the opportunity to say a few words on the Bill. The concept behind the Bill has been in gestation for some time. The Minister said that the National Newspapers of Ireland commissioned a draft defamation Bill in 1994. Few believed the Minister last year when he committed himself to...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Tony Kett: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. I thank Senator O'Rourke, who has kindly given us time on several occasions — this may be the second or third — to speak on this issue about which she and we care deeply. It is a burning issue that neither receives enough attention nor is sufficiently addressed. It is important each time we...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Nov 2006)

Tony Kett: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on becoming leader of his party and Tánaiste. I have not seen him since his appointment and wish him well in both posts. I welcome the Bill. Its explanatory memorandum states, and the Minister has told us, that it will add a number of additional elements to the entire prison structure. The Minister mentioned that the office of an...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Nov 2006)

Tony Kett: Senator Cummins also accused the Minister of trying in some way to circumvent the system relating to the construction and development of prisons. He basically accused the Minister of setting himself up as judge and jury. However, the building of prisons, along with Garda stations, court houses and other Government buildings and offices, is exempt under section 181 of the Planning and...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Nov 2006)

Tony Kett: I do not know what more Senator Cummins could ask for. His own party will have the option to object to or discuss matters relating to decisions the Minister might make in respect of the building and development of prisons from now on, which is admirable. The Minister has had a few calls to make in the past 18 months to two years, particularly in respect of the Garda reserve force and...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Nov 2006)

Tony Kett: I appreciate that many of them have had a poor upbringing, have suffered abuse and violence in the home and have been seriously neglected. Such abuse was probably never adequately addressed in some instances or recognised in other instances. The parents cannot crawl out from under the rock in this regard. While education has a major role to play in such cases, a fog seems to drift over...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Nov 2006)

Tony Kett: The provision of literacy programmes in the education system is a basic requirement. If one is illiterate, one cannot avail of the other educational advantages that might be available. Many of these young people have low self-esteem and if one has low self-esteem, one does not respect oneself or society. These are all issues the Minister has tackled at different levels in his time in...

Seanad: Disability Act 2005 Sectoral Plans: Statements (2 Nov 2006)

Tony Kett: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the sectoral plans. We have reached a significant milestone in our efforts to achieve the full inclusion of people with disabilities in society. Too often and for too long people with disabilities have been marginalised and have suffered serious inequality. As the Minister of State said, many groups should be congratulated on arriving at this point,...