Results 1-20 of 349 for speaker:Tom Morrissey

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (25 Apr 2007)

Tom Morrissey: It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I attend the House today as a result of the absence and untimely death of our colleague, Senator Kate Walsh. She was a great friend to all of us. For those who wanted advice, there was no better place to go than to her office. I never got more joy than from gate-crashing the many courts she held in her office where she had high tea after the...

Seanad: Port Development (1 Mar 2007)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to take this matter relating to Dublin Port and Dublin Bay. I may have tabled this matter previously asking for discussions in the Seanad. Only last week, I visited Dublin Port as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport at the request of its management, following on from a presentation to our committee on 29 November. To my...

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

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister for attending for the duration of this debate. I mentioned to Senator Cummins that we were both Munster people and that we would try to keep the ball on the ground during the debate. I did not believe, however, that Fine Gael would pull on the man because it could not get to the ball. I regret that some Fine Gael Senators have tried to do so tonight. I welcome the...

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

Tom Morrissey: He said last summer, when a Fine Gael Bill on this matter was being discussed in the other House, that its serious defects——

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

Tom Morrissey: ——were such that it would permit serious assault without criminal remedy.

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

Tom Morrissey: The Fine Gael Bill limits its effects to the domestic dwelling.

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

Tom Morrissey: It provides no protection in the case of manslaughter. In the course of this debate we have seen that there are cases where the curtilage of a person's house should be taken into account. The Law Reform Commission's report made a strong case for this and highlighted a pointed difference between self-defence in general and self-defence by a person on his own property. Consider the...

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

Tom Morrissey: It certainly is.

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

Tom Morrissey: I am delighted the notes on the heads of the Minister's proposed Bill state discussion would have to take place on the limitations in this regard.

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

Tom Morrissey: My Bill tries to tilt the law in favour of the homeowner against the intruder.

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

Tom Morrissey: Senator Mansergh stated that an intruder should not interpret the property of others as a harm-free zone. This Bill was introduced some 12 months ago. I am delighted we are now on Second Stage and that it can proceed to Committee Stage with the agreement of the House, as indicated by the Opposition. I am equally pleased the Minister has proposed a Bill to address the defence of life and...

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

Tom Morrissey: The Bill also has regard for the inviolable nature of the home and one's property. We are all aware this is a problem for urban as well as rural Ireland. When this Bill is eventually passed, people living in isolated communities will have a better defence than they currently do if intruders come onto their property. However, we are not saying one can beat the daylights out of somebody,...

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

Tom Morrissey: We are saying it is necessary to establish criminal intent on the part of the intruder.

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

Tom Morrissey: That is the major difference between the Bills. I welcome the debate that has taken place tonight and thank Senators for their support.

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

Tom Morrissey: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

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

Tom Morrissey: In May of last year, I introduced the Defence of Life and Property Bill to the Seanad. The Bill provides a full defence in criminal and civil law in cases where force is reasonably used by occupiers in dwellings to defend life or property against persons trespassing with criminal intent. Specifically, the Bill proposes that, where a householder uses force to repel or prevent trespass with...

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

Tom Morrissey: The Senator has got two things wrong already in the first sentence.

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

Tom Morrissey: Our Bill was listed in this House seven days prior to the Fine Gael Bill.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (21 Feb 2007)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister for being here at this late hour to hear this matter on the Adjournment. I will not delay the House too long. While I accept that much has been done in the lifetime of this Government in respect of special needs education and additional teachers, I have raised this matter to get an update on the area of north Dublin in particular. Many people come to me who are...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Tom Morrissey: The Institution of Engineers of Ireland has stated that Dublin's commuter belt is now the same size as that of Los Angeles. This has not come as news to the Progressive Democrats and it is the reason we have launched a policy document entitled A New Heart for Dublin which recommends the relocation of Dublin port. The issue of the increasing size of Dublin must be addressed. Are young...