Results 9,441-9,460 of 16,457 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland on this issue was accepted in principle at the time of publication, subject to further evaluation of the implications, including resource implications, how best it might be achieved and the timing of implementation. A high-level review group, HLRG, on the role of An Garda Síochána...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I acknowledge the independence of the Office of the DPP and the great work carried out by it in conjunction with An Garda. It is important, however, to ensure that we update our legislation, the office and how it operates. The group is engaging with academics and relevant experts and examining other jurisdictions, as the Deputy has mentioned. It has considered the experience of common law...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The DPP is independent of my office and has the power to issue directions in all cases to An Garda, and An Garda must comply. Where the Garda does not comply and where concerns are raised, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, has a role. Individuals with specific concerns can go to it and gardaí can raise concerns themselves. The review covers several areas, and I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I will give a very short reply. The policing, security and community safety Bill contains proposals for the improvement of GSOC. These are to expand the remit of the body to include Garda staff and allegations that come to light other than by way of a complaint from a member of the public and provide that all complaints, other than minor service-level-type complaints, will be investigated...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I will outline how it was developed and that might give an indication of where changes were more focused this year. An Garda Síochána took account of a broad spectrum of views in the formulation of the strategy statement. Focus groups were held with nine ethnic and culturally diverse groups from within our communities, including the Laois African Support Group, the LGBTQ+ Sligo...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely, the intention of the strategy and the fact that it is not a ten-year strategy but for a much shorter timeframe is so that it can respond to the needs and requirements of communities and the population more generally. I do not have the details in front of me but if the Deputy reads some of the previous strategies, there will be certain priorities that roll over and that are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government and for me. It is reflected in the programme for Government, the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform, and in my own justice plan for 2022. This is a whole-of-government effort. My Department has responsibility or part responsibility for 34 of the 66 actions contained in the action plan, or approximately half. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: On the second point in respect of the second change in the standard, to clarify that where an occupier of the property has acted with reckless disregard for a visitor or customer, we are referring to the publican, shop owner or local council if it is a playground it owns. In a recent example given to me, a farmer is asked if a hunt can go across his or her land. The test previous to now had...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The role of the inspectorate is to benchmark overall policing performance of the gardaí. It is not just the work they do in the community and how they engage with people, but it is also about looking at the structure to see where there is need for improvement and to make sure the core operations and how they carry out their work are improved. As I mentioned earlier, I just came from an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: It is important to be clear that if people sign up to become members of An Garda Síochána, they have signed up to the rules and regulations and have to adhere to them. The Garda Commissioner has been clear about making sure all members of An Garda Síochána understand and adhere to them. If people retire, they are entitled, within the law, to continue working or engaging...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Garda Síochána Inspectorate was established in 2006 and is supported by the Department to ensure that adequate financial resources are provided each year through the Estimates process.  The inspectorate is entirely independent in the performance of its functions and the three inspectors are supported by a small team seconded from my Department.  The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: We all know the local gardaí in our community. We have probably, over the past couple of years, gotten to know some of the members of the DPSUs and those who deal with very difficult and quite severe cases on a day-to-day basis. However, that is not necessarily the first place that a person will go. It is making sure that people know the garda in the local station is there to support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The recommendations contained in the Garda Síochána Inspectorate report, Countering the Threat of Internal Corruption – A review of counter-corruption structures, strategies and processes in the Garda Síochána, are extremely important. They are positive recommendations which have the potential to greatly strengthen how the threat of corruption is dealt with in An...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I want to place on the record again that, as Minister, I have absolutely no objection to a full public inquiry, nor does my Department. The Taoiseach has put on the record that he has no objection on behalf of the Government to such an inquiry. I have not seen the work done to date and I do not know what is in the report. I have not begun any scoping exercise because I have not seen the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: This is an area I have prioritised and in respect of which I have been doing a huge amount of work, in conjunction with a large number of agencies, front-line workers and colleagues across the House, to try to improve the services and supports and put victims at the very centre of everything we do. An Garda Síochána plays a vital role in all of that. Gardaí are hugely...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I agree that it is about improving the criminal justice system, providing resources for the Garda and making sure we have stronger laws, but there also are educational and information aspects. For the Deputy's daughter or anybody else going out, it is about knowing who one can turn to and the resources and supports that are available. Knowing the Garda is there to support people is hugely...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The premise of the Deputy's question is how we can have more Garda visibility within our communities. This is number one about ensuring that we have more gardaí and, obviously, the more we have, the more we have in our communities, towns and villages, be it behind the desk, on front-line duties, working in the specialist units that are being developed, economic crime, online fraud, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy that we need to protect the gardaí and to ensure that when they go about their business and actively put themselves in harm's way to protect us, they need to be supported. We can do that in many ways. We can ensure that they have the stations and the areas to work in appropriately, that they have the technology and equipment that they need, that they have the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As the Deputy will be aware, the retired judge, Judge Gerard Haughton, has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane O'Farrell's death. The purpose of this exercise is to advise as to whether any further investigation or inquiry beyond those already carried out is necessary and, if so, to advise on the form...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for her contribution. The very fact that this is an independent inquiry and that the retired judge, Judge Haughton, is independent in the work that he is doing means that I am not able to give the Deputy the timeframe because I do not have it. I know, however, that the report is at its final stages. I am aware that this may not be much comfort at the moment without...