Results 9,461-9,480 of 11,790 for speaker:Niall Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: Yes. Before the Garda Commissioner moves off from that, it is fair to say from what he is saying about the two-year lead-in period, that one will see the force dip below a figure of 13,000. The figure was 13,500 last June and it will probably have dropped more since then. Surely the Commissioner is conducting forecasting of human resources and he will have the profile of the force. To...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: I want to ask a couple of questions on community policing. The issue of the personnel resource available to the Commissioner directly affects community policing. Some time ago Garda strength was approximately 14,500, but as of June 2012 the latest official figure was 13,500. Allied to that is the embargo on recruitment into and training in the force. What is the optimum number for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: To tie up some loose ends in that regard, it is important to bear in mind that many of these are part-time Garda stations, so to speak, and the members of the public do not buy into the notion that in leaving a Garda station open the Commissioner is committing resources to manning the station. The effect on the ground is that these are part-time stations open for a limited number of hours...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: It will not come as a surprise to the Commissioner that the closure of Garda stations exercises every community around the country. It is not just a rural issue because there has been an impact in Dublin also. I listened carefully to what the Commissioner said - that it was ultimately a decision of the Minister and Government of the day - but that point has been lost in much of the public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: No. They are all linked in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: As regards the Commissioner's proposals for 2013, can he indicate what he will present in his draft plan to the Minister for his consideration? Communities would appreciate knowing whether the Commissioner presents options to the Minister. Is it a "Take it or leave it" job, or does the Commissioner present the Minister of the day with a number of options? In other words, does he say that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: Mr. Callinan is out the gap and out the other side. Congratulations to him. We are dealing with gangland crime. The Commissioner has given us an overview of 25 organised groups under his watch. Can we have an assessment of the mix of activities? There is an armed element to the importation of drugs and we are, unfortunately, familiar with the scourge of drugs. The other elements,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: With regard to following through on investigating various organisations involved in drugs and other illegal activities, such as the black economy and retail crime, it is reported that the Garda Síochána has only two people with financial accountancy expertise available within its staff. How do these gangs launder their money in terms of getting it into the real economy in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: We are all agreed that the public was hugely outraged at the events surrounding the funeral of Alan Ryan. It is what triggered the invitation to the Commissioner to appear at today's meeting. The public was outraged at the display. Can the Commissioner give us an assessment of the events surrounding it? It was reported that a certain amount of contact took place with the organisers of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Operations: Discussion with An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: I welcome the Commissioner and his team and congratulate him on the extension of his term. He is a bit like President Obama in that he is past the half way mark and is out the other side. That may strengthen his hand in some of the public-----

National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: I agree with what the Minister said. I ask him and his officials to keep under review the issue of childminders we raised on Committee Stage. I do not want to reopen the debate and I accept it is the Minister's democratic right not to accept the amendment we tabled at the time. However, some 50,000 children are being minded by approximately 19,000 childminders and only 1% of those will be...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Levels (20 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: The Minister mentioned Operation Acer, which has had a degree of success in the Dublin area where it is being trialled. Is it intended to roll that out to the greater Dublin area and to the commuter belt? To date, approximately 200 people have been convicted and a further 380 are due to appear before the courts arising from that operation. It is important to convey the message to people...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Levels (20 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue because it is topical and was on the front of today's Irish Independent as a result of yesterday's report on the Probation Service and recidivism. On a number of occasions, the Minister has quoted the CSO crime statistics in defence of some of the policies he is pursuing - for example, the closure of Garda stations and the resourcing of An...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Reform (20 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: The Minister will be our next European Commissioner. He will not care.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (20 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [51046/12]

Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: In the context of the forthcoming Finance Bill, will the Tánaiste indicate if it is the Government's intention to provide for a realistic ceiling in respect of bankers' salaries, including those of CEOs? That is my first question.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: My question relates to proposed legislation.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: I wish to ask a second question in respect of proposed legislation. Many Members will be familiar with the delays which currently obtain in respect of the Garda compensation scheme. A new scheme has been drafted to deal with the issues which give rise to the delay in the processing of many claims by members of An Garda Síochána. However, we are awaiting the publication of...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: We welcome the appointment of the independent external expert in obstetrics to strengthen the incident management team's investigation into the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar. Yesterday the Taoiseach said he would not rule out an independent inquiry into Savita's death and this is an option that could and should still be pursued. There have been calls from the medical profession for a...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I agree with him that it is a very sensitive issue and it behoves all of us, as parliamentarians and public representatives, to engage in an open and honest debate. The people are demanding that this debate take place as soon as possible. The Tánaiste has outlined some of the timeline in regard to the reply that has to be given to the European...