Results 2,341-2,360 of 6,188 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Levels (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Minister instanced national statistics and said that I could look up the Cork statistics. I have looked them up. For the first 165 days of this year, there have been 210 burglaries, not to mind attempted burglaries or thefts from cars. That amounts to one per day. The Minister has instanced the number of gardaí who have passed out. Cork got 69 of these, which is 2.4%. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Levels (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: If it is on the decrease nationally, then obviously that is welcome, but it is not in Cork - that is a fact. It is up 10% with one burglary every day and more besides. The Minister may or may not be aware of it, but the Tánaiste came out with a statement some weeks ago and said that the southern divisions would get 50 extra gardaí. It turns out not only are we not getting the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inspector of Prisons (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the Inspector of Prisons regarding resourcing and the fact that many prisons are not being inspected regularly enough; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26878/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inspector of Prisons (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Last Tuesday, an article in the Irish Examinerby Cormac O'Keeffe revealed that only one prison inspection report had been published in the past five years and that no inspection has been conducted in five jails in the past ten years. The Inspector of Prisons, Ms Patricia Gilheaney, was explicit in saying she believed that her office is severely under-resourced and went as far as to say it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inspector of Prisons (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Before I respond to that point, the Minister previously stated that he would be happy to provide me with statistics in relation to a previous question, but I have all the statistics. I have looked them up. I produced a policy paper on police in Cork and I would be happy to give the Minister a copy of it later. This is of huge concern. The Minister is identifying that additional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inspector of Prisons (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Minister can say it is a statutory function, but he provides the resources. The resources are not adequate, inspections are not happening and that raises risks. I asked when we would hear more about a particular report into surveillance in the Prison Service. I take this opportunity to emphasise the need for that report in the context of the broader issue of places of detention and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 45. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Garda Síochána review into homicides between 2003 and 2017; when it will be published; and when the CSO will be in a position to publish crime statistics provided by An Garda Síochána without reservation. [26881/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 56. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the proposed minimum standards on direct provision; when he plans to publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26877/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 60. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to tackle serious crime, cross-Border crimes and rural crime in view of concerns raised relating to these areas by organisations representing gardaí. [26880/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the Commissioner for coming before the committee. At the first meeting he attended, which I also attended, one of the issues I raised was the quality of notifications after the use of Tasers and related incidents. I understand from reports today that it is going to be an automatic process, or something like that. I acknowledge this is positive. I do not really need a response on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I take that on board. The Commissioner mentions a full capacity of 800 recruits but is it 600 this year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: While I recognise the points about technology, my experience from talking to the community is that they want visibility. They want to see patrols, bicycle patrols and all of that. That needs gardaí and we need to be more ambitious in the numbers of gardaí. To move on to another issue, a case collapsed on 26 March that was taken against a Garda civilian employee, Lynn Margiotta,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Is the Commissioner's position that he cannot make any specific comment on the case? Unfortunately, the investigation could take three or four years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Very well. I hope that progresses as quickly as possible. If the reports are accurate, I hope the Commissioner will meet Ms Margiotta after the process is complete to hear the outcome of it. On GSOC, the Commissioner recently announced his intention to establish an anti-corruption unit. That is welcome. At that stage, the question was put to the Commissioner by my colleague, Deputy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: As I said, it is great but it seems there is a similarity to elements of GSOC.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am not saying there is a conflict either. Surely there are areas of potential interest in the middle where an investigation might be more appropriate through GSOC. Would it not be worth having a chat with GSOC to see how this initiative relates to what it does and how the two bodies can co-operate? That is all I am asking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Commissioner is misunderstanding me. Really I am not being critical. I just think there would be value in the exercise. In response to a recent parliamentary question, the Minister for Justice and Equality confirmed protective services units have been established in ten Garda divisions, with 19 to go. I would have said this is a bit behind schedule. The pilot phase included the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: To follow on from this, do the ten units established to date have the full personnel complement? What is the status of their accommodation? Are they fully equipped with office space? Can we be confident the remaining units will have full staff complements and the necessary accommodation by the end of the year or early next year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: It is an important initiative and I hope it leads to ongoing professionalisation in dealing with crime. At the first committee meeting he attended, the Commissioner said the number of gardaí who had signed up to the code of ethics was approximately 40%. Where is that now? To return to the issue of crime, I had an exchange with the Minister for Justice and Equality today and I will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Commissioner is following what I am saying. I am not sure of the terminology for it. Some people made life decisions on the strength of it and are quite frustrated and are considering whether they can continue in that position.