Results 41-60 of 158 for garda speaker:Martin Kenny

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Online Harassment and Harmful Communications: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Martin Kenny: An entirely different level of expertise is required for this type of work. The Garda has made great play of the civilianisation of certain aspects of its work. Should the Garda take in additional resources from outside the force to ensure it has the level of skills required? That was not made clear in the submission made last week by An Garda. It has been noted that when people complain...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Martin Kenny: The issue is that it is not appropriate for the Garda to carry out this investigation. That is clearly the situation. Until the Minister stands up to the culture of cover-up that exists in An Garda Síochána, we are going to continue with this problem and continue to have these levels of malpractice. My understanding is that in one instance thousands of calls were cancelled by one...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Apr 2021)

Martin Kenny: .... They are worried about the light sentences these people receive and how they do not seem to be dealt with effectively or efficiently by the judicial system on one hand, but also that the Garda does not seem to have the resources to deal with it. That comes into focus when we look at all this. We have to really consider who the victims are in all these cases. The victims are thousands...

Questions on Promised Legislation (24 May 2017)

Martin Kenny: ...programme for Government, there is a commitment regarding the protection of children and the most vulnerable people in our society. Part of this is a process which all Deputies come across, namely Garda vetting, which individuals who work with children through employment, sports organisations or whatever have to undergo. There are huge delays in Garda vetting. I spoke to the people in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: ...out immediately concerns the additional resources that will be needed to deliver this. This particularly applies to something that most colleagues deal with in their local areas: a particular garda in each division dealing with people looking for immigration stamps and so on. All of that will now be moved elsewhere, which will free up resources within An Garda Síochána. If...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Mar 2023)

Martin Kenny: I want to raise the issue of An Garda Síochána and the difficulties there have been in the organisation for some considerable time, particularly with regard to recruitment and retention. The most evident issue we have had in recent days is that of rosters and the problems with them. The Garda Commissioner has said he will extend the present contingency roster until September....

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

Martin Kenny: Many key findings of the report point to there being no strategic analysis of the risk of corruption or the dangers of corruption that may exist in many aspects of An Garda Síochána's work. Like many parts of our public service, the gardaí's work is based on trust. We have to trust that the person in the organisation will deliver and is doing the best for everyone concerned....

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: ...case throughout the country anyway and has been for many years. In fact, in most courts, an inspector would carry out these duties. In that context, it is important that this happens. I also consulted with many gardaí locally who have knowledge of the situation and they informed me that a sergeant has always carried out these duties. It is someone who has experience in dealing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (25 Nov 2021)

Martin Kenny: I echo that sentiment; we must commend the Garda on the work done in respect of this. However, the reality is that many passengers feel abandoned and unsafe when they travel on our public transport systems. The National Bus and Rail Union has basically stated this type of service must be provided and spoken about taking industrial action if something is not done because it believes that...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister. I apologise, as I was late in coming in for his opening remarks. In regard to An Garda Síochána and the additional funding put in place, the real issue as I see it across the entire process here is about recruitment and retention in the first instance. It is really turning into a crisis situation. I acknowledge the targets the Government have had but those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Minorities Engaging with the Justice System: Discussion (24 Nov 2021)

Martin Kenny: ...their contributions and written statements. I will ask questions of the groups in the order they spoke. The Mental Health Commission raised some issues, including in respect of engagement with An Garda Síochána. It strikes me, and has long struck me, that many of the situations members of the Garda encounter involve individuals who have a mental health issue. These...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: ...a response. They do not feel that the protection is there in their community for them. Going back to examples in rural Ireland, I have had cases in which people have told me they have rung the Garda where they have come home and discovered their house burgled and it has been hours before anybody arrived because the Garda was so busy, there were only three patrol cars in the area, all of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister. While some efforts have been made, such as operation twin track, which was the most recent iteration of what An Garda Síochána has been doing to deal with anti-social behaviour on public transport, we cannot have a piecemeal solution. Criminal and anti-social behaviour on public transport is widespread and we need to recognise that. The figures released to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: ...services, prison services or agencies looking for additional money from the package of money that comes through the Department of Justice and Equality, will there be a reduced allocation for An Garda Síochána because agencies will take on its work? That is the danger I see. Since there are recommendations to have a ring-fenced budget for the recruitment of and an ability to...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Martin Kenny: ...placed on main roads and routes. That is understandable but in many other parts of the country people will often say that they do not have that fear anymore because there is never going to be a Garda checkpoint anywhere. We have to recognise that there needs to be a little more work done by An Garda Síochána on the ground to ensure we change that. Finally, the youth...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Martin Kenny: ...that the Commissioner will soon meet the RSA and that there is movement in that regard. Chapter 13 of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommends that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, be superseded by a new complaints body. Has there been any progress in that regard? Where does the Commissioner see that going? It is also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: The Minister referred to the difficulties in respect of recruitment for the Garda in her response to the previous question. That needs to be addressed. The increase in our population, according to the most recent census, tells us the numbers of gardaí and the civilian capacity of the Garda need to be increased. Many gardaí on the ground are telling me that many people are leaving...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: We do not differ on that. I am not talking about an alternative to An Garda Síochána. I am talking about a division of An Garda Síochána, which would act as a public transport policing service. If that were in place, not only would it be in place on the transport systems as they move, but it would also be at the pinch points, which are often at the stops, junctions, as...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

Martin Kenny: .... It is a competitive world and that is the reality, but are efforts being made to ensure work-life balance can be improved? This is getting away from the Estimates, but I know the recent Garda rota proposal has caused huge problems. There needs to be reflection on all of that. It is not just about finding new people to join the Garda service but also ensuring we can keep them once...