Results 41-60 of 281 for garda speaker:Niall Collins

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2013)

Niall Collins: ...Ireland. I have repeatedly made these points in relation to station closures across Dublin as well. The Minister fails to recognise that his policies are resulting in a disconnection between gardaí and communities and access to garda services on a satellite basis. The Minister and I differ in terms of our vision for policing in this country. The Minister, when discussing this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Investigations (7 Jul 2015)

Niall Collins: People understand that the Director of Public Prosecutions makes the final call in this type of case. Should the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission not establish a protocol providing that, in cases in which it submits a file to the DPP making a recommendation that there is no case to answer, as occurred in the case of Sergeant Galvin, its decision will be immediately communicated...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: 1. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the fact that the number of gardaí has fallen below 13,000; the optimum level of membership of An Garda Síochána in order to police the country effectively; the further recruitment planned; the further plans she has to expand and integrate the Garda Reserve into the mainstream body of An Garda Síochána; and...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (4 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: I wish to raise a few more issues. Some of those in the Garda Reserve work a small number of hours but the vast majority work a lot of hours. Could the annual stipend paid to them be reviewed given the improving financial circumstances and the increased Vote for An Garda Síochána? Finally, I have received a number of communications from members of the public who have applied to...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: There is no doubt the last 48 hours have been a defining period in what is an exceptionally dysfunctional relationship between An Garda Síochána and the GSOC, which is all happening under the Minister's watch. It is a very regrettable situation. To recap, we had the penalty points controversy which dominated the headlines and has served to damage the morale of the force. We also...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (7 Jul 2015)

Niall Collins: I have tabled this question to elicit an update on current Garda recruitment numbers. I would also like a comment on some reports in the press about an internal competition for vacancies at senior ranks within An Garda Síochána, with a case taken against the Public Appointments Service. Given the recent publication of the Central Statistics Office report and trends in that regard,...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2015: First Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Niall Collins: ...a Bill entitled an Act to establish a Public Order Unit for Dublin City Centre charged with improving and maintaining public order and safety in the Dublin City Centre area as set out by the Garda Commissioner.It is fair to say that crime in Dublin city centre and the Dublin area in particular, has been out of control for some time. Deputy Dowds has informed us of shootings in Drumcondra...

Other Questions: Garda Operations (19 Sep 2012)

Niall Collins: ...in their own homes. Operation Fiacla is a good initiative and I am anxious to elicit what types of results it is yielding. I take this opportunity to refer to the agenda of the closure of rural Garda stations. The issue is about having a police presence in rural Ireland. If the Minister and the Government are to continue to pursue the agenda of closing rural Garda stations, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (24 Jun 2014)

Niall Collins: ..., in some cases, the procedure for taking statements resulted in the withdrawal of complaints of a criminal nature. In the context of disciplinary proceedings being taken against a probationary garda, he recommended that a report be prepared on the adequacy of the supervision of the said probationary garda. He also referred to the need for procedures to be put in place to ensure CCTV...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 Apr 2015)

Niall Collins: I heard the Minister's announcement yesterday and I think more recruitment needs to be done over and above the 250 announced. I raised this with the Garda Commissioner last week when she attended the meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. If the Garda Commissioner must roll out a multi-annual policing plan, she must be allowed to engage in multi-annual planning....

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (4 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: The Minister has answered my follow up question and stated she has no plans to review it at present. I wish to mention those who serve in the Garda Reserve, an issue that I have mentioned to the Minister at least once. We have received a lot of communications from people in the reserve. There is a growing frustration among the present body of Garda Reserves because there was not enough...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Changing Policing in Ireland Report: Garda Inspectorate (16 Dec 2015)

Niall Collins: ..., some of which were called by my party and others which we were invited to attend. I have observed from these meetings that in some urban areas there is a big disconnect between the public and An Garda Síochána. There is a lack of confidence in or respect for the Garda. Did the witnesses pick up on that in their engagement in different parts of the country? Outside of urban...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Niall Collins: ...Minister and his Department to complete such an investigation in the first instance. Serious consideration should be given to a joint assignment by the said two ombudsmen, Ms Emily Logan and the Garda Ombudsman. The Garda Ombudsman has a lot of experience in dealing in detail with investigations into An Garda Síochána. I do not wish to attribute blame, but there is a lot of...

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Niall Collins: That is a sad day when it is the Government's job to protect its citizens in the first instance. We then had the situation regarding the Garda confidential recipient and the scandal of his departure. It has never been explained by the Minister or anybody else what exactly the former Garda confidential recipient, Mr. Oliver Connolly, was referring to in those taped transcripts. That is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (17 May 2016)

Niall Collins: My party welcomes the fact that the Government has accepted that we need to bring the personnel of the Garda Síochána back up to 15,000, having said it could not be done. I have a concern that the target may not be reached. Some 700 trainees have gone through Templemore and a further 440 will do so this year but approximately 1,500 are eligible to retire and when one factors those...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2013)

Niall Collins: ...ask about that. I asked for a response to the Minister's use of private and confidential information for his political advantage. He was privy to such information because he was briefed by the Garda Commissioner, and the Taoiseach has not addressed that point. What does this say for the working relationship between the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice and Equality of the...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2012
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (27 Nov 2012)

Niall Collins: If it is acceptable, I wish to put a number of questions to the Minister. I am sure the Minister is well aware of the reports from around the country in respect of the impact of the new Garda roster on court sittings. In that context, members of the force are not attending in court to give evidence in cases where prosecutions are being brought. Cases are subsequently being thrown out or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Annual Policing Plan 2015: Garda Commissioner (25 Mar 2015)

Niall Collins: Finally I want to touch on the issue, already aired, of Garda stations. Can the Commissioner maybe reconsider the policy on this? I will give an example from my own constituency. Senator Heffernan is aware of this also. The Askeaton district in Limerick was merged into two neighbouring districts and the Garda station was effectively closed, operational for one or two hours a day. There...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Crime Levels (1 Dec 2015)

Niall Collins: It is welcome that the Minister has announced a recruitment campaign to commence next year and that she has taken on board something I have raised on a number of occasions, namely, that the Garda Reserve should be looked at as a separate entry stream into the main Garda force. Many of those involved in the Garda Reserve will welcome this and will be glad to see some progression. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Niall Collins: We all agree it was difficult in this situation for An Garda Síochána to get the balance right. Obviously, protecting vulnerable children and children at risk is a priority for all of us, but we also have to recognise people's basic human rights. As I stated in my introduction, there were two cases, in Athlone and Tallaght. It must be pointed out that there are also data...