Results 661-680 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 124: In subsection (2)(a), after "carry out," to insert "of its own volition or". Earlier we discussed the difference between the ombudsman commission and the inspectorate. We believe the inspectorate should have the power to act without first receiving a complaint. When we previously discussed the issue it was said the ombudsman commission could not do...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 125: Between subsections (1) and (2), to insert the following new subsection: "(2) As soon as practicable after the commencement of this section the Inspectorate and the Ombudsman Commission shall by written protocols, make arrangements to ensure that each receives any information requested which is in the possession of either body and which is...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: May I take it that the Minister will come back on Report Stage with an explanation regarding the points made by Senator Burke?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: We are quite used to that.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: This section deals with security officers. From my reading, it envisages that security officers may be conferred with powers akin to a garda, to which I am opposed. I have stated on other sections of the Bill that only persons who have completed full Garda training should be conferred with Garda powers and that this should be the standard. I oppose powers such as these being conferred on...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I am not suggesting civilians should not do jobs within Garda stations. However, the Minister seems to be moving from designating security officers to a voluntary force. Giving powers to those such as security officers, as they are described in the Bill, is to dilute the status of the Garda Síochána. Reference is made to security officers and a possible voluntary force with Garda powers. We...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: This section dealing with security officers worries me. It proposes that by giving a uniform and a badge to somebody that person will have the powers of a garda. I am totally opposed to that. When some people get a uniform and a badge they lose their heads. This section gives them the powers of the gardaí including "to seize, in exercising powers under this section, any weapon other than one...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: What about the Courts Service?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I would like to contribute again, since I feel so strongly on this issue. Who will vet these "security officers"? Contractors will come in and act as such. We have heard on many occasions about other jurisdictions where such people have worked in art galleries from which there have been thefts. It is all right speaking up when something of that sort happens, but I would not like to be the one...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I am reading of seizing weapons.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: They are not misguided. The response is misguided. We will find that out if this happens.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: It will come to nothing the same as the rest of them.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: How will they be vetted? What training will be undertaken? Those are the questions we have asked.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I read it.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: What about the powers listed in the section? They include the power to seize weapons.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: What about subsection (4)(f)?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister of State clarified a number of points. I agree with him that balance is what is required. I was glad to hear him say there will continue to be a Garda presence within the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Courts Service and other areas. He clarified that point. He also mentioned that similar proposals were put forward in recent years but they came to nothing. These provisions will...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: That is to twist what we said. We have clearly stated our position.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: They are not the powers envisaged in the Bill.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: It does not represent what we said in any way. However, the Minister may put his own spin on the issue.