Results 9,001-9,020 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to have an opportunity to be here this morning. I thank the committee for making time available to consider the important Supplementary Estimate for the Garda Síochána Vote. A Supplementary Estimate of €44.2 million is required in respect of the Garda Vote in 2017. It is projected that there will be an underspend of at least €25.5 million in the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Quite frankly, it is an increased demand on overtime having regard to the very serious criminal situation, particularly in this city of Dublin. The Garda is anxious to ensure every available resource is at its disposal, particularly in the context of gangland matters. Members are aware that particularly in parts of Dublin, there is an unprecedented challenge in terms of organised crime,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I do not have immediate figures for the numbers of gardaí currently out sick. I would be keen to ensure there would not be any particular spike in that area without there being a corresponding reason. Having regard to the fact that since the Garda college in Templemore has re-opened, 1,400 newly recruited members of the Garda Síochána have been put to work on the streets....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The underspend in INIS relates to staff recruitment. Having regard to the ongoing programme of recruitment for INIS, it is envisaged that this will correct itself and it will be rebalanced for 2018. I would be very happy to engage with Deputy Clare Daly or other members on an analysis of the suggestions from her that there would appear to be inordinate number of gardaí out sick. I...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Yes. I would be happy to do that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I want to point to the work of two retired members supporting the disclosures tribunal co-ordination office, which is based in Garda Headquarters. The office has one full-time member. It has seconded that person temporarily from the Office of Corporate Communications. A number of additional personnel are facilitating the work on an ad hocbasis. Liaison persons have also been nominated...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: On the cost to date for Operation Gull, I will provide the Deputy with the figures on that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: With regard to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, I wish to assure the committee that the underspend is in respect of recruitment of staff. We are keen to ensure that there is a full complement of staff and that the resources allow for increases where appropriate. As we head towards the end of the year, the recruitment programme has not been completed in the manner in which...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Yes. I wish to assure the committee that following receipt of the report in the media, officials in my office immediately contacted the Office of the Garda Commissioner. There appears to have been some form of misunderstanding. I wish to assure members that there will be funding available for Garda overtime for the December period. Obviously, I do not allocate overtime for gardaí, no...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I do not often agree with Deputy Wallace, as the record will show, but he is absolutely right that there was something of a challenge having regard to the cessation of recruitment and the closure, albeit temporarily, of the Garda training college. That resulted in a situation where gardaí were retiring on an annual basis but no new recruits were coming on-stream. Thankfully, we are...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the jobs market now is somewhat different to what it was some years ago. In recent years, we have succeeded in bringing down unemployment from a high of 15.2% to almost 6% now. That means there are job opportunities for people and choices that were not available at other times. That has put considerable pressure on some aspects of the public service in terms...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am keen to ensure that we continue with the programme to roll out a new and modern Garda fleet. The Deputy will be aware of the fleet on the motorways, in particular between here and Wexford, Cork and Limerick. The Garda has high-powered Audi Q7 vehicles and other high-powered vehicles to ensure it is in a position to meet head-on the challenges posed by criminals. Deputy Wallace...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: A number of savings have been made in broad terms. The savings in the Property Registration Authority come to €1 million and the savings in the Valuation Office come to a little less than €1 million. The underspend is mainly pay-related. The full-year cost of additional recruitment during 2017 will not materialise until next year. The main underspend relates to INIS. Again,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I do not have specific details on that issue. I would be happy to engage further on that, as needs be.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge that concern. I was also very concerned which is why I was anxious matters would be clarified at the earliest opportunity. Officials from my Department were in contact early yesterday morning with the office of the Garda Síochána Commissioner. Of course, it is not a Department circular; we are not required to sign off on internal Garda circulars. However, coming...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am not privy to how internal Garda memoranda are produced. However, the Garda is well aware, as is the committee, that An Garda Síochána must remain within the overtime budget provided to it and, of course, that budget is kept under constant review. The budget for 2018 starts in December. I am sure the Garda was well aware of that as the Department of Justice and Equality was....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (5 Dec 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As I have previously indicated, both myself and my Department are giving full and detailed consideration to each of the four recommendations made by the Ombudsman in his report published on 23 November. It is important to note that the existing scheme remains open. To date, 684 applicants to the Magdalen scheme have received their ex gratiapayments from my...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (5 Dec 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that the matter is receiving ongoing, due and careful consideration. While I acknowledge that the Ombudsman's report was critical, I must also say that I have been told that the scheme was administered by the staff of the Department of Justice and Equality with compassion and unstinting dedication. Staff of the Department have been praised on a regular basis by...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (5 Dec 2017)

Charles Flanagan: To date, 830 applications have been received and of these, 694 have been paid an award. A total of 106 applications were refused because the applicants were not admitted to and working in one of the 12 named institutions covered by the scheme. The Deputy raises the issue of lack of capacity in particular. I readily accept that there has been a delay in making payments to certain women...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Commissioner Appointment (5 Dec 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Policing Authority under section 9 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, has responsibility for nominating persons for appointment by the Government to the post of Garda Commissioner.  In the meantime, we have an excellent acting Commissioner in Dónall Ó Cualáin who is exercising the full powers of a Garda Commissioner. This will be the first...