Results 9,581-9,600 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I do not want to delay the committee, but I acknowledge the importance of what has been said. Notwithstanding the manner in which divisions are taken, I also acknowledge the positive disposition of Deputies Mick Wallace and Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. I have listened to what Deputy Jim O'Callaghan stated. I ask that between now and Report Stage we engage with a view towards moving the type...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Amendment No. 26, which was moved by Deputies Wallace and Daly and debated by other Deputies, proposes to replace the Attorney General as a member of the commission with the Chief Commissioner of the IHREC. I cannot accept the amendment. One needs to acknowledge the importance of the role of the Attorney General and the manner in which that officer operates. One also needs to acknowledge...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have a rather extensive speaking note on the other amendments to which reference has not been specifically made.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It is important that I refer to them. Members might then respond, if the Chairman agrees it is appropriate to do so. The group includes a number of important amendments to which specific reference has not been made. The committee will be aware of the commitment in the programme for Government to replace the JAAB with the new commission, which would have an independent chairperson...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: No. Some of the comments I made in my recent submission are applicable to amendments in an earlier group to which we need to revert, that is, group 7.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Yes, that means reverting to an earlier group.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: That is fine as long as we will be coming back to it.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: With specific reference to amendment No. 33 in the name of Deputy Clare Daly which proposes to reduce the number of lay members of the commission from six to four, I would be concerned about a reduction in the number of lay members.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the differing views and amendments from the various party groupings, all of which refer to the non-legal or lay members of the commission. If we were to increase the lay membership, having regard to the fact that the committee has already deleted the reference to the involvement of committees, it is important that there be a mix of people chosen by the Public Appointments...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am not convinced that such a declaration is required. The requirements of the Standards in Public Office Commission are the normal benchmark in respect of such positions or offices. I have provided for this in section 60 so I am not prepared to accept the amendment.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: No, it was amendment No. 49.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I listened to Deputy Wallace suggest there may be an inappropriate level of influence on the commission.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I do not agree with him and I feel the members of the commission to whom he makes reference could be the most expert people in terms of their knowledge and their input and contribution. As a result, I have a difficulty with the amendment. The provision applies to lay members, including the non-legal chairperson selected by the Public Appointments Service and the nominees of the professional...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It is important that we consider the practical outturn of this amendment. It may well be the case that, after three years, we have people who have contributed substantially to the effective working of the commission. They would be regarded as good people and have expertise. They would have acquired three years of experience. It is not unreasonable that they might be asked to serve for a...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: There will be opportunity, I am sure, before the amendments are put. Amendment No. 41 certainly shows consistency on the part of Deputy Daly in respect of membership of the commission, in particular, the manner of the appointment of the legal professional body nominees and the stipulation that the Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, should...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I do not accept that. In fact, it is very unfair on the representative professional bodies. Of course, it is open to anyone in society to ask questions and Deputy Clare Daly has referred to people asking questions about suitability and appropriateness. Asking questions is easy but answering them and drawing on conclusive evidence and ensuring due process is important. I do not think it is...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Questions may have been raised, but drawing conclusions from this is fundamentally unfair.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have made the point that I am not minded to take on board the thinking of Deputy Clare Daly. We have been over this ground before and I will not accept the amendments.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (24 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is...