Results 9,761-9,780 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Authority (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The levels of service to be provided by the Garda Síochána are set out each year in the annual policing plan. The independent Policing Authority is required under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, to determine priorities and targets for An Garda Síochána in performing its functions relating to policing services. As the Deputy will appreciate, I, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reports (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 104 together. I can inform the Deputy that I have examined the report referred to in his questions. As the Deputy is aware, the criminal investigations and court proceedings relating to water-charge protests in Jobstown were dealt with by the appropriate State authorities. Following a Garda investigation and consideration by the DPP, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: On receipt of the Garda Síochána Internal Audit Report on "Financial Procedures in the Garda College" in March 2017 and in view of the gravity of the issues raised, my predecessor immediately requested the Policing Authority to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Report and to report back on a quarterly basis in relation to progress being made. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff Recruitment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware in accordance with section 26(1)(b) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner has statutory responsibility for the recruitment of civilian staff and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter. Section 19 of the Act governs the sanctioning of additional civilian staff for An Garda Síochána and requires...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reports (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the allocation and management of the Garda ICT budget is the responsibility of the acting Garda Commissioner as the Accounting Officer for An Garda Síochána and, as Minister, I have no function in relation to the matter. In this context, the Commissioner is fully accountable to the Public Accounts Committee and the Comptroller and Auditor...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Law Reform Commission report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety recommends a range of new offences relating to the conduct of individuals on the internet.  Specifically, it recommends two new offences to deal with posting online intimate images without consent (so- called “revenge pornography”) and voyeurism.  It also proposes reform of the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I want to assure the Deputy that I am very much aware of the impact of crime on rural communities, including the serious damage done by organised gangs who target rural areas to engage in burglary and other property-related crime. Such incidents cannot be tolerated in our society and this Government will continue to support An Garda Síochána in tackling the gangs, including mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Criminal Justice (Mutual Legal Assistance) Act 2008 provides for Competent Authorities to seek and afford assistance in relation to matters which are the subject of criminal investigations and/or criminal proceedings.  Such assistance is sought and provided on a confidential basis, as any public comment relating to a request for assistance may prejudice or impair the investigation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Information Requests (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 83 together. I am advised by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INIS) of my Department that the decision of the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) referred to by the Deputy was notified to the Department on 25 January.  While it would not be appropriate for me to comment on a ruling of the Information Commissioner the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (6 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 93 together. I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out the priorities of An Garda Síochána in tackling organised crime activity including its continued commitment to pro-actively target...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 87 together. By any standard Ireland operates an open immigration policy which often requires a flexible approach to respond to various requirements and needs. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to work with the relevant Oireachtas Committees to introduce a comprehensive Immigration and Residency Reform Bill. Work on such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 100 together. As the Deputies 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As I have previously advised the Deputy, I am aware of the concerns regarding these particular allegations and I am anxious that any allegations of wrongdoing by members of An Garda Síochána are properly examined. The investigation into the allegations of Garda members being complicit in the illegal sale and supply of drugs is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 99 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy may wish to note that the number of cases of the independent review mechanism in which counsel recommended that no further action be taken was in fact 249 out of 320 cases. As regards the notification to the complainants of the reasons for such a recommendation, this has already taken place. The majority of such notifications issued during the latter half of 2015, with the final...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that at the time of the potential Garda dispute in 2016, the matter was referred to the Labour Court to develop a Recommendation addressing the pay issues raised by the ranks of Garda, Sergeant and Inspector. The Recommendation applied therefore only to those ranks. The Superintendents and Chief Superintendents Associations have consistently argued that the pay...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the methodologies used by An Garda Síochána in measuring homicides and I will contact him directly when the report is to hand.   As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána is working with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to resolve an issue which emerged in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation and management of Garda resources, including the overtime budget, is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner having due regard to his operational needs. As Minister, I have no role in the matter. I would, however, point out that some €1.65 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2018. This is an increase of approximately 2%...