Results 11,521-11,540 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Other Questions: Referendum Campaigns (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am very conscious of the timeframe, and given that the Dáil intends to conclude its work on the legislative programme, and otherwise, by the end of July, it is intended to hold the referendums in conjunction with and on the same day as a presidential election. That would require an early decision by Government. While I am not in a position to advise the House on the nature of the...

Other Questions: Recidivism Rate (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: My Department recognises that, in order to protect the public and reduce reoffending behaviour, a joined up approach to the management of offenders is crucial and essential. There are a number of ongoing joint initiatives and policies that my Department leads across the criminal justice agencies aimed at preventing crime, increasing detection of crime, rehabilitation...

Other Questions: Recidivism Rate (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy has brought up the role of the Irish prison Service and I acknowledge its importance. In recent years, prison services have placed a much greater emphasis on support services to prevent re-offending, and offering support towards desistance of criminal activity. The Deputy is aware there is a wide range of rehabilitative programmes including education and vocational training;...

Other Questions: Recidivism Rate (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The prison recidivism statistics study to which the Deputy refers is a detailed examination of those who were released from custodial prison sentences in 2010 and whether they were subsequently convicted of a further offence up to the end of 2013. The study findings indicate that the recidivism and re-offending rate was 45.1% for the cohort of offenders released in 2010. When compared to...

Other Questions: Garda Stations (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The distribution of Garda personnel, including the allocation of newly attested gardaí, is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. I am informed by the acting Garda Commissioner that, as of 30 April 2018, the most recent date for which figures are available, the strength of the Donegal division was 394. When appropriate, the work of local...

Other Questions: Garda Stations (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the fact that there is a pipeline of recruits to An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware that only last week the acting Commissioner introduced a recruitment plan which closes on 6 June. The focus on and investment in personnel are critical. We are now rebuilding the organisation, providing the acting Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing...

Other Questions: Garda Stations (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: In respect of Glenties Garda station and its former status as a district headquarters for the area, it should be noted that the designation of these stations is a matter for the deputy commissioner, in conjunction with the local district and divisional officers, having regard to the policing requirements of Glenties and the surrounding communities. I can however confirm that the Garda...

Other Questions: Garda Stations (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the importance of what Deputy Scanlon says now that the numbers of Garda Síochána are increasing, towards the target of 21,000 by 2021 because there will be consequences. One of the consequences is the need for increased facilities, one of which is the Garda stations, bricks and mortar. I would be happy to engage with the Deputy on an update on Tubbercurry Garda...

Other Questions: Cyberbullying Issues (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that the Government recognises the importance of integrated actions across all relevant Departments to address online safety, including in order to tackle cyberbullying. Together with my colleagues, the Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs, Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Education and Skills, Deputies Zappone, Denis Naughten and Bruton, I...

Other Questions: Cyberbullying Issues (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I accept that there is an urgency here and that this is extremely important. The Deputy will appreciate that the best means by which this issue is addressed is through a whole-of-Government approach. That is why my colleagues, the Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs, Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Education and Skills share responsibility in this area. From my...

Other Questions: Cyberbullying Issues (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I received a detailed briefing from my colleague, Deputy Neville, on that meeting yesterday, which was very much in line with what Deputy Curran has described. I would say to both Deputies that what we are seeing here is a whole-of-Government approach to this issue. A senior officials' group, convened by the Department of the Taoiseach, is working on the development of an appropriate action...

Other Questions: Garda Resources (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I should say at the outset that the distribution of Garda personnel is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. That said, I am informed by the acting Commissioner, on foot of a review of the computer crime investigation unit under the modernisation programme, that An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capability to deal with cybercrime and cybersecurity...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It seems to me that the Ceann Comhairle has charted a course himself in his opening comments. Following the voting on a number of tabled amendments last night, it would appear that they raise a discrepancy. Having regard to that discrepancy and arising out of what has been agreed here openly, I feel that the only manner in which these issues can now be addressed successfully is in the...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Members will recall last night that we were debating a large group of amendments, many of which were optional, many of which were alternatives, some of which were contradictory and some of which were consequential. A large number of amendments sought to change the composition of the commission to increase the membership of the commission, while at the same time maintaining a lay majority. ...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 21:In page 11, line 27, to delete “or”.

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: 7 o’clock I move amendment No. 22:In page 11, line 29, to delete “sectionor.” and substitute “section 13(1)or (2), or”.

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 23:In page 11, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:“(c) in the case of a member referred to in section 10(1)(g), without the need for a new nomination by the nominator referred to in section 12(8).”.

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Amendment No. 29 is in the name of Deputy Ó Laoghaire. He will be aware from my amendments how best I see the composition question on the commission being approached. Under my amendments lay members will be drawn from the Public Appointments Service process, as will the chairperson, similar to the Deputy's own view. IHREC will nominate its own lay person. I made the point before in...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to respond to the points raised by Deputy Clare Daly in respect of her keenness to delete the bulk of subsection (4). We have debated the desirability of a legal or non-legal chair. My approach is to have a non-legal chair for reasons that have been well amplified both during the course of this debate and earlier. If we are having a non-legal chair, it is eminently appropriate that...

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 31:In page 13, line 15, after "the" where it secondly occurs to insert "lay".