Results 1,241-1,260 of 6,188 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I welcome that. Does Ms Justice Ring believe there is an issue of almost triaging cases, and identifying ones that are more appropriate for local resolution at a Garda district level, for example, as opposed to perhaps being more suitable for GSOC? Does she think that is a considerable issue? Would resolution of that make a considerable difference in terms of her workload?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Very well. Could Ms Justice Ring elaborate on the extent to which she thinks the work of GSOC is excessively tied up with issues that could be resolved more locally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I wish to move on to a slightly different area. Would it be possible to put a number on the GSOC staff who are members of the Garda on secondment and the number that are former gardaí. They are two separate categories of people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There has been a bit of discussion on independence. I support the point that was made that in the same way as Caesar's wife, not only does GSOC need to function independently but it needs to be seen to be independent. I agree with that. Aside from budgetary independence and having its own Accounting Officer, what constraints does Ms Justice Ring believe exist legislatively currently?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: One of the points in the legislative proposal relates to section 103A of the Garda Síochána Act, and that is in relation to the ability to secure co-operation from the Garda. Is it possible to explain the proposals to the committee?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There are instances where information is not delivered promptly or it is not complete.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Aside from budgetary matters, in which areas of work does the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission still require ministerial approval in terms of its powers and so forth?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I agree that one hopes it would never be necessary to investigate a Garda Commissioner. However, it is appropriate that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission should have full independence in the matter. While the circumstances are not the same as in the case of section 103, would access to information be improved if GSOC's ability to access the PULSE system was strengthened...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Another tool which would presumably be relevant in carrying out investigations is the ability of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to carry out unannounced inspections of Garda stations. What is the position on GSOC's ability to undertake unannounced inspections? Are there exceptions and should this power be strengthened?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There is a difference between an announced and unannounced inspection. I am specifically asking whether GSOC believes there are excessive constraints on its ability to carry out unannounced inspections of Garda stations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I appreciate that, but I have in mind the circumstances Ms Justice Ring described. Are there constraints on the ability of GSOC to carry out inspections in such circumstances and, if so, should they be altered?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Ms Justice Ring referred to the need for gardaí to use the PULSE system properly. What proportion of the complaints received by GSOC relate to Garda handling of data?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I had intended to conclude on that point, but I wish to return to an issue because I was not fully satisfied with the answer given. I will frame my question differently. In the course of an investigation is it possible for GSOC to visit a Garda station as part of an investigation without giving prior notice?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is what I wanted to find out.

Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (6 Mar 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I pay tribute to the staff of the key agencies who responded to the recent storm and the extraordinary circumstances in which they did so. While essential workers in those agencies, some of whom are volunteers, were required and provision was made for them, there were many people who were forced to go to work who are not essential workers. Many of them were asked by their employers, some of...

Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (6 Mar 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The question is what measures the Government will put in place to ensure workers are protected if a status red alert is issued. Essentially, the answer given by the Minister was a statement of the legal situation, the existing responsibilities of employers and so on. It did not really address the issue. Clear advice was offered by Met Éireann and those who are responsible for...

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Motion (7 Mar 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Cuirim fáilte roimh an rún chun daingniú a dhéanamh faoi dheireadh ar choinbhinsiún na Náisiún Aontaithe ar chearta daoine atá faoi mhíchumais. Tá sé déanach ach, é sin ráite, tá fáilte roimhe. It is not a leap to describe this evening as historic for those who have been advocating for the rights of people with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank Ms West and Ms Galligan. Everything connected with this is of enormous public interest, whether it relates to the seriousness of the crime, the ability of the public to have full faith in reporting such serious crime and how this has been managed. Another is how it has been presented by An Garda Síochána, which is something about which I continue to be concerned. I want...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Some of the most senior garda personnel were aware of the witnesses' very serious concerns and many of those personnel were the same personnel who would have been at the Policing Authority meeting which stated that this report had been signed off, is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: While Ms West was not present, would it have been the case that the meeting would have involved some of the same personnel that would have represented An Garda Síochána at the Policing Authority meeting in April?