Results 12,601-12,620 of 21,090 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I am concerned. This a box ticking exercise. As Deputy David Cullinane said, there is a difference between the protected disclosures legislation, the process by which Departments are dealing with them and the process by which we, as individuals, receive them. I will have no issue with sitting down with them once this is done, but I have two concerns. Learning how well it is working and...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Two more.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I have a concern about the manner in which this is happening following the report of the independent review group on the Department of Justice and Equality, the Toland report, and the length of time it is taking. We have thrashed out the issues involved in detail. I ask the committee to express a concern about the length of time it is taking to come to conclusions on the implementation of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Yes, based on what is written in the letter. I ask the committee to express concern considering the evidence given here. I also want to flag, as part of the review of the Department of Justice and Reform and its handling of the matters in question, that we will have to focus in on the Irish Prison Service. Specifically, I would like to see what progress is being made by the Department of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I would say you would have sympathy with me on this view. I am as confused now as I was beforehand. For a bit of background, a number of years ago, when I was Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, a community group in your county came to me about putting in CCTV. Everyone believes in CCTV on motorways.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: They are very good people. They set a precedent and did it very well. In fairness, the superintendent there played a blinder in everything. We have an issue now where funding has been given - it came under community grants when I was there - to put up CCTV around the country in a number of locations. As a result of success and pressure, in fairness, this Government has given a substantial...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Let me clarify our suggestion. The local authority in my county has contacted me. Funding was provided but they cannot agree on issues like those I outlined because of data and all that. If we are going to the CCMA, and it is a good suggestion, we should also write to An Garda Síochána.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Both. Ultimately, this is a situation where in some cases they can do it while in other cases they cannot. There is no consistency. Surely, they can create a protocol that works for the whole country. If we are writing to the CCMA, we should also write to the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Let them talk to one another before they reply, otherwise what will happen is we will get three-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: We will get three different letters. That is what will happen.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: There is a difference between the two.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I am aware of this issue. Given the discussion we had earlier, I have no issue with holding it over. I believe that this needs to be actioned or put into a pathway where it will be dealt with one way or the other. If the Chairman wants to hold it over for a week, I will wait.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I believe it needs to be put in a pathway.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: To clarify, while I know what we are doing next week, when we receive documentation like this, we have to send it. We have to look for answers. We have to have a process because otherwise it will stay in limbo. We cannot do that. This will have to go to relevant Departments one way or the other. I know we are holding it over to next week but let us not think that because we are holding...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I did not either but the secretariat kindly informed me.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: The Chairman did and we did not hear it.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Deputy MacSharry might contribute first and then I will speak.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I know we are dealing with all of this stuff. This is not just a protected disclosure. There is a process here, which does not make sense, as to how the Irish Prison Service is dealing with this. It links in to what I spoke about earlier about the Toland review and the issue of how the Department of Justice and Equality updates its implementation of justice in the Prison Service. The...