Results 13,341-13,360 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned applied for a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) payment with effect from 28/06/2021 after his entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit expired on 26/06/2021. JA is a means tested payment. A means test is an assessment of all household income, savings, shares, investments or property that a person owns, apart from their own home. The means test will also include any...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 5 May 2021. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that the person concerned was substantially restricted in taking up employment. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 14 June 2021. Further medical evidence was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, appointments to the positions of General Secretary or Deputy General Secretary of the Association concerned are made by the Central Executive Committee of the Association, in accordance with procedures set down by the Annual Delegate Conference of the Association, and in accordance with Regulations 16 and 17 of the Garda Síochána (Associations)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Custody of Children (7 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Where the parents of a child cannot agree on custody or access arrangements for their child, it is open to them to apply to the courts to decide on the matter. Section 11 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 provides that either parent of a child, whether or not he or she is also a guardian of the child, may apply to court for a direction regarding the custody of a child or the right...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can advise the Deputy that An Garda Síochána wrote to the Secretary General of my Department on 4 December 2020 to inform the Department that a number of 999 calls had been cancelled on the AGS Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and that An Garda Síochána was carrying out a review of the reasons behind this. An Garda Síochána also brought the issue to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes matters in relation to any medal or commendation scheme. I, as Minister, have no role in these matters. I am informed by Garda authorities that there are currently no plans being considered in respect of a medal...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls is a serious issue. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Garda and the high standards that An Garda Síochána sets for itself. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse, and, indeed, anyone in a vulnerable position who summoned the courage to seek assistance may not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I will outline a few facts for the Deputy. In February, the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, asked the Policing Authority to examine these issues, to oversee the Garda review and then to report back to her. It is welcome that this issue is being examined by the independent Policing Authority. The work being done by that body consistently, every month, is exactly why we have robust,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can understand the Deputy’s frustration regarding the cancellation of the 999 calls, but I do not agree with some of the statements he has made. He will be aware that this issue was initially identified within An Garda Síochána last October as part of its internal processes. An Garda Síochána wrote to the Secretary General of my Department, on 4 December 2020,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. GSOC is the body specifically established, designed and equipped to investigate complaints of alleged criminality or misconduct by members of An Garda Síochána. I assure the Deputy that GSOC has extensive powers under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to perform this function. If GSOC believes a suspected criminal...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy mentioned the proposed policing, security and community safety Bill, which will be subject to further consideration by the Oireachtas. It will strengthen and reform the oversight and accountability of An Garda Síochána. Some of the proposed reforms include moving to a single ombudsman model; granting a separate Vote for the ombudsman; having an expanded remit to include...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I said in my initial answer that GSOC has the power to bring criminal charges against members of An Garda Síochána following the outcome of its investigations, where GSOC deems this to be the appropriate course of action. These are powers that are not available to other forms of independent statutory inquiries such as a commission of investigation or a tribunal of inquiry. With...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As he will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the Garda estate. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters. The Deputy will also be aware the Office of Public Works, OPW, has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy knows the history of the site. As I said, An Garda Síochána has invested and continues to invest significant funding in refurbishing the Garda station in Sligo. This includes the provision of new locker facilities and the complete upgrade of the three floors in the building, including the public office. Further upgrade works are under way, including the provision of a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy should listen to the answer when I am giving it to him but he is not listening to me.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The fact is that the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for Garda accommodation. We provide the budget of almost €2 billion to An Garda Síochána and it is up to the Commissioner to decide the various investments and priorities across the country. On this Garda station, a site was bought and it was decided not to move there. Instead, the existing building is being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Tackling serious crime, including drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs, are key priorities for the Government. As he will be aware, there is strong ongoing co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI. The cross-Border joint agency task force, JATF, was established under the 2015...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: A key aspect of co-operation is the joint agency task force, as I described. It is led by senior officers in the PSNI, An Garda Síochána and another key partner agencies. As I said, among the top priorities for the task force is drug-related crime. As the Deputy knows, there is great cross-Border co-operation. An example of this between the two jurisdictions is an annual...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy. As we both know, a huge amount of work is going on in counties Cavan and Monaghan. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner, however, that the distribution of resources among the various Garda divisions is kept under constant review in light of emerging crime trends and operational needs. As of the end of May this year, 389 Garda members and 58 Garda staff were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. As he is aware, in December 2018 the Government published A Policing Service for the Future, which is a detailed four-year plan to implement the landmark report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The plan was developed in co-operation with stakeholders from across the public service including, in particular, An Garda...