Results 13,361-13,380 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge that the Deputy has pursued this issue for a considerable time now. I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 31 May last, 797 Garda members have been reassigned to operational roles and their previous roles assigned to Garda civilian staff. This includes 51 so far this year, and I am informed that the targeted number of garda reassignments for this year stands at 400....

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

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy that there are certain duties, such as security in the Courts Service, that could be carried out by a private company rather than using the valuable time of gardaí. As of 31 May there were 81 Garda staff assigned to the Limerick division. This represents an increase of more than 58% since December 2015 when there were 51 Garda staff members assigned to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Missing Persons (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the pain and trauma experienced by all families of missing persons. I am deeply conscious of how difficult life is for loved ones who simply do not know what has happened to their relative. My Department is committed to working with all relevant State bodies to help more families find their missing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Missing Persons (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy. A family who has a missing person that they cannot find wonder every day whether the person will return, even though in their heart of hearts they know the person will not. It is a very difficult time for them. The issue of unidentified remains has received coverage in recent months following the identification of the remains of Mr. Denis Walsh in February this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Missing Persons (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Considerable progress has been made by FSI. The DNA testing of families has helped the agency to make matches in particular cases. To date, the remains of 53 missing persons have been identified thanks to the DNA database. Through FSI, there is a great deal of focus on this issue. We will continue working with the families. There is an annual day of commemoration, and some of the samples...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation. This includes the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am informed by Garda management that, as at 2 July...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The rollout of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It is a priority of mine to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in their valued contributions to managing their local CCTV schemes whilst ensuring sufficient, proportionate oversight of statutory data protection obligations. Since...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion in 2020 and of €1.952 billion in 2021. This has enabled sustained ongoing recruitment into the organisation. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The rollout of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It is a priority of mine to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in their valued contributions to their local CCTV schemes whilst ensuring sufficient, proportionate oversight of statutory data protection considerations. Since 2017,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 116, 123 and 135 together. Any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls is a very serious issue. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse, and indeed anyone in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I would like to restate my deepest sympathies to all those impacted by the tragic event in Hartstown last December, and in particular to the family of George Nkencho. As the Deputy is aware, and as is the case in every incident involving the Gardaí that results in the death of a person, the shooting is being fully and independently investigated by the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Garda Strategy Statement 2022- 2024 will set out An Garda Síochána’s long-term operational priorities, as well as the key focus areas within the organisation, framed by the actions contained in A Policing Service for our Future, the Government's implementation plan for the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I am informed that An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 127 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent oversight body under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. I, as Minister, have no role or function in the processing or management of complaints which are made to GSOC for investigation. The Deputy may wish to note that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can assure the Deputy that tackling serious crime, including drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs, are key priorities for the Government. As the Deputy is aware, there is strong ongoing cooperation 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 Fresh Start...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Projects (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, my Department recently published the General Scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which redefines policing to include prevention of harm to those who are vulnerable and supports the human rights of all people throughout Ireland to be and feel safe in their communities. It does this by making prevention of harm, protection of people who are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I recognise the ongoing pain of the O'Farrell family on the tragic loss of their son and deeply sympathise with their loss. As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane O'Farrell's death. The purpose of this exercise is to advise as to whether any further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, representatives of the Michael O’Donohoe Memorial Project have gathered a considerable amount of material relating to this case, and I know the Deputy has taken a very close interest in this application. As the Deputy will also be aware, my Department engaged an expert on nineteenth century trial law in Ireland for their expert opinion on the safety, or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the construction of the new Garda station at Macroom is to proceed on the basis of a major Public Private Partnership (PPP) project which also includes the construction of a new Garda Station in Clonmel. I am advised that planning permission for the new Garda station in Macroom has recently been approved. An Garda Síochána continues to engage with my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the...