Results 13,501-13,520 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: This matter was approved by Cabinet yesterday and I expect the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, will take some weeks to engage further. The timeframe is that he will revert to Cabinet in November to advise on next steps. I acknowledge the urgency and importance of this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It is in the Seanad and under deliberation there. I do not have a schedule of forthcoming Seanad business but I would be happy to have someone in the Seanad contact the Deputy as to when it might next be ordered.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It has been covered, but in view of what Deputy Michael Healy-Rae has said about representations made this morning, I would be happy to convey his comments directly to the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, in the hope that everyone in need of an appropriate level of contact can receive it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the welcome that has been given not only by Government but also by Members of this House and people outside it to this person-centred way forward. It will be fast and effective. I cannot say for definite when the legislation will be brought forward. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is engaging across other Departments. It is his aim to have a further initiative in the form of a...

Third Interim Report of the Disclosures Tribunal: Statements (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am very pleased the House has decided to set aside time to debate the third interim report of the disclosures tribunal. I must add, however, that it seems to be a very quiet House compared with the frenzied atmosphere there was around the setting up of the tribunal and associated events last year. Having read the report in some detail, there is no doubt it...

Third Interim Report of the Disclosures Tribunal: Statements (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: That is the understatement of the century.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing Reports (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Commission on the Future of Policing published its report on 18 September and set out a wide range of principles and innovative proposals aimed at empowering the Garda Commissioner to ensure more effective management of the Garda organisation; strengthening our national security arrangements; supporting the governance of the Garda organisation through the introduction of a Board and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel among the various Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: A review of the protections for vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences is under way. The review will examine the adequacy of the mechanisms available in law and practice to protect and support victims of sexual violence through the judicial process. This will include practical supports for vulnerable witnesses through the reporting, investigation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Racial Profiling (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have been assured by An Garda Síochána that they are acutely aware that migration should be managed in a way which protects human rights, recognising relevant constitutional and international obligations in this area. In this regard, I have been advised that relevant personnel within An Garda Síochána and Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), in particular, are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reform (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy is aware that the proposed structural reform of the Department involves a radical overhaul of how the Department operates. Developing this level of structural and organisational change, particularly while progressing existing Government priorities, will require considerable investment in specialist expertise and support. A procurement process is underway to obtain the required...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána has in place an interagency response to assist people with mental health issues and there is a Memorandum of Understanding between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and An Garda Síochána which sets out procedure for Gardaí in dealing with mental health incidents. The purpose of this Memorandum is to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Divisional Headquarters (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities. Further, the programme of replacement and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Transfers (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts 1995 and 1997 give effect to the Convention of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons 1983. The Convention recognises that international co-operation in criminal law should further the ends of justice and social rehabilitation of prisoners and that this may be best achieved by having them transferred to serve their sentences in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be appreciate, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility to manage and control generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members and civilian staff. The Deputy will be aware An Garda Síochána is currently undertaking a programme of accelerated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel among the various Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing Reports (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware the Commission on the Future of Policing published its report on 18 September. The report contains a wide range of recommendations which comprehensively address all the themes set out in the Commission's terms of reference. The Report makes many innovative proposals aimed at strengthening our national security arrangements; empowering the Garda Commissioner to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 27, 29, 30, 33, 36, 37, 42, 46, 48, 49, 51 and 55 together. As the Deputies will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Conventions (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Istanbul Convention is a significant legal instrument in the fight against domestic and sexual violence. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to implement the Convention. Ireland signed the Convention in November 2015. Since signature, the Government has prioritised work in a range of Government Departments and agencies to implement at an early date the legislative and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, at an operational level, incapacitant, or pepper, spray is one of a number of tactical options which are available for deployment by Garda personnel. The function of using less than lethal weapons is for circumstances where it is necessary to avoid the use of firearms. The use of firearms is permitted only to repel serious attacks on Gardaí, members of the...