Results 14,541-14,560 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls a very serious matter. 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, or indeed anyone in a vulnerable position,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls a very serious matter. 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, or indeed anyone in a vulnerable position,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities.  The Act also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on, nor confirm the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am informed by the Garda authorities that all 999/112 emergency calls for service to An Garda Síochána are answered at the four Garda Regional Communications Centres/Rooms. As per Garda  policy and procedures, 999/112 emergency calls for service are recorded and retained for a period of seven years. I am further informed that recorded call data can be extracted and stored...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, Garda numbers have increased substantially in recent years, from 12,943 Garda members and 1,999 Garda staff in 2016 to 14,345 Garda members and 3,172 staff at the end of September this year. I am pleased to note that Budget 2022 commits to the further recruitment of an additional 800 Gardaí next year and to the recruitment of an additional 400 Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient deployment of Garda resources, including Garda stations. Following a review of An Garda Síochána's accommodation requirements, the Commissioner decided that a Public Private Partnership (PPP) should...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that neither I, or my Department officials, have had contact or entered into contracts with the referenced company in the time period in question.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together. ‘Our Rural Future' is the Government's ambitious rural development policy for 2021 to 2025, and was published on 29 March. It contains over 150 commitments across the whole-of-Government, for both short-term recovery and longer-term economic and social development in rural areas. The policy has a five-year timeframe, with updates...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (20 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce is expected to reconvene in the coming weeks. Engagement between officials in my Department and in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is ongoing with proposals regarding the membership, structure and specific actions of the reconstituted Taskforce at an advanced stage. The draft proposals for the reconstituted Taskforce...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I assure him that I recognise the ongoing pain and anguish of the O'Farrell family on the tragic death of Shane and I deeply sympathise with them on 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....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I, too, understand what this family has been through. I know Deputy Carthy, who is sitting behind Deputy Martin Kenny, has been speaking to the family, as have I. It is not easy for them but it is fair to say that this process is in place and that the judge is doing his work. We have to wait until he produces his report. As far as my Department is concerned, we will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. As I said, and as I know the Deputy will appreciate, the judge is completely independent in conducting this scoping exercise and it is not open to me, as Minister, to comment on any aspect of the judge's work or the process of compiling the final report. I understand that Judge Haughton has been in contact with the O'Farrell family throughout this scoping exercise. He...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for raising this matter. As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls a very serious matter. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána sets for itself. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The Policing Authority was asked by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to oversee the review being carried out by An Garda Síochána. There have been a number of engagements between the authority and An Garda Síochána since March this year. Regarding the exact date that the Minister was made aware of this, I do not have the information to hand but I will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Regarding the protected disclosure, the Deputy will appreciate that there is a duty of confidentiality regarding protected disclosures as set out in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on a protected disclosure.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There have been. I will get my officials to provide the Deputy with that information. The Commissioner is taking this very seriously. The management of An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Commissioner. The Commissioner is due to appear before the authority next week, as the Deputy will know. I expect that this issue will be raised at that meeting. This is oversight in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this matter. It is important to acknowledge that significant and necessary reforms have taken place in An Garda Síochána over the past few years, and Garda superintendents have played their part in these reforms. I am conscious that the publication earlier this year of the general scheme of the policing, security and community safety Bill...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Joint Committee on Justice is conducting pre-legislative scrutiny, as the Deputy said, on the policing, security and community safety Bill. I am aware of the Commissioner's comments at the committee meeting yesterday. As the Commissioner explained, we have had good engagement. I have discussed this with the Commissioner. He has come into the Department and we have had a good...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will acknowledge that there has been much reform in An Garda Síochána over recent years. I acknowledge that. It is important we engage with the relevant bodies, as I said to the Deputy. We need to work with the Garda Síochána because it is the superintendents, the chief superintendents, the commissioners and everybody else in the Garda Síochána who...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am aware that she is particularly interested in it. The Government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms and to supporting victims of this heinous crime. My Department provides funding to support the work of An Garda Síochána to combat such violence. It also provides funding to promote...