Results 16,421-16,440 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Organised Crime (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Tackling organised crime is an ongoing priority for the Government and An Garda Síochána and I am keen to ensure that necessary and appropriate resources continue to be made available. The manner in which the resources of An Garda Síochána are deployed, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team. I am informed by the Commissioner...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Organised Crime (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the importance of the bail laws in respect of the power of the courts to refuse bail where there are reasonable grounds to believe the person is likely to commit a serious offence. In assessing this likelihood, the court must take a number of factors into account. The recently enacted Criminal Justice Act 2017 also strengthened Garda powers to deal with breaches of bail;...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Organised Crime (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I detect a change, however I am not in a position to inform the House by way of annual report or otherwise. As soon as I have these data I would be happy to inform both the Deputy and the House. There have been proposals to further support changes in the bail regime, and while I would be happy to give due and careful consideration to any further proposals, I need, as Members will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Personal Injury Claims (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 19 together. The Deputy will be aware that in July 2016 the Government set up a special working group chaired by Minister of State, Deputy Michael D'Arcy, to analyse the high cost imposed by insurance companies, and to determine what action the Government might take to address any issues that might be contributing to these costs. The cost of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Personal Injury Claims (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I very much share the concern of Deputy Broughan and others on this issue. As Minister for Justice and Equality, there are perhaps two areas which fall directly under my responsibility. One is ensuring that every effort is being made to combat perceived fraud in the matter of claims, be they exaggerated or false. This is an issue on which I have had discussions with An Garda...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Ceann Comhairle is listening attentively to this debate.

Property Services (Regulation) (Amendment) (Management Company Regulation) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: That is fine.

Property Services (Regulation) (Amendment) (Management Company Regulation) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the importance of the Bill and the interest that Deputy Darragh O'Brien has taken in this matter over a long number of years. I thank him for tabling this Private Members' Bill which provides the House with the opportunity to discuss matters connected with the operation of owners' management companies, or OMCs, in multi-unit developments. We have seen a significant increase in...

Property Services (Regulation) (Amendment) (Management Company Regulation) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Let me rephrase. I strongly support the Bill and am very keen to work with Deputy Darragh O'Brien to improve it. As drafted, the Bill requires a fair degree of analysis to ensure that it can be effective in achieving its aims. In this context, the policy experts in my Department have identified a number of legal and practical difficulties that will necessitate detailed consultation with...

Property Services (Regulation) (Amendment) (Management Company Regulation) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following:“Dáil Éireann resolves that the Bill be deemed to be read a second time this day six months, to allow the Deputy to address shortcomings in the Bill including: (a) further examination required as to whether the proposed establishment of an office of “Ombudsman for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, very significant capital investment is being made in An Garda Síochána, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021; and investment of €46 million in the Garda Fleet over the same period. Considerable investment is also being made in the Garda estate, to address its deficiencies and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Combatting Cyberbullying (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, I recently obtained approval to formally draft amendments to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, a Private Member's Bill sponsored by Deputy Brendan Howlin. I intend to bring forward a number of Government amendments to strengthen the provisions of the Bill and to ensure that it will be as effective as possible. I have worked...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Privacy (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 20 together. I assume the Deputy is referring to allegations which were contained in an affidavit made in court proceedings by a prison officer of the Irish Prison Service. These allegations are the subject of an investigation carried out by the Inspector of Prisons on my behalf. The affidavit, brought in connection with a proposed temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Let me say at the outset that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has a hugely important role to play in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded and as such, it has extensive powers under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This Government has always been committed to ensuring that GSOC has the necessary supports and resources in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I recognise the concerns raised in the Deputy’s question with regard to Gardaí investigating other Gardaí. I know that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission have raised this matter on a number of occasions including more recently. The House will be aware that last year I secured sanction to increase the number of staff of GSOC by 42 full time equivalents....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: On 20thNovember 2018 the Government approved a new national survey on the prevalence of sexual violence in Ireland. Following this, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Central Statistics Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 10thJanuary 2019 regarding the undertaking of the survey. The CSO have now begun the work on the large scale survey, called the Sexual Violence Survey...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Co-operation (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There are few who would argue that Ireland's membership of the European Union has not been of enormous benefit to Ireland's citizens, both economically and in terms of the progressive social development of this State. The freedoms enjoyed by EU citizens and the real and genuine protections afforded to their fundamental rights are the envy of many throughout the world. This commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Corruption (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I have regular meetings and discussions with Commissioner Harris in which he updates me on a wide range of matters. However I’m sure the House will appreciate that it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the control and direction of An Garda Síochána. I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters. The House would be rightly critical of me if I sought to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy is aware that Ireland signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) but has yet to ratify this instrument. Ireland has of course already signed and ratified the Convention itself. The Protocol is preventive in nature. It provides for the establishment of National Preventive Mechanisms which would inspect facilities where persons can be held...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that investing in the capacity of An Garda Síochána to tackle criminals and enforce the law effectively is a key objective of the Government's response to tackling crime. The Government has dedicated very significant resources to support An Garda Síochána in tackling the activities of criminal gangs, including mobile criminal gangs, that seek to...