Results 1,661-1,680 of 2,691 for speaker:Tim Lombard
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: I thank the Minister of State. I want to home in on the data in regard to the 12-month waiting list. The Minister of State’s figures are from March 2023 and state that there were 341 children. My figures are from February 2023 and there were 343, so we have literally taken two children off that long-term waiting list in a month. I do not want to do the maths on this but if we are...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: I would like to start by seconding the very appropriate motion brought forward by Senator Ward. I want to comment on the organic farming issue. It is very important we should have a decent debate on organic farming. It is important we should not be talking down the organic sector. I do not think it is a slur to become an organic farmer. We have more than 3,500 organic farmers who have...
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their in-depth contribution. Will they give an indication of the number of open files GSOC has at the moment and provide a timeline for the opening and closing of these files? In other words, do we have files that are open two, three or four years? What is the profile of the files that are with GSOC at the moment?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: Regarding the long-term cases, is there a process in place in GSOC to deal with them? For example, is there a review mechanism or a cold case mechanism? What mechanisms does GSOC have to deal with a case that has been open for, say, three years?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: Could we have a breakdown of the timelines for those cases in years? Is that information in the GSOC report?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: The caseload is significant, to say the least. Is there a regional or divisional breakdown of the caseload?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: Is the figure broken down by GSOC offices rather than police districts?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: Regarding Covid and how it affected GSOC operations, in particular with regard to the report, how did Covid hamper or become in an issue in putting together GSOC's workload and in advancing complaints? Was there a peak or trough in the Covid period? How did Covid affect GSOC's ability to operate and deal with complaints?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: So there was a spike in complaints around this Covid period, for lack of a better terminology.
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: Regarding GSOC's ability to recruit, there is 3.8% unemployment at present in the State. It was announced yesterday as the lowest rate in the history of the State. GSOC has a very unusual recruitment profile, to be honest. We are looking at a certain cohort of individuals who are required to fit the skill set to do this work. Will the witnesses give the committee an indication of the...
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: GSOC's work profile is slightly different from the majority.
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: Please do not say I am an advocate who investigates.
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: Where does Mr. Justice MacCabe see the potential for us to get graduates into the system? Do we need to be talking to higher education institutes about something along those lines?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: In many ways, with the deepest respect to the members of An Garda Síochána, they could benefit from such a course that would have graduates going through who then could become a part of the Garda profile or part of another body such as the military police or GSOC. Is that an avenue we should be discussing?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: I have only two more questions.
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: Will Mr. Justice MacCabe clarify the terminology used in his opening statement regarding the Oireachtas Vote? Will he define it?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: GSOC could potentially become a significantly larger organisation. That would bring benefits but also, obviously, more work. The question was asked, "Who regulates the regulator?", which is a very significant statement. What process would fall into place to make sure the regulator is doing an appropriate job regarding its own staff or situation?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: If I had to make a disclosure, who could GSOC then make a disclosure to regarding the investigative powers of an officer? Let us say, hypothetically obviously, that a protected disclosure was required in a scenario, to whom would the person make a protected disclosure?
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: I am referring to a member of GSOC's staff. That is only complete-----
- Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)
Tim Lombard: In Mr. Whelan’s assessment, is there a peak or fall or is it a direct line among the Garda districts? In other words, is there-----