Results 17,921-17,940 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Human Trafficking (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputies have raised a number of constructive points that I would be happy to pursue as being applicable. I assure the House that An Garda Síochána continues to engage actively with the Director of Public Prosecutions in order to pursue further prosecutions this year. Having regard to the international dimension of the crime, we have developed strong links between the Garda...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I was in the Seanad.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: We should be clear about this. Nobody is evading responsibility here. I was in the Seanad on that occasion and we can check the record.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: We rang the Deputy's office with a number of available dates for this debate and this appears to be the first available date that suits him.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: No. The Deputy raised the matter.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I did not send in anybody.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: It is not.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy refused to accept an invitation to the debate until now.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I was in the Seanad and I make no apologies to the Deputy or anybody else for that.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As far as Topical Issue matters are concerned, I neither evade nor avoid my duties and obligations in the House. The record will testify to that in terms of my appearance here.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: If I am in the Seanad, I cannot be here. A message was sent to Deputy Kelly's office and, as far as I understand, the Office of the Ceann Comhairle. The origin of the new model lies in a detailed analysis of these issues by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. I remind the House that the inspectorate is an independent body comprised of experienced and distinguished policing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Divisional Headquarters (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the entitlement of Deputy Kelly or any other Deputy to raise questions. Indeed, it is an obligation on the Deputy's part. I am very pleased that the Commissioner has responded to an invitation to attend a meeting in Tipperary in order to answer questions. In this regard, the Commissioner recently met members of the Tipperary joint policing committee. I understand that he...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Policing Issues (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There is no more consistent an advocate for Border security and policing than Deputy Brendan Smith. I say that not only in respect of my time as Minister for Justice and Equality, but also previously as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Deputy and others will acknowledge that policing the Border region has always presented particular challenges and these necessitate a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Policing Issues (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: It is both appropriate and timely that Deputy Brendan Smith should make specific reference to the second report of the Independent Reporting Commission, which was published yesterday by the British and Irish Governments. It draws attention to a recent upturn in paramilitary activity and paramilitary-related murders over the past year. I think of Jim Donegan, Ian Ogle and Lyra McKee. The...

Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Decisions on Supervision Measures) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to present this Bill to the House. I am also pleased to report that it received general support on its recent passage through the Seanad. I do not wish to tempt fate or anticipate the approval of Deputies but I hope it might receive a similar amount of broad support here. There is a pressing need for this legislation to...

Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Decisions on Supervision Measures) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputies for their contributions, their acknowledgement of the importance of this legislation, and the support that seems to be forthcoming from all sides of the House. It is complex legislation. It has a simple objective, that is, to enable a person who is the subject of a supervision decision in one EU member state but who lives in another to return home and to continue his...

Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Decisions on Supervision Measures) Bill 2019: Referral to Select Committee (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice and Equality pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to be here with the Deputies to present the Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019, which gives effect to the outcome of a referendum to amend the Constitution. Deputies will recall that until late last year, Article 40.6.1°i of the Constitution specified that the publication or utterance of...

Illegal Drugs: Motion [Private Members] (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I listened with interest to the comments of the Deputies proposing the motion and welcome the opportunity to have a discussion on this important issue. The use and misuse of drugs is an international issue that needs to be tackled in a co-ordinated way and addressed in a global context. I very much share the view of the UN General Assembly's special session on drugs in 2016 which stated: ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 303 together. On 27 May 2015, the European Commission issued the EU Action Plan against migrant smuggling (2015-2020). This sets out a structured policy framework identifying a set of concrete measures in four priority areas: - enhanced police and judicial response; - improved gathering and sharing of information - stronger prevention; and - increased...