Results 161-180 of 226 for garda speaker:Thomas Pringle

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Advice (20 Nov 2019)

Thomas Pringle: ...2005, Amnesty International stated, "In practice this provision has not been used, and victims are generally unaware of its existence." It is a failing in itself on the part of his Department, the Garda and the prosecution services that victims are unaware that this is available to them. Yes, it is very limited in that it is only available when the case has proceeded to prosecution, but...

Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: ...in regulating gaming in the future. This leads me to my next issue with this Bill, which is section 4. This section is hugely problematic as it includes for the first time the involvement and expansion of powers of Garda superintendents, who will now have the authority to grant licences for gambling and gaming. How can this be the case when according to the industry’s own...

Inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell: Motion [Private Members] (12 Nov 2019)

Thomas Pringle: .... It has decided that it looks after the State or some such mad thing. I think the Department of Justice and Equality is the root of many problems in the State. We have had problems with the gardaí over many years which may be getting sorted out now by having dragged the Department of Justice and Equality, kicking and screaming, to making changes within An Garda Síochána....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 May 2022)

Thomas Pringle: ...even though they were the ones highlighting the problems throughout. This is not a Donegal or CHO 1 problem alone. It is a national problem. Previous Governments tried a similar thing with Garda corruption, in that they tried to box it off and claim it was only in Donegal. We saw where that got us. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is conducting a review of safeguarding in...

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Thomas Pringle: ...proportionality test; better consultation with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC; pre-legislative scrutiny; Oireachtas approval; a limit on broad powers; a regular review of powers extended to gardaí and Ministers; and a human rights impact assessment. It is an excellent and measured analysis and I thank the ICCL for consistently providing much-needed analysis to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (18 Apr 2018)

Thomas Pringle: ...improve local enterprises and are concerned about the impact of rural depopulation and the closure of services for which the Government has direct responsibility through closing post offices and Garda stations. This all has a knock-on effect on small businesses and their confidence. There is the question of rates, but also networking and the ability of those businesses to work together....

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2017)

Thomas Pringle: ...action is at least €500 million. The Government has never taken white-collar crime seriously. The staffing levels of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement have decreased by more than 18% since 2010. The number of gardaí working in the office has been reduced by 25%. Furthermore, the 2015 Garda Síochána Inspectorate report noted that "the Garda...

Recent Arson Attacks: Statements (27 Feb 2024)

Thomas Pringle: ...here for protection. We let those people down by doing that. Unfortunately, the State is not taking an active enough role in dealing with it. Maybe it is belatedly coming to the table now and the Garda are starting to respond to it but I know of stuff reported to the Garda and little if any investigation has ever taken place. That is wrong and should not be tolerated. We need to be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Nov 2021)

Thomas Pringle: .... They need to know what happened. It is about making sure that it does not happen again. That is the important thing. I urge the Tánaiste to push for this to be published, and to push the Garda to say it is not interested and that it is not going to go any further on this. It is very interesting that it is only taking an interest now. This must be published and we need...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment ) Act 1998: Motions (19 Jun 2014)

Thomas Pringle: ...used? For example, was section 30 used against people associated with protesting against the Corrib gas installation? In her own contribution, the Minister said is was used regularly by the Garda Síochána. When such provisions and measures are in place, however, the tendency is to over use them because they are easy and convenient. They will be used against people who are...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Thomas Pringle: ...important. When people are going to stand up for the State, protect the State and give evidence for the State we must, no matter how difficult and uncomfortable it is for us, the Government, the Garda, the judicial system and everything like that, remember the presumption of innocence should be very important and the prime thing we are talking about. There is no evidence being provided...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (5 May 2022)

Thomas Pringle: ...am loath to think that this would be contained to Donegal because we have seen this in the past. The Minister of State will probably remember the Morris tribunal regarding what was happening in An Garda Síochána. The response from officialdom at that time was that it was confined to Donegal and that it was only a Donegal issue. To our cost, we saw that it did not just happen...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Welfare Services (1 Oct 2013)

Thomas Pringle: ...vital to those using them. The Department has not taken account of the difficulties of people in rural areas in accessing services. In recent years we have seen the closure of post offices and Garda stations and threats to rural schools. People see these public services being withdrawn and it leads to a huge amount of concern and difficulties in our communities. I, therefore, ask the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Thomas Pringle: ...the two are completely separate. What happened last Thursday week was orchestrated by the far right. It was pushed by them and people were encouraged onto the streets and incited to attack gardaí. That is a separate issue from the ongoing policing issues in Dublin. While they are related, it is a separate issue. It is important to say that. Because of that, I am concerned about...

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: ...who would be excluded under this Bill. There may be an obligation on the State to make some provision for that. That should be addressed. Moving the licensing to the NTA and away from the Garda and the Carriage Office streamlines the process. However, the Bills digest for the legislation referred to concern that has been expressed relating to the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions)...

Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2018)

Thomas Pringle: ...than jailing people for offences. A previous speaker spoke about people being in jail for offences. Much has been made about how the figures have been manipulated in terms of the CSO. It will not quote Garda figures for murders now because it cannot stand over them. How many of the figures relating to people who commit offences are genuine? If somebody is arrested for a particular...

Road Traffic Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2016)

Thomas Pringle: ...back before the courts for any driving offence. That is very important. We need to look also at the greater context and consider the fact that there has been a reduction in the number of gardaí in the traffic corps. The number posted to it dropped by 5% in the 18 months to May this year. There were 711 officers assigned to it in May compared to 749 at the end of 2014. The RSA...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2001 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2011)

Thomas Pringle: ...we had to be forced to do so by the courts. Such a section should not have been allowed into the legislation at all. This very broad provision meant that any non-Irish national, or anyone whom a Garda or immigration officer believed to be a non-Irish national, had to produce appropriate identification on demand, without any explanation, or face possible prosecution. The number of...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2023)

Thomas Pringle: ...in the context of all the controversies of recent years. In the Donegal case, the political system was in a rush to ensure that it was seen as only affecting Donegal. In other words, that gardaí in Donegal were going mad and that Donegal was the only place where it was happening. Even though we knew it was going on all over the country, the political system wanted to ensure that...

Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2013)

Thomas Pringle: ...that DNA profiles cannot be wrongly used. The legislation provides for a mass screening to be initiated but I can foresee problems arising as a result. In order to initiate a mass screening, gardaí should be obliged to obtain court approval. That would be important in terms of oversight. If such a mass screening is envisaged, gardaí should present their reasons when...