Results 1-20 of 65 for garda speaker:Ossian Smyth

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising this issue. While recruitment to An Garda Síochána has faced challenges in recent times, this has been due in the main to public health restrictions in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. The effect of the restrictions has been a slower than anticipated flow of new entrants into the Garda College. ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (17 Apr 2024)

Ossian Smyth: ...to the Minister about this previously. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is committed, as is the entire Government, to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána across the country is central to this policy. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is legally responsible for the management and administration of Garda...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this issue in the House. The Deputy will appreciate of course that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation and distribution of resources. However, I can inform the Deputy it is anticipated that the Garda Reserve recruitment process will launch in the coming year. As the Deputy may...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (15 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Minister for Justice I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Deputy Ó Ríordáin will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. The allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demand...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (15 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. I understand his frustration. I am informed a new Garda building and refurbishment programme 2022 to 2027 is being developed by Garda Síochána estates in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, OPW, and officials from the Department of Justice. I further understand An Garda Síochána has had an exploratory discussion with Dublin City Council on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (17 Apr 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy asked about the status of the strategic assessment. I will ask the Minister to update her on that. It is the Minister's understanding that Garda estates management met colleagues from the OPW to discuss short-term works to accommodate the operating model within the existing station. The Minister also understands that Garda estates management is considering the accommodation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I will answer the Deputy's question about Macroom Garda station on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who cannot be here in the Chamber. Since the Garda Commissioner’s announcement of a major reorganisation of An Garda Síochána’s structures and the decision to change the new Macroom station from a district station to a regional and divisional...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The programme for Government provided for a pilot programme of station reopenings throughout the country, including Bawnboy Garda station. The OPW undertook technical surveys on the building and issued a report to Garda estate management on the works required, the indicative costs involved and a proposed layout. The deliberative process between An Garda Síochána and the OPW to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Dublin City Task Force (9 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: ..., the chief executive of An Post, has agreed to serve as independent chair of the task force. The overall membership will be a maximum of 12 people, to include the public service including An Garda Síochána, local authority representatives and the National Transport Authority, business and trade union representatives, community and service provider representatives and cultural...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cyber Security Centre Review: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The role of An Garda Síochána is clear. The members of the force carry out criminal investigations. This is another area where many crimes are now starting to occur and where it will be necessary for the Garda to operate in. My experience is that the members of the force are very skilled in this area. At least one garda is posted in the NCSC. The Garda carried out forensic...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I can confirm the NCSC is doing that in co-operation with An Garda Síochána because the gardaí are the people who see first-hand what the effect of these scams is. The scams are always changing because people are protecting themselves. It is an arms race. The criminals then change their methods. Then the NCSC and An Garda Síochána communicate to the public through...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cyber Security Centre Review: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Ossian Smyth: ...the origins of this and exactly what happened. It is being compiled by an international security company, Mandiant. That will also provide information. At the same time, an investigation by An Garda Síochána is taking place. I am limited in what I can say. An Garda Síochána knows when the network was penetrated and how it happened. Much forensic information has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: It is not just a matter for the Garda. As our lives go online, criminals go online. We spend more of our time there so it is natural that more crime happens online. That is why the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is a growing division of the Garda - as so many crimes are reported. During the pandemic, there was a huge increase in the amount of scam texts and calls with people trying to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...that we in the Oireachtas are good at creating laws, but we have to take into account that those laws have to be implemented and that every law we pass creates new requirements and burdens on the Garda. Where possible, we should remove some of the laws that are on the Statute Book. He made the point that any recruitment campaign we run should be vibrant. Such campaigns should be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Garda and the Defence Forces both have a position within the NCSC. They have staff seconded into the NCSC so there is a connection between those organisations, which is very useful. I understand the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau has doubled its numbers and now has around 140 staff. A huge amount of cybercrime goes on. As everything is moving online, because life is moving online,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: An Garda Síochána has not yet signed off on the design. The project cannot be sent for planning permission until An Garda Síochána signs off on it. The Deputy asked about the form of planning application, who will lodge it and whether we will use a traditional planning application or a fast-track process. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, to contact...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (14 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: There is close co-operation across many sections of Government regarding cyber risks and threats and the specific issue of cybercrime is under the remit of the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána. The National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, which is part of my Department, monitors, detects and responds to cyber security incidents in the State, and builds resilience in IT...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety Authority (19 Apr 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...a great deal and continues to do so. However, there is one very specific and very important issue where difficulties have arisen and where the Senator is quite right to refer to section 8. The Garda conducts investigations into road traffic collisions and produces detailed collision reports. These reports provide essential information on the causes of collisions, which in turn indicates...

Recent Cyberattack and its Impact on the Health System: Statements (18 May 2021)

Ossian Smyth: ...the recommendations for it. It has been upgraded continuously. It has to be upgraded all the time because the threat is continuously upgraded. With regard to the NCSC's relationship with the Garda, there is the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which I believe has had its number of staff doubled to 140. I can get more up-to-date numbers on that. The bureau reports to Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy has asked who the stakeholders are. The OPW has had meetings with the NDFA, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality, which is funding the project on a regular basis to progress it as part of a PPP. Other agencies are involved as well. There were long negotiations with Cork County Council regarding the shared access road. Irish Water has concerns...