Results 1-20 of 3,794 for speaker:Mark Ward

Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (26 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: Badly.

Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (26 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: There is a need for robust legislation to tackle terrorism and terrorist activity. I know everybody can agree on this. This is needed, particularly given the current global climate. However, the vagueness in this Bill is more likely to lead to abuse by the Government to stamp out political protest, political activism and free speech. I listened to the Minister’s speech....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: No more so than you.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (26 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 281. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any proposals to purchase a facility (details supplied) for use as IPAS accommodation; the number that may be accommodated if the complex is purchased; and if he plans to engage with the local community about future plans for this facility. [35004/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Budgets (26 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 295. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated overall cost to roll out the three broad thematic objectives and actions to be pursued under the youth justice strategy nationwide, as recommended under the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35180/25]

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (25 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I speak in support of both amendments tabled by Deputy Carthy and Sinn Féin. It is clear the Government has been dragging its feet on the Offences Against the State Act. In 2020, Sinn Féin called for a review of this Act. A review was put in place later that year and we called for an end to the Act. Every year there is an extension of this emergency legislation and, based on the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: School Transport (25 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will expand on his closing comments on Wednesday’s private members motion on public transport experience regarding over 70’s school bus drivers; the steps he is taking to review this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34981/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Civil Service (25 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 70. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the procedures in place to ensure disability liaison officers are adequately trained and held responsible for ensuring that no barriers exist that are preventing autistic individuals in the civil service from receiving reasonable accommodation in their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34861/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (25 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 189. To ask the Minister for Health to provide details on the services currently provided for adult patients with epilepsy at a hospital (details supplied); the number and grade of staff currently attached to this service at this site; the number of current staff vacancies within this service; the number of epilepsy patients currently registered with this service; the number of patients...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (25 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 190. To ask the Minister for Health to provide details on the services currently provided for paediatric patients with epilepsy at a hospital (details supplied); the number and grade of staff currently attached to this service at this site; the number of current staff vacancies within this service; the number of epilepsy patients currently registered with this service; the number of patients...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: 14. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [32436/25]

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. On the programme for Government, and the target the Government has of 5,000 new Garda recruits over the next five years, how confident is the Minister of hitting this target?

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: The Minister has mentioned figures today. His target was 800 to 1,000 recruits per year but he will not hit that target this year based on the figures he has given.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: So far there are 370, with two more intakes with approximately 200 per intake. That would bring it to 770, which is substantially lower than the 1,000 per year needed to get to the 5,000, unless the Government's lifetime is longer than five years.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: How will the Minister get to this? I was listening to the figure of 6,700 that was mentioned. This is an awful lot of people who are interested in becoming gardaí.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: Last week I raised with the GRA the concern that a number of these people could lose interest because they might have found new careers in the meantime.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: What is the Minister doing to speed this up?

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: Based on the average, how many of the 200 in the next intake will pass?

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Mark Ward: Let me go back to what I said originally. It is lovely when running for election and just after that to say we will have 5,000 new gardaí on the ground, but I have a concern about this. Everything going well, with all entrants passing, the number will be lower than 4,000.