Results 201-220 of 234 for garda speaker:Thomas Pringle

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion [Private Members] (18 Feb 2014)

Thomas Pringle: ...the whole controversy and scandal that has been raging for the past nine days. The Taoiseach stated in the public domain on Monday, and again on Tuesday, that GSOC had an obligation under the Garda Síochána Act to report to the Minister and that it did not do so. That was clearly not true. The Minister said last Tuesday that he had taken the opportunity to underscore the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Pringle: ...surveillance on GSOC, who would have the means to do that and then take that direction in the investigation? Would it be reasonable to suggest that this would lead the witness to believe that An Garda Síochána would be an organisation that would have the means and the motive to carry out surveillance on GSOC?

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Thomas Pringle: ...to cast doubt in the public mind on the issue. Again today during Leaders' Questions the Taoiseach repeated his assertion. Surely someone in his Department has read the relevant section of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 at this stage and corrected him? Section 85 of the Act clearly states that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission "may make" any other reports that it...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Issues (8 Oct 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 440. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the downgrading of Donegal town Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41998/13]

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Pringle: ...their status. If the possibility had been there to submit freedom of information requests on behalf of these people, it might have speeded up the entire process. I also welcome the inclusion of the Garda Síochána under the remit of these provisions. Again, however, the question arises as to why that remit is limited to the force's administrative records. There are already...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (25 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 144. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána has access to drones for surveillance and intelligence gathering here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39866/13]

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I commend Deputy Wallace and his staff for their work in preparing the legislation we are debating tonight – The Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill. It is a worthwhile and timely legislation. I have been listening to the debate over the past two nights and it has been interesting how many Deputies have prefaced their remarks by stating how many good gardaí there are and...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: The legislation is about accountability and proving accountability. We have heard how the Garda Síochána Act came about as a result of the Morris tribunal and investigations that were carried out by Mr. Justice Morris in my county of Donegal. The interesting point about the tribunal is how the subsequent narrative confined the problem to Donegal. The view was that it was only in...

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)...

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

Thomas Pringle: ...certain convictions will be precluded from obtaining a public service vehicle licence. The Bill also introduces a demerit or penalty points system and transfers the licensing authority from the Garda Carriage Office to the National Transport Authority. It also makes provision for service agreements for the enforcement of the regulations. Before I discuss the provisions in the...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 May 2013)

Thomas Pringle: ...a new section 7A into the 1993 Act so as to put in place arrangements for the collection of on-the-spot fines which are provided for in section 3 of the Bill. The proposed new section 7A provides that a garda may issue a fixed payment notice to a first-time offender. This requires the offender to pay a fine of €500 within 21 days. In respect of first-time offenders, a prosecution...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burger Content Investigations: Discussion (5 Feb 2013)

Thomas Pringle: ...one of the lessons to come out of this that the auditing process needs to be looked at and revamped? Why does the Minister now feel it necessary to involve the special investigations unit and the Garda? What has changed in the past few days to make him think he needs to involve them in the investigation?

An Garda Síochána: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Jan 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I would like to offer my condolences to the family of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was tragically and savagely murdered outside Dundalk last Friday evening. I am totally opposed to the Government amendment to this motion as it stands. The issue in this debate is confidence. It concerns the confidence the public can have in the role the Garda plays in our local communities....

Topical Issue Debate: Burglaries in County Donegal (17 Jan 2013)

Thomas Pringle: ...over the past year and over the same period that Operation Fiacla has been running. The Minister needs to address this issue straight away in Donegal and provide the resources necessary for the gardaí to deal with this issue. He talks about the new investment in the Garda fleet. These are not new vehicles. They are replacement vehicles, replacing fewer vehicles than have been...

Topical Issue Debate: Burglaries in County Donegal (17 Jan 2013)

Thomas Pringle: ...in the county in recent weeks and months. While there may be a Cabinet meeting ongoing, the Minister for Justice and Equality does not have any role in terms of job creation. In fact, with Garda numbers declining, it is probably unemployment creation that is his role. It has been clear for some time that there is a major issue with burglaries targeting the elderly in Donegal. The...

Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2012)

Thomas Pringle: The Garda Review recently described these changes as a victory for criminals. The closure of rural Garda stations means members of the Garda Síochána are not in contact with the local community. They must travel over 50 miles to emergency callouts, which is hardly progress in terms of policing. Since 2008, the number of gardaí has reduced by 1,000 and staffing levels in 108...

Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2012)

Thomas Pringle: Statistics published in recent days show a low number of gardaí in many rural Garda stations. No doubt the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice and Equality will use this to justify the closure of Garda stations throughout rural Ireland as part of the review of the Garda Síochána's capacity to operate with reduced resources. Almost a third of all Garda stations are staffed...

Addiction Services: Motion [Private Members] (2 Oct 2012)

Thomas Pringle: ...and alcohol addiction in this country and it must be dealt with as comprehensively as possible. In the case of alcohol related crime, 97% of public order offences are due to alcohol, according to the Garda PULSE system, while in over 50% of murders committed in this country the perpetrators had consumed alcohol. For 76% of rape defendants, alcohol was a factor in the rape. One can see...