Results 221-240 of 272 for garda speaker:Alan Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Alan Farrell: -----is of paramount importance to this committee. Given the length of time we have been here, the other members have asked plenty of questions. When An Garda Síochána came before the committee to discuss this issue, I was surprised by the lack of databases on gun ownership and, more specifically, bullets. I do not watch a large amount of television, but I do watch a lot of box...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Alan Farrell: ...-related question on that, which is linked to what I would deem to be the civilianisation of the application process, notwithstanding what Deputy McGrath had to say regarding the necessity for An Garda Síochána to be involved at some stage in that process. A civilian or State authority could bring the licensing process to point B or C in the process, and then allow the Garda to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Alan Farrell: ...standard practice is to privatise testing, but if the licensed firearms community was asked to provide a photograph or digital record of a certain quality and a report of a certain quality to An Garda Síochána or a civilian authority at a specific cost of approximately €200 for a new firearm licence, would it be prepared to bear the cost itself? The last thing I want to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: During the process of licensing firearms, does An Garda Síochána take a sample of a bullet fired from a weapon for comparative purposes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...eligible to receive them in the future. Noting what I suggested earlier in regard to small handgun ownership, with the exception of sporting uses, will Mr. Healy outline his view, or that of An Garda Síochána, on the continued ownership and licensing of weapons banned post-2009 which are still licensable because of prior ownerships?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...weapons. I appreciate completely that it is almost impossible for the figure to be made available. However, for the purposes of this discussion it would be helpful if we had the best estimate of An Garda Síochána. The problem in this country does not stem from licensed firearms; the problem - albeit a limited one - is with unlicensed firearms. There have been tragic...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: It must be worth saying one of the main purposes of the Bill, other than bolstering the authority of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, is to alleviate much of the uncertainty and concern in the public domain about An Garda Síochána. Unfortunately, the public perception of the force has been damaged in the past couple of years. We are familiar with the...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...note under A.5, pertaining to transport, are for 2015. Is the supplementary budget to supply vehicles in addition to those? Could the Minister provide us with a little more information on how An Garda Síochána managed to save €1.5 million in maintenance costs? That is a very significant figure.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I am pleased that the Minister referred to the arbitrary number of 13,000 gardaí. I am not aware of any study, independent or otherwise, of the optimal number. To put it bluntly, the figure of 13,000 is probably more political than for any other reason. When it is available, I would very much welcome an opportunity to debate the Garda Inspectorate's report to which the Minister...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Draft Commission of Investigation (Mr. Ronan MacLochlainn) Order 2014: Motion (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...investigation be looking into whether wrongdoing took place or is the purpose of this investigation simply to establish the facts? Is there a question of wrongdoing on the part of members of An Garda Síochána in carrying out their duties on the day?

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (1 Jul 2014)

Alan Farrell: 390. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the plans being put in place for further recruitment for An Garda Síochána in the coming years, in view of the fact that current recruitment levels will not be sufficient to keep pace with the numbers leaving the force; the projected number of recruits needed to maintain a force of more than 13,000 officers; and if she will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (1 Jul 2014)

Alan Farrell: 392. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the preparations that will be put in place to replenish the fleet of vehicles of An Garda Síochána as the fleet ages and vehicles reach their 300,000 km threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27985/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (1 Jul 2014)

Alan Farrell: 393. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and projected cost of maintaining the fleet of vehicles used by An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27986/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (1 Jul 2014)

Alan Farrell: 394. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 696 of 27 May 2014, the number of Garda personnel, Garda vehicles and Garda reserves for the DMR north district and sub-districts from 2008, broken down by station and year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27987/14]

Cooke Report: Statements (19 Jun 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...in October 2013. However, Judge Cooke found that "evidence does not support the proposition that actual surveillance ... took place and much less that it was carried out by members of the Garda Síochána." Before addressing the findings of the Cooke report, I am encouraged that we have had an independent and thorough examination into the serious allegations that GSOC had been...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the discussion on the Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2014, which has been introduced by Deputy Wallace. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, of which I am a member, is reviewing the action taken in regard to the reform and oversight of An Garda Síochána. There have been a great many mishandlings in the past...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: I thank the acting Garda Commissioner for coming before us. The only observation I can take from her submission is that the role of investigating misconduct by gardaí should be assigned to GSOC. I do not think that is a particularly shocking statement given the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Should a serving member of the Garda be seconded to GSOC or how else might we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: My last question is for Mr. Brady. As I do not have particular knowledge of the area of freedom of information in respect of An Garda Síochána, I appreciate his enlightening contribution. Why does he believe a serving member of the force, at any level, should have access to the media? In a hierarchical structure like the Garda, would it not be more appropriate to go to a senior...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...should feel free to weigh in, if he or she has something to say. I will begin with Baroness O'Loan, who mentioned there should be a provision to allow for GSOC to investigate or have access to a Garda premises. I will extend that a little by inquiring on her views as to how far that should go. In the context of GSOC's remit, is one merely talking about Garda stations and Garda...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...the course of their duties, they just happen to have it in a personal vehicle that they might be using, for example. There have been instances mentioned in recent years of serving members of An Garda Síochána using their own vehicles. I wonder whether the role of GSOC would include that. While taking on board what Baroness O'Loan said about the criminal investigation, I am...