Results 2,641-2,660 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I very much agree and was very pleased that the Government was in a position to increase substantially the amount of funding available to the Commissioner for Data Protection, having regard to the points mentioned by the Deputy, the importance of the office and the acquisition of full-time headquarters and staff based in Dublin rather than the former decentralised structure. To give one...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: We have the new domestic violence regime now, particularly having regard to the ratification by Ireland of the Istanbul Convention. For example, we are midway through the national awareness campaign, which is a six-year, two-part campaign, on the second national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Funding through Cosc continues. There was the new campaign; I am not sure...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that the saving is a technical matter in respect of staff being paid from the administrative pay budget of the Department for the Department's transformation programme. It is not as if there is a sum that has not been drawn down.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: No, it is a technical issue.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There was a reduction in the number of staff in the office of promotion of migrant integration, which resulted from loss of staff on promotion. That caused a decrease in pay and has resulted in something of a saving. Some funding was not drawn down for the projects funded for the integration and employment of migrants. These projects draw down 80% of funding. My understanding is that...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There was underspending related to an ICT project that has not yet concluded. It is not possible to say precisely at this stage how much it will cost in total. These is also an issue in respect of moneys that were projected to be spent on specialist legal fees and a review of the codes of practice. The service has been tendered for and procured. It was scheduled to take place this year...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The director continues to work to ensure the appropriate and necessary level of staff resources, ensuring the completion of IT projects and systems and ensuring that the codes of practice are in place. The object of the exercise is for the decision support service to be up and running at the earliest opportunity.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The director was appointed in October 2017. Since then, much work has been undergone in respect of appropriate arrangements for the office, staff resources, expert panels and the codes of practice. It is not possible at this stage to put an exact timeframe on it but work is proceeding apace and I expect that within the course of spring and summer next year, considerable progress will have...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Over that two-year period, the director has been working with a team.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: With regard to the main objects of the legislation, it will provide assistance to people who are of limited capacity in managing their affairs. It is a replacement of the current wards of court system. There are issues to be resolved between the Departments of Justice and Equality and Health. I assure the committee, notwithstanding the fact that the legislation has been enacted for a...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Some of the provisions were commenced as far back as October 2016.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I met Dr. Catherine Day last week and she is very much aware not only of the importance of the project but of the urgency involved. I expect that she will report to me within 12 months or maybe earlier.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The management of the Garda overtime budget is a priority of Commissioner Harris. Since he has taken office, the overtime budget has been reduced by more than €11 million. This year it is running to a figure of the order of €100 million. This is a sensitive issue. It often surprises me, and sometimes disappoints me, to see so much of the debate on Garda issues focusing on...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Favourable consideration has been given to a form of multi-annual budgeting. In fact, one of the reform initiatives with regard to An Garda Síochána on which my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have engaged relates to multi-annual budgets. The best means by which to adequately plan is to ensure that budgets are secured. The Garda Commissioner and I...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: VIP visits are important to the State's conduct of its business and to our international relations. The Government is often not in immediate control of the timing or extent of such visits. In that regard, it is important that security issues are met to ensure the smooth conduct of such visits. They are not new and I have no doubt they will continue. I accept that they are the main reason...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I have an open mind. The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, who works most assiduously in this challenging area, and I are anxious to look beyond the private sector. We are now looking at State lands and premises across the public sector estate to explore the idea of the public sector playing its part in making suitable premises available, if possible. It is important that at all times we...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to speak about this legislation. I appreciate the committee making time today not only for the Supplementary Estimates, but also for this Bill. I acknowledge that this meeting falls in the middle of a busy week, and indeed, that any time is a busy time for this committee. I very much welcome this opportunity. I am joined by my senior officials: Ms...