Results 281-300 of 548 for garda speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Theft (10 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...Equality the number of firearms recovered from crimes which were identified as having been stolen from licensed firearms owners, other than firearms stolen from firearms dealers or members of the Garda or Defence Forces, in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24700/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (10 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 453. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she or the Garda Commissioner have commissioned an independent risk assessment in accordance with accepted best internationally recognised standards to determine the actual risk associated with lawful firearms ownership having regard to the legal requirements that apply to firearms licence applicants in this jurisdiction; if no such risk...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (10 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 454. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will meet representatives of various sports shooting associations regarding the maladministration of the firearms licensing laws by the Garda Síochána and whose arguments have been supported by almost 600 court judgements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24702/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (10 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 455. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality having regard to the widespread disquiet among sports shooting organisations at the manner in which the Garda has administered the firearms licensing code over the past four years, the enormous number of court judgements against the Garda arising from their members' complaints and the importance of the integrity of the firearms licensing code...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Investigation (4 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...we be assured it will be dealt with? When will the new technology be put in place? With regard to modern anti-encryption software, we know the technology deployed by the very important unit of An Garda Síochána is not up to spec in dealing with the issue. It is antiquated. When will the new equipment be in place? How many new personnel resources will be required? Will there...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Investigation (4 Jun 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My Topical Issue matter follows a second report in The Sunday Timesnewspaper about the challenges faced by the computer crime investigation unit of An Garda Síochána. The challenges, in terms of resources and the apparent poor level of modern technology to keep up with changes, has led to a significant backlog. It is reported that there is a backlog of 1,000 cases. I hope the...

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...was not included in the programme for Government because it was not considered important enough. As the various scandals emerged, something rotten in the culture among senior managers in the Garda and in the Department of Justice and Equality and the former Minister for Justice and Equality was revealed and, with that, a glaring need for change. I commend Deputy Wallace for tabling the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Guerin Report: Department of Justice and Equality (28 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...of the Department's role in advance of a commission of investigation is consistent with his other arguments that he cannot comment on the matters to do with the resignation or retirement of the Garda Commissioner, or the correspondence issues he will not deal with, because he does not want to prejudice the Fennelly commission? How is it consistent to hold these two positions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Guerin Report: Department of Justice and Equality (28 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Does Mr. Purcell consider the fact that a Garda Commissioner and a Minister for Justice and Equality have resigned within a few months of each other to be extraordinary and of public interest?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Guerin Report: Department of Justice and Equality (28 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Does Mr. Purcell think his knowledge of all the facts which led to the resignation of the Garda Commissioners is of public interest?

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I have a few other questions for the acting Garda Commissioner. In regard to all of the recent debacles and, in some cases, scandals that have emerged, what are the learning curves for senior management in An Garda Síochána in terms of dealing with whistleblowers and serious allegations? I am sure the acting Garda Commissioner has had an opportunity to read the Guerin report, the...

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The acting Garda Commissioner will be aware that there is a legal responsibility on senior Garda management to protect whistleblowers. It is reported again today in the media that Sergeant Maurice McCabe is very isolated, unable to attend work and has made repeated complaints about how he is being treated. I spoke to him today on the basis of the article in today's Irish Independent. I am...

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Can the acting Garda Commissioner personally take responsibility for dealing with this issue?

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It made a lot of sense to me that at our previous hearings GSOC suggested that the more minor complaints from the public or from members of An Garda Síochána should be dealt with in an informal resolution process. I note that Ms O'Loan's detailed submission also includes that recommendation. I am interested to hear the views of Ms O'Loan and of the acting Garda Commissioner.

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...Human Rights and Equality Commission, Amnesty International, Transparency International Ireland and other contributors raised the issue of security oversight. Unlike in the North of Ireland, An Garda Síochána has responsibility for intelligence, security and policing all under the one roof. The contributors last week made the suggestion that we need more scrutiny similar to...

Guerin Report: Statements (15 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...so far in response to some of these crises, I will detail, with the Minister present, what has gone wrong. The Morris tribunal in my home county, Donegal, revealed an appalling abuse of power by the Garda Síochána at every level throughout the county that shocked people throughout the State. It was not isolated and is not unique to Ireland but happens in police forces...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It might be useful if the Garda Inspectorate, and possibly GSOC, could make a submission to this process around the international practice. Why should the two organisations continue to exist? How can they complement each other's work? In fairness, Mr. Olson goes some way in that direction in his submission but with the contribution of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, it would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...and the comments at the conference of the GRA, which has not made a submission but hopefully will at some stage, I heard about a charter of fairness in terms of the rights of members of the Garda Síochána. The other issues raised were that these investigations can be expensive and the money is taken from the Garda budget rather than the GSOC budget. These are reasonable points....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I did not explain it properly. At the GRA conference, the GRA called for a charter of fairness, which brings clarity to the rights of members of the Garda Síochána. That is entirely reasonable. Any citizen under investigation, whether in the private or public sector, has a right to due process and to defend himself. This has been missing from the debate. There is agreement that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Mr. Olson is the chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate. In its earlier presentation, the ICCL said it does not see a future role for the Garda Inspectorate. It also acknowledged the outstanding CVs of the chief inspector and his two assistant chief inspectors in terms of policing. The jury is out on this matter. The case of the ICCL is that because there will be a new policing...