Results 281-300 of 1,027,127 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Holly Cairns) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 19. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the strength and deployment of An Garda Síochána continues to be sufficient to deal with drug and organised crime in line with population increases and the need to ensure adequate policing in areas currently appearing to have a deficiency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26461/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Bernard Durkan: This question seeks to focus on the manner in which criminal gangs associated with drug racketeering manage to work their way into new estates, of which there are many in the eastern region. All that is required is to bypass the vetting system, get in there, get a distributor in there and very soon the whole area is polluted with the nuisance.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I assure the Deputy of my commitment and that of the Garda to dealing with all forms of drug dealing, be it individuals in the estates he mentioned or the larger organised crime groups. Of course, to deal with this on a national level, the Garda needs to make sure it does what it can, working with international partners. It also needs the resources to try and stop these loads coming into...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for her reply. I am drawing attention to the fact that vetting is supposed to take place in local authority housing estates and approved housing bodies. That does not seem to be effective because all that seems to happen is that people get through the system with impunity and as the result of that, they set up a whole network. Very soon the whole estate and surrounding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: A form of vetting takes place where people are being placed in particular types of local authority housing. Beyond that, anybody can move into an area and this problem can arise. It is really important that the Garda is alerted to any issues that arise within the community. If people within the community have suspicions or indeed have evidence to show that drug dealing is taking place and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Bernard Durkan: In her reply, the Minister has described exactly the kind of thing that is happening. It is not just restricted to local authority estates. When a complaint is made by a resident, the response from the housing body, for instance, is not always great. Let us not forget that criminal gangs and the criminal world have sufficient resources at their disposal to buy a house or an apartment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I would like to follow up on what Deputy Durkan has spoken about. Obviously, drug dealing happens from privately rented and privately owned houses, and houses that are owned by approved housing bodies. There is a particular issue with local authority housing owing to the lack of power the council may have to deal with this. Every two-bit drug dealer has seen "The Wire". They are not as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I say this from experience. In our own constituencies, we have all come across situations of families with children involved and there are different scenarios. It is therefore not as straightforward as moving people out of communities. However, where somebody is creating that level of fear and intimidation within an estate or a community, it is really important that the Garda responds and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (20 Jun 2024)

Paul Donnelly: I appreciate the Minister's answer but we need those gardaí now. I met the superintendent recently and we had good discussions. I am hopeful that in the future there will be a refocus on community gardaí and getting gardaí back on the ground talking to young people, engaging with communities and residents' associations, which we have not had for a good number of years. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I too commend the gardaí in the Deputy's area. I met them and appreciate, like in a lot of areas, that they are under pressure. They are doing everything they can in the interim, as we focus on getting more gardaí. There has been significant investment in resources to support gardaí in their work, whether that is more vehicles, more technology or ways to reduce the workload...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (20 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I will take Question No. 8, from Deputy Aindrias Moynihan, and then, regardless of who comes in, I will go straight to Deputy Durkan.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

Traffic Fines

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

Aindrias Moynihan: 8. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of unpaid court-imposed fines in 2023; the percentage and monetary value of these that were imposed for traffic offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26497/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

Aindrias Moynihan: Will the Minister comment on figures for unpaid court-imposed fines and the efforts to collect those fines? I understand from different people that there are people who wish they would go away or make efforts to delay them and do not pay them in the possibility that they would be written off. I wish to get an understanding from the Minister on the numbers and the efforts to collect those funds.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue around the amount of unpaid court-imposed fines in 2023. It is important to note that the principal penalty applied under the Road Traffic Act is a Garda fixed charge notice, FCN, combined with the imposition of penalty points. These measures provide an effective and appropriate enforcement response aimed at encouraging responsible driver behaviour...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

Aindrias Moynihan: I thank the Minister of State. This issue has been raised with me by a number of people, including representatives of disability groups and mothers with buggies who find, for example, a car parked, blocking the path or blocking a disabled parking space. This is pretty much sticking the finger up to the public. People will take whatever space they want. Even if a ticket is issued, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: The outstanding amount was the amount at the time the figure was obtained. In that, there are people who were fined recently, with an expectation that they will pay. Fines are generally imposed in the District Court for minor offences. However, a small number of fines are also imposed in the higher courts. Once imposed, the Courts Service starts a process of communicating with the person...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

Aindrias Moynihan: The idea of somebody going to prison is a last option. We would want to make every effort to ensure that does not arise. If there are penalty fines, efforts should be made to collect those funds and impose the penalty. Going back and forth in the courts must take up a lot of time and effort for the Courts Service, clogging up other cases it wants to deal with. Is there any indication of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: The Minister has dealt with my first two points. Obviously, we need to see greater use of the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB. Locally, I have seen how it does fabulous work. It also means communities can see that action is being taken and we also need to see policing operations. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a large number of street drug dealers, and there is also the fact that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Before the Minister comes back in I will call on Deputy Durkan.