Results 341-360 of 987 for garda speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is not a case of hand-picking appointments and promotions. There will be a Garda board in place. One will see many organisations in the public and private sector with a CEO and a board. The CEO does not get to hand-pick key staff. That has to go through a board and there has to a proper recruitment procedure where people can apply for jobs.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: One development we want to see, of which I know the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, is in favour, is more people coming in from the outside. We have a division in the Garda between sworn gardaí and Garda civilian staff. We want to put that together into a single organisation. We want to have in Garda top brass and senior management a mix of people, some who are sworn policemen and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Howlin and acknowledge his long-standing interest in reform of An Garda Síochána. I also acknowledge the work he did in driving that forward in the previous Government. We had a chance at Cabinet this morning to discuss the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. That was chaired, as Deputy Howlin knows, by Ms Kathleen O'Toole. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has criticised the Garda. He has criticised the High Court for making the order, having heard the case.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...centre, which the Deputy mentioned. Funding has also been provided for Tipperary town football club and other sporting clubs in the area. There has been an increase in the strength of the Tipperary Garda division by more than 40 in the last couple of years. I think it is fair to say that Government has been engaged at least in certain aspects of what is needed in Tipperary town. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputy McLoughlin will know, there has been an increase in Garda numbers in recent years. An additional 199 new members have joined An Garda Síochána in recent weeks, bringing the number in 2018 to 800. This means that the Garda force now stands at a figure above 14,000 for the first time since 2012.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I can assure the Deputy that there are Garda checkpoints all over the country. I passed through one on the south quays just outside the Guinness brewery the other day. If there is anywhere where a checkpoint could cause a tailback, it is on such a busy road, yet there are checkpoints in those areas too for very good reasons. Neither I nor the Ministers, Deputies Flanagan and Ross, order...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...different amounts went to different counties. I have no doubt that there will be further calls for funding in the future. I am glad to hear that there has been an increase in the number of Garda checkpoints and that the Deputy has noticed them throughout the country. We should not forget why they are needed. It is to check for people who might have consumed alcohol or drugs who...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Communications (14 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...but good communication can help to provide a good service and make sure people know where to find it. Different identities will continue to exist. Nobody is suggesting for a second that the Garda Síochána will cease to be the Garda Síochána. We know from Deputy Burton's leadership in reforming the Department of Social Protection, the Intreo brand is one that is quite...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy has rightly stated, these allegations are very serious and are being investigated by the Garda. It is important that we allow the Garda to carry out its investigations and that we support it in its work in this area. I have not seen these reports, but I appreciate that we must always have regard to the risk that the publication of any report could prejudice an investigation...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...the correct analysis first. The Minister for Justice and Equality met Sergeant McCabe and his wife to apologise in person on behalf of the State for the manner in which he was treated. The new Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, has done the same. In accordance with section 48 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Minister, on the recommendation of the then Garda...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...to acknowledge Maurice McCabe, the enormous service he has done to this country and his honesty and decency. As I said in the past, I believe he is and was a distinguished member of the Garda and a good example of the kind of person we want to have in our police force. When it comes to what we do next, I believe the most important thing is that we do right by Maurice McCabe and his...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...remember exactly where they all fall. This one comes under the assistant Secretary General Elizabeth Canavan. She is overseeing reforms at the Department of Justice and Equality, as well as the Garda and Sláintecare reforms. They are mainly led by the line Departments, but it is the role of my Department and Cabinet subcommittees to oversee them. On recruitment in the public...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...my view that he has done enormous service to the State and to wish him and Lorraine the best into the future. The Government's response to the Charleton report has to be about Tusla and about Garda reform. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, is very much leading up our whole programme of Garda reform. A new Garda Commissioner is in place. He will be enabled to bring in a new management...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was not referring to the Deputy. I believe the comments in question should now be withdrawn from the record of the House. While the former Garda Commissioner, Nóirín O'Sullivan, did not do everything right, the tribunal has clearly found that she was not part of such a conspiracy. I believe that allegation should be withdrawn and the record should be corrected.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The central charge that was made against Deputy Fitzgerald - that she was aware of the alleged legal strategy of the former Garda Commissioner and that she failed to act on it - was also false. Mr. Justice Charleton has found in his report that Deputy Fitzgerald's response to that information was considered, appropriate and correct. He has found very much in her favour in that regard. He...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Community Development Initiatives (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...range of projects and services. One of the major aims of the initiative is to ensure the area is safe for families, residents and the people who work there. Since the start of this year, 51 new gardaí have been assigned to the area to provide reassurance to residents. A Garda community support vehicle, which is expected to be a major asset for the community and for community...

Financial Resolutions 2019 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (10 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...for childcare for their young children and we want to encourage more parents back into the workplace. The base income threshold is being raised to €26,000 in net terms and the maximum income threshold will now be €60,000. We are increasing the multiple child deduction to €4,300. This means many more middle income families will become eligible for the affordable...

Ceisteanna (Atógáíl) - Questions (Resumed): Gender Equality (3 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...reporting which would not have been in place ten years ago. There were many issues in that regard. For example, would the person carrying out the survey then have an obligation to make a report to the Garda and so on? Matters about which many people and I did not think have become issues, given that so much has changed in ten years. However, we intend to do it with the involvement of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...in peacekeeping overseas, acting on behalf of the State during emergencies at home, for example, natural disasters that happened last year, or providing aid to the civil power and support for the Garda when needed. We are now investing again in our Defence Forces. In contrast to what the Deputy has said, the budget for our Defence Forces increased by €25 million this year and we...