Results 4,661-4,680 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Criminal Law Review (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the vicious and horrific attack in Waterford City on 25 April where the perpetrators of a serious crime used a corrosive substance to attack three young victims. Garda investigations into this assault are continuing and I do not want to say anything in this House that might pre-empt that investigation in any way. I urge anyone with information to contact...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Criminal Law Review (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that I would be happy to explore all avenues. I have been in direct contact with the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, who has responsibility for chemicals legislation and officials from my Department have been in touch with the Department of Health which has primary responsibility for poisons legislation. The Deputy mentioned a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his question. In short, the Government has been liaising with An Garda Síochána, the banks and the construction industry in order to ensure that we have a concerted effort in response to this unacceptable pattern of events. As the Deputy will be aware, investigations into several ATM robberies are ongoing both here and in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, very significant capital investment is being made in An Garda Síochána, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021; and investment of €46 million in the Garda Fleet over the same period. Considerable investment is also being made in the Garda estate, to address its deficiencies and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Combatting Cyberbullying (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, I recently obtained approval to formally draft amendments to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, a Private Member's Bill sponsored by Deputy Brendan Howlin. I intend to bring forward a number of Government amendments to strengthen the provisions of the Bill and to ensure that it will be as effective as possible. I have worked...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Privacy (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 20 together. I assume the Deputy is referring to allegations which were contained in an affidavit made in court proceedings by a prison officer of the Irish Prison Service. These allegations are the subject of an investigation carried out by the Inspector of Prisons on my behalf. The affidavit, brought in connection with a proposed temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Let me say at the outset that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has a hugely important role to play in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded and as such, it has extensive powers under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This Government has always been committed to ensuring that GSOC has the necessary supports and resources in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I recognise the concerns raised in the Deputy’s question with regard to Gardaí investigating other Gardaí. I know that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission have raised this matter on a number of occasions including more recently. The House will be aware that last year I secured sanction to increase the number of staff of GSOC by 42 full time equivalents....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: On 20thNovember 2018 the Government approved a new national survey on the prevalence of sexual violence in Ireland. Following this, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Central Statistics Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 10thJanuary 2019 regarding the undertaking of the survey. The CSO have now begun the work on the large scale survey, called the Sexual Violence Survey...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Co-operation (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There are few who would argue that Ireland's membership of the European Union has not been of enormous benefit to Ireland's citizens, both economically and in terms of the progressive social development of this State. The freedoms enjoyed by EU citizens and the real and genuine protections afforded to their fundamental rights are the envy of many throughout the world. This commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Corruption (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I have regular meetings and discussions with Commissioner Harris in which he updates me on a wide range of matters. However I’m sure the House will appreciate that it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the control and direction of An Garda Síochána. I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters. The House would be rightly critical of me if I sought to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy is aware that Ireland signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) but has yet to ratify this instrument. Ireland has of course already signed and ratified the Convention itself. The Protocol is preventive in nature. It provides for the establishment of National Preventive Mechanisms which would inspect facilities where persons can be held...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that investing in the capacity of An Garda Síochána to tackle criminals and enforce the law effectively is a key objective of the Government's response to tackling crime. The Government has dedicated very significant resources to support An Garda Síochána in tackling the activities of criminal gangs, including mobile criminal gangs, that seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Data (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the number of recorded assaults on staff, by prison, from 2016 to 2018 are as outlined in the following table. Figures for 2019 are not yet available. Table 1. Prisoner on Staff assaults Prison/Place of Detention 2016 2017 2018 Arbour Hill 0 0 0 Castlerea 1 13 12 Cloverhill 21 8 11 Cork 3 9 15 Dóchas Centre 26 14 8...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Conventions (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy may recall that I recently outlined the position in relation to ratification of this Convention. At that time I updated the House on the significant progress made in the ratification process within the term of this Administration, particularly through the introduction of legislation to give effect to the key criminal law provisions of the Convention. As I outlined to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Witness Protection Programme (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As outlined in my response to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 30 January 2019 and my response to correspondence from her on this matter, the security of persons who may be or who may have been witnesses in the criminal process is a matter for An Garda Síochána. However, I can assure the Deputy that when An Garda Síochána becomes aware of a potential...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Regulations (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to advise the Deputy that in accordance with the Prison Rules, all prisoners are entitled to receive by prior appointment not less than one visit from relatives or friends each week of not less than 30 minutes duration. All prisoners in custody have a visitor panel and phone contact panel. It is up to each prisoner to identify the persons that they place on each panel. At this moment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts including the provision of accommodation for court sittings is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and have been advised by the Courts Service that Navan...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Policing Plans (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised that An Garda Síochána engages extensively with transport operators and that a range of regional and local operations have been put in place to address incidents and issues that have arisen at specific locations. There is ongoing communication between An Garda Síochána and the respective control centres, and access to good quality CCTV can assist the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Inquiries (16 May 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the House passed a motion last summer calling for the establishment of a public inquiry into the circumstances of the tragic death of Shane O'Farrell. While wishing to respond appropriately to the motion, I was conscious that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was investigating certain matters arising from the incident at the time. At...