Results 5,121-5,140 of 6,375 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (6 Mar 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I pay tribute to the staff of the key agencies who responded to the recent storm and the extraordinary circumstances in which they did so. While essential workers in those agencies, some of whom are volunteers, were required and provision was made for them, there were many people who were forced to go to work who are not essential workers. Many of them were asked by their employers, some of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank Ms Justice Ring. I would have had contact with that family and I welcome that news. I know it was a cause of frustration and concern that it has taken a considerable period of time but I welcome that news and hope the report will be with the family as soon as possible. There has been a fair bit of questioning about resourcing and the ability of GSOC to deal with its workload....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: To be clear, is it still GSOC's view that without the additional resources, particularly with regard to protected disclosures, GSOC will not be in a position to properly fulfil its key objectives?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Further to that, in relation to resources, I wish to get a sense of the level of work that is going on. In her opening statement Ms Justice Ring mentioned that approximately 2,000 complaints are received per year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: In a general sense, how many cases that are received are brought to a conclusion per annum as far as GSOC is concerned in that there is either a recommendation for a particular action or that a case is dismissed for being vexatious?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I suppose that is central to the reason I ask the question, namely, that there is a concern that the time it is taking GSOC to get through the cases is quite long. What is being said is that approximately half of the complaints that are reached - if I understand correctly that is 1,000 cases - that are received are disposed of within the year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Is it fair to say that the other half would take in excess of a year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Would it be possible to put a figure on how many cases are in hand for in excess of two years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Is it likely that there are a few dozen cases there in excess of two years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I wish to refer to the initiative that is being taken in Pearse Street. If I understand it correctly, I presume that the option always exists for the complainant to bring the case to GSOC.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I welcome that. Does Ms Justice Ring believe there is an issue of almost triaging cases, and identifying ones that are more appropriate for local resolution at a Garda district level, for example, as opposed to perhaps being more suitable for GSOC? Does she think that is a considerable issue? Would resolution of that make a considerable difference in terms of her workload?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Very well. Could Ms Justice Ring elaborate on the extent to which she thinks the work of GSOC is excessively tied up with issues that could be resolved more locally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I wish to move on to a slightly different area. Would it be possible to put a number on the GSOC staff who are members of the Garda on secondment and the number that are former gardaí. They are two separate categories of people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There has been a bit of discussion on independence. I support the point that was made that in the same way as Caesar's wife, not only does GSOC need to function independently but it needs to be seen to be independent. I agree with that. Aside from budgetary independence and having its own Accounting Officer, what constraints does Ms Justice Ring believe exist legislatively currently?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: One of the points in the legislative proposal relates to section 103A of the Garda Síochána Act, and that is in relation to the ability to secure co-operation from the Garda. Is it possible to explain the proposals to the committee?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There are instances where information is not delivered promptly or it is not complete.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Aside from budgetary matters, in which areas of work does the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission still require ministerial approval in terms of its powers and so forth?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I agree that one hopes it would never be necessary to investigate a Garda Commissioner. However, it is appropriate that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission should have full independence in the matter. While the circumstances are not the same as in the case of section 103, would access to information be improved if GSOC's ability to access the PULSE system was strengthened...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Another tool which would presumably be relevant in carrying out investigations is the ability of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to carry out unannounced inspections of Garda stations. What is the position on GSOC's ability to undertake unannounced inspections? Are there exceptions and should this power be strengthened?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There is a difference between an announced and unannounced inspection. I am specifically asking whether GSOC believes there are excessive constraints on its ability to carry out unannounced inspections of Garda stations.