Results 6,121-6,140 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Deployment (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the manner in which the resources of the Garda Síochána are deployed is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team. I, as Minister, have no direct role in the process. I can, however, assure Deputy Thomas Byrne that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Conventions (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not wish to offer reasons or excuses to the House about the timescale involved, but I acknowledge there has not been the type of progress which many of us desired. Some of the delay arose from developments at EU level such as the 2005 EU framework decision on a tax on information systems, which was in the process of being implemented through well-advanced draft national legislation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: It is incumbent on us to allow the independent body, GSOC, proceed and carry out its investigations in accordance with its terms of reference.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I have every confidence in GSOC and in its work headed up by an eminent judge of the High Court. I am keen to ensure that appropriate resources are made available. I am pleased to report progress in recent times, which I am sure, having reflected on the matter, will be agreed with by the Deputy. I am not, however, going to comment in any manner or means on a case currently before the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Conventions (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will recall that I recently outlined the position on the ratification of these two important Council of Europe conventions when he raised the matter on 16 January. 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Conventions (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I would like to be in a position to report progress on both of these conventions. I acknowledge there has been a delay in bringing matters towards a finality. However, much progress has been made in the context of legislation that has been enacted in recent times such as the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017 and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Protected Disclosures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner. The issues to which the Deputy referred are, as operational ones, exclusively the prerogative of the Commissioner. My Department's most up-to-date figures for protected disclosures from the Garda made under the Act since its introduction are as follows: 16 to the Garda Commissioner up to last December; 25 to GSOC up to December 2017; and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Protected Disclosures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not have anything to say on matters relating to the media. Deputy Wallace probably knows as much about that as I do, or perhaps more. However, the policy on the part of the Garda is to ensure that there is due process and that workers, whether sworn or unsworn, in the Garda can be assured that they will be protected from any form of penalisation or threat in respect of a disclosure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the concerns of Deputy Wallace and others in that regard. It is essential that we ensure that the independent complaints body, GSOC, is properly and adequately funded. Resources and funding are the matter of ongoing review. I acknowledge the provision of an extra allocation of funds. GSOC has authority to appoint its own officers under delegated sanction. Sanction was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: On the latter point, I am in agreement with Deputy Wallace. I would be keen to ensure that the question of resourcing on the one hand and the question of legislative update on the other are kept under review at all times. I acknowledge the Deputy's concerns in this regard. Protection for whistleblowers rightly prioritises the privacy and confidentiality of the process, which is central to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Complaints Procedures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for the question. While the inquiries were formally established on 15 May 2017, in practice, it took some time to get them equipped to be fully operational. A retired judge was appointed to conduct each of these inquiries and the orders establishing the inquiries prescribe that on conclusion of each one, a report will be submitted to me. Two of these inquiries have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Complaints Procedures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not intend to change the terms of reference of the inquiries but I have listened carefully to what the Deputy has said. In each case, the terms of reference were set by the Attorney General. They were also the subject of consultation with the Policing Authority of Ireland. It is clear from what the Deputy said that one of the individuals involved appears to have a concern, which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Complaints Procedures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy has made very serious allegations in respect of the conduct of this inquiry.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Complaints Procedures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not believe it would be appropriate to intervene in these ongoing inquiries, of which there are five. Three have been concluded. An extension of time has been sought in respect of two of them. I am very anxious that all inquiries be completed as expeditiously as possible. Each inquiry, including the one referred to by the Deputy, must be conducted in line with the terms of reference...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Complaints Procedures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The families are in a position to make representations directly to the judge. Their legal advisers are in a position to advise as to the law and to liaise directly with the judge on a regular basis. I listened carefully to what the Deputy said but I am not going to intervene in what is an independent statutory inquiry. I believe there are remedies available in the event of the type of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Protected Disclosures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Under the 2014 Act referred to by the Deputy, members of An Garda Síochána may communicate their concerns to the Garda Commissioner, as their employer if they so choose, or make a disclosure to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, which is statutorily independent in the conduct of its investigations. The legislation also allows that an individual employed by a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Partnership Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge what the Leas-Cheann Comhairle stated and I will of course comply. I wish to address the issues raised by Deputy O'Callaghan in a general manner . As he is aware, the provisions of Part IV of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 do not prohibit one spouse from testifying against the other but provide that a spouse is competent to give evidence except where both spouses are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Partnership Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I mentioned the view of the Attorney General in 2010. I have no evidence to suggest it has in any way changed. I also acknowledge the importance of the role played by the Law Reform Commission insofar as it was quite clear in its not recommending any change to the existing position, whereby cohabitants do not come within either the ambit of the Evidence Amendment Act 1853 or the later...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Partnership Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I note the comments of the President of the Court of Appeal in the context of the judgment. I will not say anything further about it. Referring back to previous debates, it is clear that while there is a need to respect the entitlement to the equality that civil partners enjoy under Article 41 of the Constitution in particular, this must be balanced against the need to respect the special...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: This is a short but nevertheless important Bill that we dealt with by way of Second Stage prior to Christmas. It is the final piece in the patchwork that will enable this country to sign the provisions of the Council of Europe convention on the prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention. The definition of "convention state" is...