Results 6,641-6,660 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: On the first issue of the board, I am not really sure if it is the intention of the committee to commit something to writing by way of recommendations to Government. If it is minded to do that, I would be very happy to give full and detailed consideration to such a paper. In the meantime, I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his commentary. If the committee is not in a position to furnish a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: There is a view, which has been expressed at the committee, that there is a lack of clarity or an overlap between the roles, functions and operations of the bodies as currently structured. What I say is subject to Government approval but I expect that approval very shortly. In the event the Government decides to proceed with the new framework as proposed by the commission, a programme of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I would be concerned if there is a view, and I have read reports of some people forming a view, as the Deputy said, that the proposals are in some way weakening or diluting oversight rather than developing or enhancing it. I would be concerned if people were of the view that there is a weakening of oversight because I do not see that as being the case. There is no question of any weakening...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The proposed recommendation is to the effect that the selection process for both officers and staff would be conducted with standards that apply across the public sector and, in that regard, there would be a function for such a board, namely, the Garda Commissioner under the supervision of the Garda board. I see it as being an important aspect of the recommendations for change that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I would not accept that ultimately we will have something of a soft or cosy relationship between the Garda Síochána board and the Garda Commissioner as CEO. As the chair of the Commission said at this committee a few weeks ago, there must be a level of professional tension, as is the case with all relationships between a board and a chief executive officer. That is important to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Four times.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: There are a number of Departments involved. One of the most reformist aspects of this report is the fact that the group looks at police and security from a cross-Government perspective. On the implementation group there will from time to time be Secretaries General from a wide range of Departments, namely, the Departments of Health, Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and Housing,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The objective is to ensure there is a parallel process. I envisage that there will be at least four pieces of legislation required should the Government decide to adopt the recommendations in their entirety. The important thing is to build on the current momentum. We will have the implementation group and a steering committee thereof to ensure a parallel process is fully under way across a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: My objective is to announce the full details of the implementation plan and the Government's response in respect of recommendations by the end of the year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I read those views and I listened to what the dissenting members had to say. In the first instance, I must state that all the members of the commission appended their names, signed off on the report and fully endorsed it. I am grateful to all the members for their commitment and their work. I note that two members of the board diverged somewhat on a particular recommendation concerning the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am grateful to all the commission members for the time, expertise, experience and insight that they have brought to what is an important report. I am reassured that the members to which Deputy Chambers referred endorsed the report as a whole. That is the important thing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I repeat in brief terms what I said to Deputy Wallace who asked the same question. My view is in line with the commission's which pointed to a certain lack of clarity under the current structure. What is designed here will not add further to that lack of clarity but will rather enhance governance for An Garda Síochána. That is not only the view of the Commission on the Future of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I did not use the word "great".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have already dealt in her absence with all of the issues raised by Deputy Daly. I intend to bring forward legislative proposals on the independence and greater authority of GSOC. I acknowledge that GSOC is recruiting extra staff and expertise to allow it to deal adequately with its responsibilities and obligations in law. I expect to have the programme of legislative change on foot of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: That will be done early in the new year. I meet the Policing Authority regularly and intend to meet it again between now and the Christmas vacation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: These are issues which are the subject matter of discussions between my Department and myself and the authority.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The most striking aspect of the report is the manner in which it regards policing as involving far more than justice and security. It emphasises the importance of multi-agency groups and inter-agency responsibility. There will be a role for the agencies to which the Chair referred without naming, such as the HSE, homeless services and Tusla. It is very important that national protocols be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parliamentary Questions Data (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: My Department has answered 10,895 parliamentary questions from January 2016 to 6 December 2018. This figure includes linked questions where a single comprehensive answer is provided to a number of questions on the same subject. It does not include questions which have been withdrawn, disallowed or transferred to another Department. When information is sought which is in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the High Court has jurisdiction in Wards of Court matters and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. The correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been received and is currently being addressed by my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting (12 Dec 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the National Vetting Bureau is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.  It is carried out by An Garda Síochána primarily in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 and is, as I am sure you will...