Results 6,941-6,960 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: Question 54: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position with regard to plans to construct a new prison at Thornton, County Dublin; if the Irish Prison Service has taken possession of the site; the total estimated cost of the project; when construction will begin; if he will report on the circumstances leading up to the decision to select this site; when the project...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases of murder in which firearms were used in respect of each year from 1998 and to date in 2005; the number of such cases in which prosecutions for murder were initiated; the number of such cases in which convictions were secured; if he is satisfied with the level of detection and conviction in such cases;...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: Deputy Ó Snodaigh has covered a broad spectrum of issues. His amendment No. 42 proposes that "the appointment of a Deputy Garda Commissioner and Assistant Garda Commissioner will be merit-based, and subject to a transparent public recruitment process" and that "the appointment of a Deputy Garda Commissioner and Assistant Garda Commissioner will be subject to ratification by Bord an Gharda...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: That committee may or may not perform an inspection. We tried to get the Minister to insert an amendment to empower that committee with an oversight role but he refused to take it on board. Why should that committee not have a role? It may or may not perform a role.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: Yes, if he is so requested. The legislation does not make it compulsory for the Garda Commissioner to appear. It puts no requirement on him to attend. We would expect the Commissioner to attend if and when requested, but the legislation does not give a specific role to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights in terms of an oversight function regarding...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: A security committee does not exist though it might at some future time. Let us not talk of possibilities that may never be realised. In terms of oversight, I would love to see a specific role for the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. That would be helpful. However, there is no substitute for a structure or mechanism to monitor all the activities...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: I am about to conclude. The gardaí do not appear to be able to deal with the weapons issue. The other side of the problem is drugs. The drugs problem has expanded across the country. There are many issues and community policing is a positive way of dealing with some of them. However, other areas of concern require a more structured response than is provided in this legislation. While we...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: What about the Morris tribunal? The Minister does not know what is going on in the Garda.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: We will never beat the Department.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: We know the Minister wants to run the show.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: We would not expect otherwise.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: On a point of order, will the Minister accept that what Mr. Justice Morris said in his first report——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: The Minister has given way.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: Will he not accept that what Mr. Justice Morris said was that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is now utterly isolated from Garda headquarters——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: ——and that the Minister is obliged to take everything on trust?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: Mr. Justice Morris said the absence——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: Mr. Justice Morris went on to say——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: I ask the Minister to listen for a moment. Mr. Justice Morris went on to say that it was because of the absence of structures——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: That is wonderful. We can expect that all trials in the near future will not have that element where there is no technical back-up for statements that appear as part of the evidence and we will have the tape recording presented to court as support for any statements made. We discussed having a root and branch examination of the Garda Síochána, and we must have such an examination of how it...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Joe Costello: Can I make a point before the amendment is withdrawn?