Results 7,201-7,220 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I disagree. The prohibition on Garda membership of political parties has worked well. While gardaí have their own political persuasions, membership of political parties is a different ball game. I concur with the Minister's proposal in the legislation.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Or attend a Minister's meeting?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 15: In page 15, before section 13, to insert the following new section: "13.—The Commissioner, in consultation with the Minister shall establish guidelines and structures so as to encourage members of police forces outside the jurisdiction to— (a) apply to become permanent members of the Garda Síochána .". (b) apply for secondment to the Garda Síochána.". I am...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I believe we are pushing an open door with the Minister because I heard him recently talking about what the Garda Síochána should be and how inclusive it should be, etc. Therefore, I hope he takes these remarks on board. The amendment may be too confining by mentioning only RAPID areas. There are many disadvantaged areas in my city that are not included under RAPID. While we may be a little...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: That is what the Minister has advocated, and rightly so.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: If the House wishes, we are prepared to take amendments Nos. 18, 19 and 20 together.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 18: In page 15, subsection (1), line 12, to delete "as volunteer" and substitute "to divisional panels of reserve". This amendment refers to the issue of a volunteer force. I oppose this section because elsewhere this system has been tried and has failed. The PSNI is disbanding its reserve at present.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Such people need to be qualified and experienced gardaí, not, as the Minister described them, yellow pack gardaí, which is the last thing we need. I do not think we could be in favour of the model proposed by the Minister.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: To be more accurate, the Minister mentioned the term "yellow pack gardaí". My party is not in favour of a reserve model as proposed by the Minister. People with Garda powers must be properly trained and must have the appropriate experience. It cannot be a half-way house, as the Minister proposes. He should focus his efforts on his recruitment drive of which he has spoken on many occasions....

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I am surprised that something as fundamental as the protection of human rights is not deemed sufficiently important to be the function of the Garda Síochána. The issue was raised by the Human Rights Commission. Will the Minister explain why this provision has not been included in the Bill? I ask him to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The protection of human rights should be a function of the Garda Síochána, rather than merely a consideration as is currently the case. Some time ago the Minister described advocates of human rights as part of the human rights industry. Will he expand on this comment? I hope it has nothing to do with his refusal to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I agree with Senator Walsh that the human rights of victims are often forgotten. Tilting the system in favour of criminals rather than victims is not on my agenda. While I accept that a balance must be reached on matters such as this and that human rights are covered in other sections, I tabled my amendment in the belief that the protection of human rights should be part of the functions of...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 11, subsection (4), line 30, after "rights" to insert "and ensuring fair and equal treatment and respect for all". This amendment repeats what the Minister has already stated. We expect gardaí to ensure fair and equal treatment for all. It probably goes without saying, but it must be spelt out in legislation as fundamental as this.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I agree with the Minister, but it should probably also be in this section of the Bill.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: It should be included if any consistency is to be maintained.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I hoped the Minister would accept the amendment since it was stated in another section of the Bill. However, we can return to the issue if the Minister will not accept it now.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of information, is section 8 the appropriate section in which to introduce measures for the protection of Garda members and to send a message to that effect? Mandatory sentences should be introduced for the manslaughter and murder of a garda and no remission of sentence should be allowed.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: While I accept the Chair's ruling on my amendment on this issue, the protection of members of the Garda should be addressed in some section of the Bill. Is this the appropriate section in which to provide for that protection? The message we send on Garda protection is very important in the context of plans to recruit officers. We must send a strong message that the Legislature will not accept...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: It is a sad reflection on the House that we are not prepared to provide gardaí with the protection they need. We are sending the wrong message in ruling the amendment out of order.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Norris commented on the murder of Garda McCabe. Has the Government position on Fine Gael's amendment No. 12 to the Garda Síochána Bill 2004, in which we call for——