Results 7,381-7,400 of 11,842 for speaker:Niall Collins

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: What about the issue of resources?

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: I find the Minister's response amazing. He has said there is no evidence that there was an issue with Garda resources. Why then were previous requests made by the Irish Prison Service for armed escorts for the individual in question declined? Surely, if the agency of State charged with keeping criminals locked up and dealing with issues of this nature requests an armed escort, its request...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: The Minister's comments on his concern for the welfare of front-line emergency workers ring hollow. One need only look at how the Government has acted in that regard.

Other Questions: Terrorism Threats (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: Will the Minister comment on her statement that she could never rule out the possibility of an attack but that it is not likely at present because her colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, said Ireland must remain on alert? The European Commission has estimated that approximately 5,000 people have travelled from Europe to fight in the wars in Syria...

Other Questions: Online Defamation (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: 10. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way she will address defamation of persons which occurs online; her views on amending the law to allow for defamation cases online to be dealt with in a more-cost effective and timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6990/15]

Other Questions: Online Defamation (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: On many occasions, we have discussed the issue of cybercrime and cyberbullying in this House. It is an issue about which we all share a huge concern because of some of the consequences of it, in particular on the younger members of the community. However, there is also the issue of defamation online. We all know of instances where people believe they have been defamed online, of the...

Other Questions: Online Defamation (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: There are two dimensions to online defamation. There is the overt dimension where somebody who engages in online defamation is readily identifiable and then there is the covert dimension where somebody uses an alias and opens up an account with a bogus name and engages in online abuse and defamation. There are two dimensions to it which the Government needs to consider addressing in a...

Other Questions: Drugs in Prisons (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: 7. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the action she has taken to implement the recommendations of the strategic review of penal policy; the way she will address the drugs crisis in our prisons; her views that the current justice system is addressing the problem of drugs effectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6987/15]

Other Questions: Drugs in Prisons (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: In light of the strategic review of penal policy, will the Minister outline how she intends to address the crisis of drug use and addiction in both our prisons and the wider community?

Other Questions: Drugs in Prisons (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: Does the Minister envisage a timeline regarding the implementation of measures to drastically reduce the availability of drugs to those in our prison system? Members of the public often, and quite rightly, comment on the reported casual availability of drugs and mobile phones in prisons. Some of the most hard-core drugs are apparently available in prisons and it is reported that inmates are...

Other Questions: Drugs in Prisons (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: The Minister stated that the Irish Prison Service is going to introduce measures. Is she in a position to provide a more definitive timeline in respect of what will be rolled out and when? Will she also outline the key indicators that will be used in respect of the targeted reduction of drug availability within our prison system? I reiterate that the public cannot understand why drugs and...

Other Questions: Terrorism Threats (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: 8. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the threat posed to the State by acts of terrorism; the action she has taken to address this threat; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6988/15]

Other Questions: Terrorism Threats (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: Will the Minister provide an update on the threat posed to the State by acts of terrorism, be they domestic or international in nature, particularly in light of the activities of the so-called Real IRA and the Continuity IRA and the fact that up to 30 Irish citizens are known to have travelled to conflict zones in the Middle East?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gambling Legislation (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: 4. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to adequately regulate gaming and casinos venues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7169/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gambling Legislation (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: The gambling control Bill proposed by the Minister's predecessor seems to have dropped away in priority and significance. In the hearings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality during 2013 it became clear from the comments of people such as Mr. Barry Galvin, former head of the Criminal Assets Bureau, and representatives of the Licensed Gaming Association of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gambling Legislation (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: The figures brought to my attention and that of the Minister are staggering. It is estimated that there are up to 19,000 unlicensed gaming machines in the State at any one point in time and that this results in a loss of licensed revenue to the State of almost €10 million per annum. When one factors in that the average profit per gaming machine is in the region of €19,200 per...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gambling Legislation (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: The Betting (Amendment) Bill being progressed by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, will not address the issue I am raising. I want to get a sense from the Minister when the gaming Bill will become a priority for the Government. I know that she recently met Mr. Barry Galvin, the former head of the Criminal Assets Bureau and the legal representative of the Licensed Gaming...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: 1. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the fact that the number of gardaí has fallen below 13,000; the optimum level of membership of An Garda Síochána in order to police the country effectively; the further recruitment planned; the further plans she has to expand and integrate the Garda Reserve into the mainstream body of An Garda Síochána; and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: I have tabled this question to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality about further recruitment to An Garda Síochána, given that recruitment has recommenced. The number of gardaí in the force has fallen significantly below 13,000. Will the Minister outline her plans to integrate the Garda Reserve into the force?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (19 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: I am trying to establish what is the official number the Government wants to achieve for the strength of the force. Is it 13,000, 13,500 or somewhere in between? Is it the figure of 12,799? One must factor in the fact that most days up to 500 members of the force could be out sick. I received that information from the Minister in a reply to a parliamentary question. In addition, a...