Results 7,441-7,460 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (6 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 101. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the treatment of persons in custody regulations apply to persons detained at all ports of entry; if not, the protections available to persons detained by An Garda Síochána at all ports of entry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10753/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Legislation (6 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 102. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for his planned reforms to the gambling control laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10755/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Ms Justice Ring for attending. I will ask some questions about resourcing. I believe it was November 2016 when GSOC made a business proposal to the Department about a separate protected disclosures unit. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: GSOC wanted 12 people to deal with that because its workload increased after being given responsibility for protected disclosures in 2014. GSOC had a meeting with the then Minister for Justice and Equality on 11 January 2017. What was the response of the Minister and the Department to its request for 12 new staff?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: There was communication between GSOC and the Department whereby the former was seeking a meeting with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In a letter that Ms Justice Ring wrote on 9 May, she expressed surprise that the meeting had not occurred. Does she have an explanation for the committee as to why that meeting did not take place?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Has anyone given GSOC an explanation since then?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is that part of the reason Ms Justice Ring stated that GSOC wanted to cut the umbilical cord, in that it believes it would do better if it were able to meet the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform face to face?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: In early May 2017, GSOC was given notification by the Department that it would not get 12 staff, but five. Did that lead to the establishment of the protected disclosures unit? Do we have it up and running yet?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: As and from next month, we will have a protected disclosures unit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: GSOC was given a commitment on 8 June by the then Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality that it would have the resources it required. Does GSOC have the resources it requires for the purpose of investigating protected disclosures?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does Ms Justice Ring agree that, if a proper protected disclosures unit was in place and gardaí had confidence in the statutory regime that was available, we would not need to have commissions of investigation or tribunals of inquiry?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Obviously, the number of protected disclosures by members of An Garda Síochána may increase or decrease depending on what is happening with certain issues in the rest of the country. Even were that number to decrease, I presume that individuals within the protected disclosures unit could deal with other aspects of GSOC's work if there was not enough protected disclosure work for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Due to GSOC's current resourcing, if I am a member of An Garda Síochána, I want to make a protected disclosure to GSOC and I write it a letter next Monday, when will that matter be investigated and when will that investigation be completed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Due to a lack of resources, there is a delay in the investigation of protected disclosures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the business plan that GSOC is submitting now, it is seeking 37 additional staff. Is this a separate issue to the establishment of the protected disclosures unit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I know one of the units that GSOC wants to establish is a quality assurance and review unit. Will Ms Justice Ring explain to the committee the reason for that and what she believes is the benefit of having such a unit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: GSOC is clear as to what the consequence will be if it does not get this resourcing. It wrote at the end of its submission to the Department: "A decision not to increase GSOC's staffing resources at this crucial time will undoubtedly result in the organisation’s failure to meet its obligations to the public and to its staff." It is categoric that this increase in resources is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: When Ms Justice Ring says the assistance of the gardaí, is she talking about when GSOC invokes section 74 of the Act and asks the gardaí to assist it because it does not have the resources? Does GSOC do this on a frequent basis?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does Ms Justice Ring think it would be preferable if GSOC did not have to avail of Garda resources for the purpose of conducting GSOC investigations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I know GSOC submitted the business case proposal to the Minister on 19 February. Has it received a response as to whether or not its request for further resources will be granted?