Results 7,561-7,580 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: He does-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: -----and vociferously. I do not have precise figures for County Kerry but I can say that since the Garda Training College reopened, having been closed for many years, we have seen an increase in Garda numbers throughout the country, including in County Kerry. I refer to a commitment in the programme for Government to have an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by the year 2021. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for his comments. I assure him that I will continue to give active consideration to deploying every possible means to ensure that crime in our country is tackled. However, in order to support the Commissioner in the recruitment drive, we have now provided an appropriate level of funding for new recruitment and to accelerate the process of civilianisation within An...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I will neither impose deadlines from Dublin during a critical phase of the negotiations nor pre-empt what might happen over the next 48 hours. What I will say is that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are very much engaged and are meeting all the major players involved. They are satisfied with EU 27 solidarity towards Ireland and in respect of our key priorities, which have been made...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have already expressed a view to the House that there is no such thing as a favourable Brexit or a good Brexit. Even what has been described as a soft Brexit will result in challenges of a significant nature for us as an economy and a society, for our relationship with the UK and in terms of North-South relations on this island. I wish to point to the effective and wide-ranging...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Crime (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I will make a very brief response to the Deputy. I was particularly pleased last week in the context of the budget and the Financial Statement of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, that he had acknowledged the need for further resources and indicated that the Garda Vote for next year would be of the order of €1.7 billion, an increase on this year's allocation of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I too am disappointed that we do not appear to be on the cusp of a deal, but it is important to acknowledge the solidarity of the EU 26 towards Ireland is enduring. That priority is of the utmost importance. The European Union remains clear that the outcome of the negotiations, whenever it might be - I acknowledge that in the circumstances uncertainty is unhelpful - must be a workable...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: My own instinct is that I believe a deal can be done. The last sections of negotiations are always the most difficult. It will require calm heads and further negotiation. I have the utmost confidence, as does the House, in the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, both of whom are involved in the negotiations at the coalface. It is important that we deal here in facts. I was very disappointed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Aylward makes an important point. In recognising the need to change the model of community policing I am advised that Garda management is working on developing a new model of community policing to take account of the changes taking place within our rural and urban communities, and the need for a really responsive police service. I ask Deputies to accept the fact that the ongoing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with Deputy Aylward that every effort should be made at local community level, particularly in rural communities, in the fight against crime and for crime prevention. There are two CCTV schemes, one which is run by communities and one by An Garda Síochána. I understand that the two CCTV schemes in Kilkenny in close proximity to the motorways are important for local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Crime (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the recently published Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report recommends that policing must be information led and that data should be seen as a strategic asset and a key factor in determining policing decisions. My Department is currently analysing the report and my officials are currently engaging in consultations with An Garda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Crime (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge Deputy Broughan's longstanding commitment to road safety. It is regrettable that it has not always been possible to provide as quickly as might be desired the information on road traffic enforcement issues as sought by the Deputy. I know that a number of outstanding parliamentary questions for written reply have not been dealt with in the manner the Deputy might expect. I am...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the Deputy's consistent interest in this matter on behalf of his constituents in Carlow–Kilkenny. I am very pleased to engage with him at all times. He will appreciate that it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner who is fully responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel among the various divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. Garda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel among the various divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of the resources. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The table I made available to Deputy Murphy details the current state of play in Roscommon and Galway. I thank him for raising this issue. I agree with him on the reduction in the Garda Reserve. I very much regret the substantial reduction in the strength of the reserve in recent years from a peak of 1,164 in 2013 to 542 on 31 August 2018. The fall-off arises from a range of factors, not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am very keen to see a greater level of emphasis on road traffic policing. I have discussed the issue with the Garda Commissioner and am very pleased to report an increase in funding in the Garda budget for next year which will allow for a greater emphasis on the Garda fleet and new vehicles. Some 200 new Garda vehicles have been purchased this years, several of which I expect are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyberbullying Issues (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with the Deputy. I thank him for raising the matter with me because it is important. The proposed legislation regarding the appointment of the digital safety commissioner, recommended by the Law Reform Commission in its report on harmful communications and digital safety, is being dealt with by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. I have not had an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am very keen to ensure we can proceed with legislative change on the matter of the current Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and I will do that in due course. I was pleased that, in last week's budget, a further sum of money was allocated for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to allow it to expand and develop in accordance with its business plan. I expect...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyberbullying Issues (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Government recognises the importance of integrated action across Government to address online safety, including cyberbullying, and on 11 July 2018 the Taoiseach launched the National Action Plan for Online Safety 2018-2019. The action plan reflects a whole-of-Government approach and contains 25 actions under five main goals. The actions are assigned to six different Government...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyberbullying Issues (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with the Deputy that this is a matter of great importance and one which requires a whole-of-Government response. As I said, it involves the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Health and my own Department. I see a school in the Visitors Gallery and I acknowledge what is being done in schools, under the aegis of the...