Results 8,121-8,140 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Implementing the National Drugs Strategy: Statements (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I welcome the Minister of State's comments. We should not be debating the new drugs strategy a year after it was launched. It is kind of crazy. There is so much talk about the need to address this issue and we are debating the strategy a year late. We talk a lot about new politics but this is as an example of where it is not working. The new national drugs strategy is rightly called...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: There is another thing in relation to the HEA. I have just looked at the transcript of our meeting with the HEA and I have a concern about the way in which it is managing protected disclosures and how the various institutions under its remit are handling such disclosures. I flag to the committee that this is something we may wish to come back to. I am due to have a conversation with Dr....

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I know that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: People make mistakes. Just admit it.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Thanks, Mr. Hurley.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I have never seen that letter. Considering what I said in my previous statement here, I have never seen this.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: That is a good idea.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: That is my question.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: And we were forgotten about.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I am concerned. This a box ticking exercise. As Deputy David Cullinane said, there is a difference between the protected disclosures legislation, the process by which Departments are dealing with them and the process by which we, as individuals, receive them. I will have no issue with sitting down with them once this is done, but I have two concerns. Learning how well it is working and...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Two more.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I have a concern about the manner in which this is happening following the report of the independent review group on the Department of Justice and Equality, the Toland report, and the length of time it is taking. We have thrashed out the issues involved in detail. I ask the committee to express a concern about the length of time it is taking to come to conclusions on the implementation of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Yes, based on what is written in the letter. I ask the committee to express concern considering the evidence given here. I also want to flag, as part of the review of the Department of Justice and Reform and its handling of the matters in question, that we will have to focus in on the Irish Prison Service. Specifically, I would like to see what progress is being made by the Department of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: I would say you would have sympathy with me on this view. I am as confused now as I was beforehand. For a bit of background, a number of years ago, when I was Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, a community group in your county came to me about putting in CCTV. Everyone believes in CCTV on motorways.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: They are very good people. They set a precedent and did it very well. In fairness, the superintendent there played a blinder in everything. We have an issue now where funding has been given - it came under community grants when I was there - to put up CCTV around the country in a number of locations. As a result of success and pressure, in fairness, this Government has given a substantial...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Let me clarify our suggestion. The local authority in my county has contacted me. Funding was provided but they cannot agree on issues like those I outlined because of data and all that. If we are going to the CCMA, and it is a good suggestion, we should also write to An Garda Síochána.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Both. Ultimately, this is a situation where in some cases they can do it while in other cases they cannot. There is no consistency. Surely, they can create a protocol that works for the whole country. If we are writing to the CCMA, we should also write to the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: Let them talk to one another before they reply, otherwise what will happen is we will get three-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: We will get three different letters. That is what will happen.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jun 2018)

Alan Kelly: There is a difference between the two.