Results 8,381-8,400 of 10,229 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (8 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 228. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí trained in the use of technology (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11660/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (8 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 229. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of training gardaí in the use of technology (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11661/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Motorised Transport Grant (8 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 353. To ask the Minister for Health when he plans to provide a scheme to replace the motorised transport grant for persons with disabilities which ended in 2013. [11340/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Charges (8 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: 645. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the special provision that will be made for those persons who suffer from health conditions which require heavy water usage such as Crohn's disease in view of reports that Irish Water is to start monitoring water usage from 2019 and begin billing for excessive usage thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply Leakages (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister for his response. I am concerned by some of the information we have been given here. As my colleague, Deputy Lahart, noted, the Minister's response indicates that the supplies in the greater Dublin area will not be resolved by the end of the week. What the Minister has said is he cannot give an assurance to the people of my constituency as to when the issue will be...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply Leakages (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is the first opportunity I have had to speak in this House since the weather event took place. First, I commend all those involved in the emergency services on their valiant efforts over the past week or so. I commend the members of the National Emergency Co-ordination Committee and the emergency services. I want to say a few words on behalf of Irish Water, a statutory body which has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank both witnesses for accepting the invitation of this committee. It is an area on which the committee is working and members had other witnesses before them a number of weeks ago. Hearing the witnesses' evidence is very helpful to the committee. I will ask Ms West a number of questions to get a broad summary of what I think are some of the crucial aspects that have been identified....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ms West then asked Ms Galligan to engage in that work and conduct the research.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is nothing really unusual about that. It is part of the analysis service's function to look at data and to conduct reviews. Is it the case that there was nothing unusual up to then?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: When Ms West refers to Ms Galligan's background, she is probably talking about the fact that she had knowledge and experience in the Office of the State Pathologist and that was a requirement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ms Galligan's work commenced when she went off and conducted research looking at PULSE, reports in the Office of the State Pathologist and other documentation. She then came back to Ms West in November with her analysis and initial review. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: She identified inconsistencies that she deemed very significant. Is that not correct? She brought them to Ms West's attention and she agreed with this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ms West says in her statement that, in her view, the issues raised went right to the heart of policing and the ability of An Garda Síochána to protect and serve the public. Could she elaborate on that for the committee? Why did she believe these issues went to the heart of the ability of An Garda Síochána to protect and serve the public?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: When the data are not accurate, it deprives members of An Garda Síochána of access to the relevant history pertaining to a potential suspect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: On 24 November, Ms Galligan sent Ms West a draft of her 87-page report. Ms West recognised that this was extremely serious. She wanted it brought to the attention of the Garda executive. Is that not correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Could Ms Lois West remind the committee who is on the Garda executive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Therefore, Ms West is aware that the Garda executive was informed of this on 29 November. Up to that stage, everything seemed to be working according to plan and Ms West had no complaint about any issue. Is that not so?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Let me outline what appears to me to be the problem period. Between 1 December and the time of the Policing Authority meeting on 27 April 2017, Ms West's work seems to have been ignored and she seems to have been excluded from deliberations. Would that be a fair assessment of what occurred?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: On one level, there are the issues about the work of Ms West's service not being taken seriously. On the other hand, in terms of the major public issue, why were the issues Ms West raised and highlighted not countenanced in the report? Why was there an attempt not to give credence to them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Homicide Statistics: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Jim O'Callaghan: Let us put ourselves back into the early part of last year in An Garda Síochána. There were major issues developing in respect of Garda breath-testing, as referred to by Deputy Chambers. Might it have been a factor that the Garda did not want to put into the public domain further negative information in respect of Garda data?