Results 901-920 of 1,150 for speaker:Frank Fahey

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: Let us be fair and straight about this. Members have questioned the vetting, training and personnel of security companies.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: I can reel off the names of private sector companies providing significant security services for the public and private sectors in shopping centres, hospitals, banks and every form of institution. We have nothing to worry about if those companies tender to provide security services for the Houses of the Oireachtas, the National Library, the National Museum or elsewhere. It is not an issue. I...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: There has been vocal opposition from Senators, rightly so, in regard to the delay in the 2,000 gardaí coming on stream. Here is a proposal which will provide 500 extra gardaí on the streets of Dublin.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: Some gardaí will still be here or in the courts but only a minimum presence will be required, not the significant rostered service in place at present. I recommend the section to the House.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: I wish to clarify this matter. Members of the public have exactly the same rights in this situation as they would have in an airport, a shopping centre or anywhere else.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: Schedule 5 is a repeat of the existing disciplinary code, which the Minister will review in conjunction with the Garda Síochána representative bodies. The area of disciplinary procedures will be reviewed in light of the provisions of the Bill. Section 102 deals with the question of false claims. I assure the Senator that those issues will be dealt with in that context.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil aon fhocal Gaeilge ar "ombudsman". There is no Irish translation for that term.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: I thank the Senators for their contributions. It is very important to read the provisions of the Bill, and Senator Cummins is reading the exact opposite of that which stands in it. There is no question of handing the powers of gardaí to security personnel.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: That is clearly not the case, and I will presently outline why. It makes eminently good sense that the Houses of the Oireachtas, the National Gallery and the National Museum be secured by private personnel. There are about 100 Garda posts involved, which necessitate approximately 500 gardaí being deployed in what are described as static protection duties. If we had 500 gardaí walking the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: The purpose of the provisions of this section is to free up the position of gardaí engaged in what are described as static protection duties on public offices in the State, mainly in Dublin, as listed in the Bill. It may not be generally appreciated that retaining one member the Garda Síochána on this duty requires more than five other officers to be rostered for that duty. Proposals have...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: The provisions in the Bill are well thought out. In essence, only the State bodies listed in section 114(1) may be designated by order of the Minister to employ private security officers at particular locations and premises. Those private security officers will be properly vetted, the companies involved will be properly chosen and proper training will be provided.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: In every modern democracy across the world private security operations are involved with the state in providing security for public buildings. Senator Cummins can be assured a comprehensive series of vetting and training will be carried out to ensure the people selected are the best in terms of the job they will have to do. There is no question of that process being any other way. The head of...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: I want to make it abundantly clear that these security officers will not have general Garda powers, a point mistakenly made by Senator Cummins.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: Their powers are set out in subsection (4) and they mainly relate to what might be termed ordinary checking of identity, examination and seizure of articles, search of a person, which is confined to the removal of outer garments only such as coats, hats, jackets and shoes, power to refuse entry and the use of reasonable force, if that is required. No mention is made of powers of arrest in...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: The one area where special provisions apply in regard to the detention of persons is the courts in accordance with a judicial direction. That is directly related to a person being found in contempt of court. Subsection (9) merely confirms that the security officers are no different from any other member of the public or from any other security personnel with whom we all come into contact in...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: This amendment is opposed. The effect of it would be to impose a legal obligation on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to publish the guidelines which are to be applied in determining whether leave to remain should be granted to the parents of Irish-born children. The amendment does not just cover the parents of Irish citizen children, it also covers the parents of children...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: He said he would give consideration to that, which he will do. He remains firmly committed to what he said so I do not think the Senator need have any worries in that respect.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: It is always a pleasure to have a dialogue with Senator Norris. In any event, in those circumstances, I cannot accept the amendment.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: The amendments are opposed. As the House is aware, the referendum in June was successfully carried with the support of more than 80% of the electorate. At the time, we published the Government's proposals on what legislation would be proposed in the event of the referendum being passed. The Government document made it clear that while it was committed to the basic principles of the draft, it...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Frank Fahey: On a point of clarification, they come in as bona fide students. That is the basis on which they receive their visas.