Results 9,201-9,220 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: That forms part of the remit of the change and implementation group which has been meeting since last January on a regular basis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have no difficulty with that being done on a quarterly basis but I point out that it is very difficult for me to go through all of the action points mentioned by Deputy Chambers when the group has not yet reported. I do not sit on the change and implementation group. I have met its chair and am satisfied that the chair has indicated to me that, it having engaged in extensive work over the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: That is not a fair comment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I receive regular security briefings. The recently inaugurated Cabinet committee F chaired by the Taoiseach involves all agencies with a national security role. The greatest threat to the national security of the State still comes from dissident republicans in the Border area. I am not prepared to enter into any detail with the committee on issues of national security as that is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am very keen that the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, established by an Act of Parliament two years ago, will be fully functioning at the earliest opportunity. I am very keen to ensure that it is properly resourced and I am satisfied that that is the case. I look forward to the early commencement of many of the uncommenced sections of that legislation, in particular, the complaints...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, has responsibility for that area. As Deputy Chambers is aware from the Minister of State's public utterances and engagements on the issue, it is very much his priority. It is a complex area of law that has not been updated or addressed since the 1950s. There was a substantive piece of legislation that has not been fully enacted. We hope to take...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It may be subject to a money message in terms of its current disposition.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: If that is the case, it is not under my immediate control but I am very keen to assist the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton. We meet bilaterally on this issue on a regular basis and he is intent on reporting a level of progress on this and I am sure he would be happy to discuss that directly with Deputy Chambers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am addressing the issue because I believe it is one of concern to communities located right across the city of Dublin and in other urban areas. The issue has been raised with me directly by many Dublin Deputies. I was very keen to convene, as I did earlier this year, a meeting of interested parties because it appeared to me that previously there was a reluctance to accept responsibility...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am keen that progress be made on this issue. The Department has been in contact with the Office of the Attorney General. Advices have been received. The Attorney General's office set out certain issues that arise in respect of what still is a legitimate expectation of confidentiality by the people who co-operated with the inquiry and, indeed, the rights of others who are referred to in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am very conscious that over three decades have elapsed and that some of the McAnespie family are senior in years. I am very keen, therefore, to ensure that an element of progress can be made. However, I want to acknowledge the political means by which issues, such as those that befell the McAnespie family, may be dealt with. I am sure the Senator will be aware that dealing with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I assure Senator Conway and all members of the committee that the change reform group report, once given to me and the Government later this month, will be acted upon expeditiously. I expect we will move towards the appointment of a permanent Secretary General during the summer and that the position will be filled by the end of the year. That is subject to recommendations that may be made...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: If the Chair is not going to come back on the McAnespie issue, I will respond to Senator Conway. If he is, however, I will wait.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Yes, I expect to have the report by September, which is the recommended date upon which the commission would complete its work. I have no doubt that it will be most reforming and radical in terms of its recommendations for the future of policing and its assessment of the current situation. I would be very keen to ensure, as the Deputy said, that it raises something of an implementation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am at something of a disadvantage in that regard insofar as I do not have a Minister with whom I can discuss these issues. That is a consequence of the failure of the parties to agree to put together an executive in accordance with the wishes of the people. I enjoyed engagement with my Northern counterparts in the past but I am at something of a loss now. Had I a Minister with whom I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I would be happy to do that and to communicate with the Deputy. We meet regularly on the management of sex offenders. There is that official level engagement, which will continue. I would be happy to drop a note to the Deputy on exactly where we are in that regard. I certainly would welcome a bilateral engagement at ministerial level, which I hope might be the case in the not too distant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have seen those issues. When I was criticised by Deputies in the House for an absence of training, it coincided with a visit I made to Tralee Garda station, where I attended a continuing professional development, CPD, class with up to 25 ordinary rank and file gardaí from Kerry who were engaged in ongoing CPD on the day of my arrival. It is fair to say there is an ongoing programme...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I would be happy to release them if I had them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The question of numbers is a subject matter of ongoing monitoring by Government. I am very pleased that the targets are being observed. I am looking forward to the passing out ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore on Friday. By the end of 2018, we will have seen a further 500 gardaí come on stream, similar to last year's figure. The moneys allocated will facilitate the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: On the Judicial Council Bill, we are proceeding with working through the amendments. There are a number of specific amendments on the matter of sentencing information, to which the Deputy referred. If I do not have the full suite of amendments ready by the summer recess, I will have prioritised the work on the sentencing issue and I would be happy to share those amendments with the Deputy,...