Results 1,001-1,020 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: This interferes with our proper scrutiny of the Bill, which is a problem. I attach no fault to the Minister but I do not believe that this just arose today. It should have been dealt with earlier. I do not know what the amendments will do. Their effect may be completely banal, but I would have rather seen what is proposed included in the Bill, which is what we should be considering.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: When we put forward amendments like that to emphasise something, we are told they are not necessary and that what we are proposing is already stated in the Bill. Now, however, the Minister is stating that it has already been stated in the Bill but that, just to be doubly sure, she wants to make these amendments anyway.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: We do not even know what the amendments are, so how can we-----

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Perhaps she might read it out again, please.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I support Deputy Costello's amendment. This is a potentially serious issue. The proposed provisions should be included in the Bill.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: The Minister has talked about an abuse of the code of conduct. Is that specified anywhere in the Bill?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: It is very important that people have an opportunity to examine where these data are going to be used. Deputy Costello has raised a real risk, particularly given the lack of training of garda personnel who have used and handled CCTV footage previously, which has been spoken about and widely reported, and is known. How can we be sure training will take place and footage will be handled...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Sorry, Minister, but that clearly has not happened recently.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I am concerned about the training of members of An Garda Síochána who will deal with this information. The 2019 report from the Data Protection Commissioner stated that "the Garda members operating the scheme were unaware of the full range of technical features of their own CCTV system". It also stated: "The members of An Garda Síochána operating a number of the schemes...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I might bring forward further amendments to this section on Report Stage. I wanted to highlight that. I will probably bring forward some to section 18 as well.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: No, I have not fully worked it out yet.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I might bring forward an amendment to this section on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: This may be a wee bit flippant, but the Minister outlined that she is going to table amendments to strengthen this, yet we hear we do not need this amendment because it is already implied in the Bill. There is a bit of a conflict there. Perhaps the Minister could outline where exactly it shows there will be public consultation. It says there will be consultation with IHREC but it does not...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Is that an implied public consultation? If I were the Commissioner, I would say I have ticked all the boxes and contacted all those people and that is it.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Maybe I am being silly, but the way I read this, a Commissioner could tick all those organisations, including the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, the Data Protection Commission, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Local Government Management Association, off the list by sending the code of practice to them and saying that is the consultation and good luck to the public.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: The word "shall" means it has to happen. It states "shall consult with". Yet, it does not list the public anywhere in that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Where does it state that?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I take on board what the Minister is saying. If, for example, this Bill passes and then in a year's time the public consultation has not happened and we ask the Minister about it, she may say that there is no requirement in law for that to happen. That is the problem. I am not saying that would happen or anything like that, but that is the problem with it. If it will happen, why not have...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Supports (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 83. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a full list of the individual projects funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund by Department; the amount of funding given in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32875/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Referendum Campaigns (5 Jul 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 173. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the referenda on equality and care due to take place in November; whether all three proposed constitutional amendments of the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality will be brought forward; when the interdepartmental group will publish its proposed referenda wording in relation to...