Results 10,321-10,340 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Other Questions: Garda Reports (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Garda Tony Golden lost his life in October 2015 serving his community. His death on that day has robbed the Golden family of a dearly loved husband, father, brother and son. A young woman suffered serious injuries as a result of the events of that day and she has also endured a great deal. It is important that we are sensitive to those who suffered so greatly as a result of the...

Other Questions: Garda Reports (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: In accordance with the long-standing practice and procedure of this House, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the detail of allegations being made. I know there has been comment on the decisions made in respect of the charging of an individual with certain offences but it is important to make the point that the decision in respect of prosecution of offences are matters for the...

Other Questions: Garda Reports (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have two issues with that. First, regarding Deputy Adams, I met him on this issue. I kept him fully informed. I do not have the date of the meeting with him but I was keen at all times to keep the Deputy, as the local representative, fully apprised of the position. Second, regarding GSOC, I agree with Deputy Ó Laoghaire that there is a strong case for GSOC's staffing and resources...

Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am sure Deputy Chambers will accept the fact that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources across the various Garda divisions and districts. As Minister for Justice and Equality I have no direct role in this matter. If I had, I imagine Deputy O'Callaghan and others would have something to say about it that might not be too complimentary. I am assured that...

Other Questions: Criminal Law Review (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has given significant consideration to law on sexual offences in recent years, including with regard to the needs of the complainant. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 provides for a statutory definition of consent and other measures that give protections to complainants during court proceedings. I intend to bring forward further...

Other Questions: Criminal Law Review (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am open to hearing from the Deputy about any submissions, observations or draft legislation. I know he has introduced some legislation in this area. I welcome that and I give my commitment to Deputy O'Callaghan, Deputy Ó Laoghaire and other Deputies that I am keen to listen and engage to ensure we can have the best possible legal system to deal with these deeply sensitive and...

Other Questions: Prisoner Transfers (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: There are 29 applications on hold from applicants wishing to transfer to Ireland to serve the remainder of their sentences within this jurisdiction. These applications include 17 from the UK, four from Northern Ireland, two from Australia, which I think is one of the two of interest to the Deputy, one from France, two from Scotland and three from Spain. On the basis of legal advice...

Other Questions: Prisoner Transfers (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the principle underpinning the convention is that once the transfer takes place the home jurisdiction manages the sentencing according to its laws. I refer to how we manage our prisoners here and those transferred back or into this jurisdiction in accordance with Irish law. The policy of the convention, which is based on humanitarian considerations, is to...

Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I should state at the outset that the distribution of Garda personnel, including the allocation of newly attested Gardaí, is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. Notwithstanding the Commissioner's responsibility, I have provided for the record, in tabular form, the detailed information requested by the Deputy. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner...

Other Questions: Garda Strength (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have the figures in front of me for the division Garda numbers for December 2009 to now. There are more gardaí now in County Mayo than there were in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and in 2009. I can go back further if the Deputy wishes. However, I am pleased that funding has been provided to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce. This year a...

Priority Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am in agreement with the Deputy and I am most anxious to ensure that all interested groups in both rural and urban areas take advantage of the availability of this grant aid scheme, with funding of €1 million per year for three years. The statutory parameters governing CCTV, including the longstanding statutory requirement for the local authority to act as data controller, is...

Priority Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy referred to the road network. I can confirm that services under the Garda safety camera contract commenced last May and provide an annual minimum of 90,000 hours of monitoring and surveying vehicle speed across over 1,000 designated safety camera zones. It should be noted that expansion of the use of technologies, including CCTV and automatic number plate recognition, is included...

Other Questions: Prisoner Transfers (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I recently published the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Annual Report 2017 on my Department's website and laid the report before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This report outlines Ireland's operation of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts during 2017. In July 2016 the Supreme Court dismissed the State's appeal in the case of O'Farrell, McDonald, Rafferty v. The Governor of Portlaoise...

Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: It may assist the House to recall that the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation was established to examine allegations relating to the Cavan-Monaghan division of An Garda Síochána, particularly allegations of serious Garda failures in the investigation of criminal offences.  The commission also examined the action taken by the Department of Justice and Equality...

Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Justice and Equality made extensive disclosure and discovery to the Disclosures Tribunal. It is now a matter for the tribunal to determine. I remind the Deputy of our previous debate on this issue. He will be aware that Mr. Michael Collins SC has conducted an external review of the Department's discovery of documents to the Disclosures...

Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I would be happy to pursue this matter further. While I am concerned, I am also confident that the Department of Justice and Equality has taken important lessons from its experiences over the past year. The new measures that are actively being put in place by the Department are aimed at ensuring an oversight of any kind cannot happen in the future. These plans were referred to and endorsed...

Priority Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy has evidenced, A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting investment in CCTV systems at key locations along the road network and in urban centres.  Progress is being made with this commitment in a number of ways. In pursuance of this commitment, a community-based CCTV grant aid scheme was launched by the Department of Justice and Equality in April 2017...

Priority Questions: Road Safety (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I should say at the outset that the distribution of Garda personnel, including the allocation of gardaí to roads policing duties, is exclusively the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. I have been informed by the Commissioner that the strength of the Garda traffic corps stood at 635 on 28 February 2018, the most recent date for which figures are to hand. In addition, I...

Priority Questions: Road Safety (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: An Garda Síochána undertakes a programme of high visibility road safety and enforcement operations which are carried out in partnership with other State agencies. I acknowledge the work of the RSA in this regard. By working together with the RSA and other agencies, An Garda Síochána will continue to confront dangerous road user behaviour through public presence,...

Priority Questions: Road Safety (17 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: On the matter of resources, I am pleased to confirm to the House that some €342 million, including €217 million in additional funding under the capital plan, is being invested in the Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021. This major investment will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting-edge technologies in the fight against crime and will...