Results 11,281-11,300 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Other Questions: Refugee Resettlement Programme (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I believe the manner in which this issue was framed is based on whether a particular family might be included in the resettlement process. Resettlement is conducted on the basis of objective criteria that have been set down by the UNHCR. This process is conducted by the UNHCR. It is a structured and demanding process and there are multiple partner organisations. Our process is by means of...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am satisfied with the protection provided to persons who make protected disclosures in An Garda Síochána. Deputy Daly is aware the Protected Disclosures Act came into operation on 15 July 2014. A member of the Garda who makes a disclosure in accordance with the Act is entitled to all the protections provided for whistleblowers in the legislation. These protections include...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have a direct role in the distribution of members of An Garda Síochána, nor do I have a direct role in the enforcement of road traffic legislation. These are operational matters for the Garda Commissioner and An Garda Síochána. However, it is important to note that An Garda Síochána undertakes a programme of...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will acknowledge that funding has been made available by the Government to ensure we can continue what is a high level of investment in An Garda Síochána. This year a further 800 Garda trainees will enter the college, with 800 also scheduled to attest. This will see Garda numbers reach more than 14,000 by the end of this year. This increase in Garda numbers will...

Other Questions: Refugee Resettlement Programme (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Boyd Barrett is asking whether Ireland can resettle a family now in Turkey who are United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, programme refugees and that some of the family members have disabilities. As I responded in recent correspondence to the Deputy, while Ireland participates in a resettlement programme led by the UNHCR, it is the latter that assesses each case and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Commissioner Appointment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is keen to ensure that this process is designed in such a way as to attract a broad range of interest, both from within this jurisdiction from within the Garda Síochána and from, and on which there has been much mention and speculation made as to the likelihood of success of, an external candidate. I have an open mind on these issues. I believe it is important that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Commissioner Appointment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As I stated, it is the desire of the Government that the competition should attract the widest possible pool of candidates, not only from within the jurisdiction but from beyond. It is for this reason that the Government earlier today agreed that a short piece of amending legislation should be brought forward as a matter of priority to address an anomaly that has been identified in the...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware, as I stated earlier in respect of community policing, that the distribution of gardaí is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. I have been informed that the strength of the Garda traffic corps on 31 December 2017 stood at 623. In addition, there is one chief superintendent and two superintendents attached to the DMR traffic...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Community Policing (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, to provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. To make this a reality, we have a plan in place to increase the overall Garda workforce to 21,000 by 2021, including 15,000 sworn members of An Garda Síochána. Real and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Community Policing (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: In many respects, every garda in the country is in essence a community policeman or woman-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Community Policing (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: -----in the manner in which they interact with their communities and for and on behalf of communities. The Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 places a strong emphasis on further developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust, providing a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Commissioner Appointment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Policing Authority under section 9 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 has responsibility for nominating persons for appointment by the Government to the post of Garda Commissioner. In the meantime we have an excellent Acting Commissioner in Dónall Ó Cualáin. It is the first time that the new legislative process will be used. I met the chair of the authority...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Remuneration (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am very anxious to have this issue resolved. The Deputy will be aware that, at the time of the potential Garda dispute in late 2016, the matter was referred to the Labour Court to develop a recommendation addressing the pay issues raised by the ranks of garda, sergeant and inspector. The recommendation applied, therefore, to those ranks only. The associations for superintendents and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Remuneration (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Garda Chief Superintendents were fully involved in the negotiations leading up to the WRC proposals for the public service stability agreement 2018-20. Following the conclusion of these negotiations, the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Garda Chief Superintendents sought to engage further on their...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Remuneration (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am conscious there are a number of anomalous situations on the matter of pay. I want to acknowledge the work of the chief superintendents and superintendents throughout the country in terms of the leadership they continue to provide to An Garda Síochána, particularly in these challenging times. I also acknowledge the role they have in terms of the ongoing programme of reform....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Community Policing (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, and as I have reiterated, the distribution of gardaí is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner for the time being. Undoubtedly, the ongoing recruitment process will support all Garda activities and will enhance Garda visibility within our communities and the provision of effective community policing across all Garda divisions....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Data (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The review will be completed at the very earliest opportunity. I have expressed my concern to the Garda authorities. I acknowledge what Deputy O'Callaghan has said. I did not suggest he had made any allegation on any investigation or otherwise. As far as the review of the 41 cases is concerned, each death was fully investigated by An Garda Síochána. I make that clear to Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Data (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I do not disagree with what the Deputies have said about the urgency of this issue. I assure Members that An Garda Síochána is working actively with the CSO to address the outstanding issues with homicide statistics in order that the publication of officially-recorded crime statistics can recommence. The authority is monitoring developments and officials from my Department remain...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Data (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together. I wish to thank the Deputies for raising this issue. An Garda Síochána continues to work with the CSO to resolve an issue which emerged regarding the classification of homicide offences.  The expert oversight by the CSO of crime statistics is welcome in order to ensure that we can have confidence in the official crime...

Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I do not have a specific date for the service in west Cork. However, immediately after this session I will seek a reply and communicate directly to the Deputy on this issue of importance.