Results 12,921-12,940 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Victim Support Services (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Acting Chairman. Under budget 2022, €4.9 million is being allocated to support victims of crime. The contact that the victim of crime really needs to make is with the victim liaison office. This can be done by telephone, email or online via the Irish Prison Service website. I agree with the Deputy that it is no harm to do an awareness campaign around this so that people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Gabhaim buíochas. I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue. I wish to assure the Deputy that I also, as do others in this House, recognise the ongoing pain and anguish of the O'Farrell family on the tragic death of Shane and I deeply sympathise with them on their loss. As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, has been conducting a scoping...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his question and thank him also for the work that he has done on this issue. It is, of course, open to the judge to recommend the establishment of a statutory or non-statutory inquiry. I will await the recommendation of Judge Haughton in his final report before making any decision on further inquiries into this matter. I do not wish to pre-empt any advice which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank both Deputies for raising these issues. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, who will return on 1 November, is absolutely committed to this implementation plan for Drogheda. It is something on which she has worked very hard. I also acknowledge the work of Martin O'Brien, the CEO of Louth and Meath Education and Training Board. It has agreed to facilitate and support the implementation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue regarding safety at Hallowe'en. I am very aware of the distressing impact the improper use and misuse of fireworks has on our communities. Every year, as Hallowe'en approaches, my Department runs a safety awareness campaign aimed at highlighting to the public the very real dangers of illegal fireworks and bonfires. As the Deputy may be aware, I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I know the Garda works closely with communities. Operation Tombola is directly targeted at delivering a range of initiatives to tackle the sale of fireworks and to prevent associated public disorder and antisocial behaviour through the incremental deployment of Garda resources. It engages with communities and through the various fora. It will encourage people not to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy. The local government sector messages on Hallowe'en, working with the Garda Síochána, place emphasis on fire safety issues with fireworks and encouraging the public to report if they are aware of people gathering pallets or other materials for bonfires in order that they can be safely removed before Hallowe'en, emphasising the environmental damage and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Victim Support Services (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. While the Garda is committed to ensuring that all victims of crime receive information, protection and support throughout the criminal justice process, responsibility for notifying victims of crime of the release of a perpetrator from prison rests with the victim liaison office in the Irish Prison Service. The information currently provided by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy O'Dowd for raising the matter. I know he has put a huge amount of work into it. As the Deputy will be aware, the publication and implementation of the recommendations of the Drogheda scoping report are key actions in my Department's justice plan 2021. I am grateful to the former director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations in his...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am disappointed to hear the HSE is not engaging with the Red Door Project. Grants have been provided to the Red Door Project. My Department is engaging with the HSE on the provision of funding to the family addiction support network. I wish to assure the House that the whole of Government is committed to supporting the implementation of the plan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As I stated, we have secured increased funding under budget 2022 to continue the progress made in our work to support the victims of crime and to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. In the past year, we have already delivered several key actions to make the criminal justice system more victim-centred and to improve how we support and protect vulnerable victims, including the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is correct that we need everybody to work together. That is what makes a difference and provides results. As regards a refuge centre for Carlow-Kilkenny, the accommodation review that I understand Tusla is finalising has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need. It has also done an analysis of proximity to refuges by local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am aware that she is particularly interested in it. The Government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms and to supporting victims of this heinous crime. My Department provides funding to support the work of An Garda Síochána to combat such violence. It also provides funding to promote...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will acknowledge that there has been much reform in An Garda Síochána over recent years. I acknowledge that. It is important we engage with the relevant bodies, as I said to the Deputy. We need to work with the Garda Síochána because it is the superintendents, the chief superintendents, the commissioners and everybody else in the Garda Síochána who...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The Policing Authority was asked by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to oversee the review being carried out by An Garda Síochána. There have been a number of engagements between the authority and An Garda Síochána since March this year. Regarding the exact date that the Minister was made aware of this, I do not have the information to hand but I will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Regarding the protected disclosure, the Deputy will appreciate that there is a duty of confidentiality regarding protected disclosures as set out in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on a protected disclosure.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There have been. I will get my officials to provide the Deputy with that information. The Commissioner is taking this very seriously. The management of An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Commissioner. The Commissioner is due to appear before the authority next week, as the Deputy will know. I expect that this issue will be raised at that meeting. This is oversight in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this matter. It is important to acknowledge that significant and necessary reforms have taken place in An Garda Síochána over the past few years, and Garda superintendents have played their part in these reforms. I am conscious that the publication earlier this year of the general scheme of the policing, security and community safety Bill...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Joint Committee on Justice is conducting pre-legislative scrutiny, as the Deputy said, on the policing, security and community safety Bill. I am aware of the Commissioner's comments at the committee meeting yesterday. As the Commissioner explained, we have had good engagement. I have discussed this with the Commissioner. He has come into the Department and we have had a good...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I assure him that I recognise the ongoing pain and anguish of the O'Farrell family on the tragic death of Shane and I deeply sympathise with them on their loss. As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired judge, Gerard Haughton, has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane O'Farrell's death....