Results 1,401-1,420 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: I welcome the Minister's change of position. He is no longer a lock them up and throw away the key merchant. He probably realises that prison does not work, so he is to be commended on his position.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: Yes. Is it okay for us to say we have mentioned it in order that we will have the right to table an amendment on it on Report Stage?

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (22 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: 34. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the number of contracts awarded without competitive procurement as outlined in the latest annual 40/2002 circular; his plans to address this non-competitive procurement; if each Department and office has created a central register of all contracts which records key data including whether or not a competitive process was...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts Data (22 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: 40. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will consider publishing on a yearly basis all submissions received under circular 40/2002 which requires Departments and certain State bodies to prepare and submit an annual statement regarding contracts awarded that exceed €25,000 in value, exclusive of VAT, without a competitive process; and if he will make...

European Council: Statements (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by US military forces, facilitated by the then Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government. Since that time, the use of Shannon Airport has been facilitated by the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government, the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government and now this Government of Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance. It is a very sad...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: The former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, said that the Garda had no role in inspecting military aircraft because they have sovereign immunity. The writer, Sinan Antoon, an Iraqi living in New York, said this week that the invasion of Iraq is often spoken of in the United States as a blunder or even a colossal mistake but that it was a crime and those who perpetrated it...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: The Minister of State has been to countries where there is a malaria threat. Has he ever taken Lariam?

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: 36. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of times the Defence Forces engaged in aid to the civil power duties with regard to US military aircraft present at Shannon Airport during 2017; the number of Defence Forces personnel involved; the cost of these engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10383/18]

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: I remind the Minister of State of a definition of democracy, that we can say what we like but we will do what we are told. When Alan Shatter was Minister for Justice, he claimed that the Garda Síochána had no role in the inspection of foreign state or military aircraft at Shannon or other airports because they enjoy sovereign immunity. In effect, this means the Government allows...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: When was the last time the Minister of State voted against Fine Gael?

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: The planes are not being inspected; we do not care what the Americans do in Shannon. Yesterday was the fifteenth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The role this country has played in facilitating the destruction not just of Iraq but several other countries in the region is an absolute shame. We are still doing so. We should learn some lessons from Iraq and should remember it. Not only...

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: Many Members of the Dáil have been raising the issue of Ireland's participation in EU battle groups for a while now and how our involvement is in accordance with our stated principles of neutrality, but the Government's response is to always hide behind intentionally opaque language. Last month, we even had the Taoiseach translating the term "battle group" into the French term "force...

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: That vote does not give me any comfort given that the two largest parties in the State are both of a hawkish nature. The Minister of State is saying that the term "battle group" is unfitting. That reminds me a little of PESCO. The Government pretends when it comes to this but the Europeans do not pretend in the same way. They are a bit more open about it. They do not call it a battle...

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: 35. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of the proposed participation of Defence Forces members in the German-led EU battle group; the rationale for same; the expected number of Defence Force participants in the battle group; if Army Rangers will be deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10382/18]

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: Again, we are facing the prospect of Irish troops taking part in an EU battle group. It has been reported that the Army Rangers will be taking part in their first overseas deployment since the peacekeeping mission in Chad in 2008. Will the Minister of State outline the range of military equipment that our forces will be using? How does he consider that such training and activity is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Policing Authority (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: I thank Ms Feehily for coming in. I must also apologise as I must leave to go to the Chamber soon. I wish first to deal with the Policing Authority's oversight of ICT within An Garda Síochána. In her opening statement, Ms Feehily stated that she does not receive Garda audit service reports on a routine basis but that she is aware of media reports on this particular audit. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Policing Authority (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: This is a massive area, with huge money involved. Does Ms Feehily think the Policing Authority should be in a stronger position to oversee what is going on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Policing Authority (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: Ms Feehily said that the authority has almost too much to do in order to go into finer detail.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Policing Authority (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: Sticking with the subject of the most recent quarterly report, the Garda Inspectorate recommended that the Garda Síochána establish an ICT governance board and this was done in 2016. Mr. Joseph Nugent, the chief administrative officer, is the chair and representatives from the Departments of Justice and Equality and Public Expenditure and Reform also sit on the board. The Policing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Policing Authority (21 Mar 2018)

Mick Wallace: The strategic transformation office, or STO, as it is more commonly referred to, was set up to help implement the famous modernisation and renewal programme of the former Garda Commissioner. The costs associated with the STO are included in the overall ICT budget but I note from the authority's quarterly report that nobody is willing to take responsibility for its budget. The authority's...