Results 1,421-1,440 of 20,747 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: He was not aware of what he was being charged with, so how could he have been?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: But GSOC can tell him he is going to be charged.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: Through the inquest process.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: I have a fair idea of what happened. It is quite obvious that the whole process needs to be changed completely and tightened up. Everyone can accept that. It cannot happen again.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: Hear, hear.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: My first comment is for Mr. Justice MacCabe, in particular. We are dancing on the head of a pin a bit. A number of us have expressed concerns. I accept 100% that there are resource issues. I actually have an issue with the quality of investigators. I have a concern in this regard, I must say out straight. I appreciate what has been said by Mr. Hume and others on funnelling people...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: I am referring to cases that GSOC pursued that it felt were vexatious and should not have been taken by a member of the public.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: I do not want the answers now. They may be supplied in writing, if that is okay, because I want the details by year for the past five years. What was the number of internal investigations based on cases that were taken? How many were there in each of the past five years, and what was the outcome in each case? I am referring to where GSOC felt the need to investigate somebody internally...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: Sorry, this question is not one for a written reply. It is one for oral response.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: No. I am addressing it to Mr. Justice MacCabe.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: Hypothetically, if the judge criticises gardaí who are conducting an investigation, say, who did not pursue warrants correctly and did not provide information that was quite obvious for the prosecution, etc., would that not cross the threshold?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: Would it be a concern?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: If judges themselves make comments like this, obviously, GSOC would not need referrals.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: It is in the public courts.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: How would GSOC not be aware of something that is in the courts in Ireland involving gardaí?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: Is this credible, Chair? Seriously.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: I know, but the public are watching this. If something appears inside in a court in Ireland where An Garda Síochána has been pursuing an investigation based on a recommendation of GSOC, etc., it is up in court and the judge then states that the way in which warrants and other issues were dealt with by gardaí was completely wrong, how in the name of God would GSOC not be aware...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: Yes. How would GSOC not be aware of a judge criticising the processes by which gardaí have done their business? How would that not come to GSOC's attention?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: Every utterance we make here is provided to us in some format. Where there is a criticism of some members of An Garda Síochána, that it would not be brought to GSOC's attention given the organisation it is and so that it could fulfil its remit, particularly under that component of public interest, is beyond my comprehension.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Kelly: GSOC does not have to monitor the courts. The media will do it for GSOC.