Results 19,041-19,060 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: I would be somewhat disappointed if this debate were to continue in terms of slaughtering sacred cows-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: -----and attacking members of the Judiciary. It is unhelpful and also unfair because this issue has not been caused in any way by judges. They are in a most difficult position, but it is one that was thrust upon them by the Government. The Minister of State and his colleagues must deal with this situation. I find it extraordinary that the Government has done very little to redress the...

Personal Apology by Deputy (11 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy is a disgrace.

Written Answers — Mobile Phones In Prisons: Mobile Phones In Prisons (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: Question 106: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in installing mobile phone signal blocking technology in prisons here. [46448/09]

Written Answers — Firearams Licences: Firearams Licences (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: Question 111: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if those who applied for a pistol licence before November 2008 and who meet the new licence criteria will be granted their licences in view of the Committee Stage debate on the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46393/09]

Written Answers — Firearams Licences: Firearams Licences (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: Question 116: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his policy and that of the Gardaí not to renew any centre-fire pistol licences; if not, the number that have been granted under the new firearm licensing legislation; the conditions a refusal would be expected for an active competition shooter, who is a member of an authorized range, has met the security requirements as...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: On a point of order and in an effort to be helpful I ask the Ceann Comhairle to advise the House in what circumstances the Chair, in this instance the Ceann Comhairle, can depart from the terms of a time allocation motion that has been agreed by the House.

Garda Deployment. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: They might be hanging around, as the Minister said last week at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.

Garda Deployment. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: All sides of the House agree on the importance of the community garda. I agree with Deputy Carey's suggestion that there be a dedicated rank but I welcome the Minister's comment about the type of activity of a community in which the garda is on the beat, in and of the community, engaging with its members. The Minister said that there are approximately 900 dedicated or practising community...

Garda Deployment. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: That is approximately 7%.

Legislative Programme. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: The Minister says "very shortly" but we have all heard that phrase before. I remind him that it is over five years since the Law Reform Commission published its report on the establishment of a DNA database. It is almost four years since January 2006 when the Minister's predecessor, Michael McDowell stated that he had received Cabinet backing and approval to proceed to draft the...

Legislative Programme. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: He stated in quite stark terms the chronic underfunding of the process. He also said that he had evidence that some senior members of the Garda Síochána did not even bother sending samples for assessment or analysis because they knew it would not be done because of the shambolic current system. Notwithstanding the timescale, what is the position regarding the forensic science laboratory?...

Legislative Programme. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: Very good.

Legislative Programme. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: The information is from Professor Kopp.

Legislative Programme. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: We are not absolutely sure of that. I wish to revert to the matter of the funding. In budget 2009, €18 million was allocated to upgrade the State forensic laboratory and the State pathology laboratory in advance of the Bill being passed. In the recent Estimates, however, my understanding is that the Minister announced he was delaying the capital works at the forensic laboratory to save...

Legislative Programme. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: That is not what I asked. Commencing is fine but what about the money?

Garda Reserve. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: In light of a previous question with reference to the numbers of community gardaí, I can understand why the Minister is most reluctant to engage in target setting. The targets set for the Garda Reserve are wholly out of line with the targets. The promises set by the Minister, Deputy McDowell, have certainly not been fulfilled and I do not detect any activity or enthusiasm on the part of...

Prison Staff. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: I am not sure about that.

Prison Staff. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: I refute the Minister's remarks that the high number of retirements has been offset by recruitment. The imbalance is stark. He says it has not had an adverse effect on the running of the prisons but in the last year there have been 750----

Prison Staff. (10 Dec 2009)

Charles Flanagan: How will the Minister deal with the huge number of prison officers retiring that has not been offset by recruitment, resulting in 750 assaults on prison officers by prisoners in the last year? There is a serious problem and the Minister must measure the way in which he balances the high numbers of retirements with the current moratorium.