Results 1-16 of 16 for gsoc speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...Commission shall ensure that any matter referred to the Commission under subsection (1) is investigated. It should be noted that An Garda Síochána must determine if the threshold has been reached to refer an incident to GSOC under Section 102. This determination is an operational matter for the Commissioner and neither I, as Minister, nor GSOC has any role in this independent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is statutorily independent in its operation and administration. Specifically, under section 67(4) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, GSOC is independent in the exercise of its functions under the Act. As Minister, I have no role in these functions, including investigations conducted by GSOC, or any...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...in the eyes of the public and lead to a lack of clarity regarding investigator roles and the lead agency in such investigations. In parallel with the legislative process, my Department is working with both An Garda Síochána and GSOC on planning for the implementation of the Bill, including with regard to the protocols for the conduct of joint investigations. Through these...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...placed on the police ombudsman to inform the Garda Commissioner of his or her decision without delay. In the context of live investigations, clear communication is key. The current workload of GSOC, which will become the police ombudsman under the Bill, comprises predominantly retrospective complaints. That is to change with its expanded remit under the Bill. Incidents of concern...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...a relatively recent period in legislative terms of around eight years. No. 179 of the general scheme of the Bill proposed the same time limit. The general scheme was considered at length by An Garda Síochána, GSOC and the DPP. I am not aware of any concern raised by any of those organisations that would give rise to a need to extend the period from 18 months to 24. I will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is independent in the performance of its functions. Under the same act, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including all matters relating to discipline. As Minister I have no direct role in these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is independent in the performance of its functions. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters. The existing legal framework for the operation of GSOC is set out in Part 3 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Act includes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has a very important role to play in ensuring public confidence in An Garda Síochána and it has extensive powers under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Government is committed to ensuring that GSOC has the necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is the body established by law to investigate complaints against members of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no role in any GSOC investigation. I am advised by GSOC that due to the nature of their recording of investigations it is not possible to extract a specific figure for the number...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is the independent body established by law to investigate complaints against members of An Garda Síochána. GSOC is completely independent in the exercise of its functions, and as Minister I have no role in any of GSOC's operations, including all HR matters. I am advised by GSOC that as civil...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: ...Arrears Resolution Service, commissioned by the Department of Social Protection and undertaken in conjunction with the Department of Justice Q1 2023 Review of the Current GSOC Operational Business Model and Recommendation on its Potential Future State Q1 2023 Report by legal historian outlining the type, availability and quality of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: ...comfort to his grieving family. My thoughts are with them. The circumstances must be fully investigated. As the Deputy will be aware, the fatal shooting is the subject of an investigation by GSOC, which is the independent statutory body established with full investigation powers. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation. However, I am advised by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious that there is a grieving family in all of this. It is important that this matter is fully investigated by GSOC. I cannot comment on the ongoing investigation. It is important to note that this House decided that GSOC must be independent in the exercise of its function. I am advised, and I can only relay to the Deputy the latest information that I have, that the report...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: ...only relay the answer as truthfully as I have been given it, which is that there is now a draft report that is out for internal and external peer review and legal review. I have been assured by GSOC that it is not a matter of resourcing. If it was, I would ensure that resources were not the issue. In relation to the overall issues and different Deputies' views on oversight and...

Cooke Report: Statements (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Harris: ...that they grabbed and the allegations that they made. It is important in this debate that we remind ourselves of what exactly were those accusations, allegations and headlines. The first one, that GSOC was being bugged by An Garda Síochána, was clearly found not to be the case. That is not my view. It is conclusion one, on page 48, of the Cooke report. Regarding the second...

Guerin Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Simon Harris: ...wrong and there is a problem and a dissenting voice, where can that voice go? The Guerin report and what we have seen in respect of penalty points and other matters show us that there is simply no adequate robust structure for that voice to go to. I welcome some of the announcements in respect of GSOC. It is vital that GSOC has real teeth, that a serving Garda can go to it and have an...