Results 101-120 of 717 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: In Tipperary, the concern would be that we might be moving gardaí from Tipperary to Dublin to cover the latter. At the moment, it is only overtime so we are not being affected. However, we need to see the crime figures to make sure they do not just move from one place to another.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: We all agree that gardaí are doing the best they can. Many of them are very deflated. I know gardaí who come to small stores, take someone to the courts and the judge asks if there is a space in a jail for them before they go into court. It is almost as if it is a garda's job to find something before the judge decides whether a person are prosecuted or not. Many gardaí are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: The person gets off free, comes back to a store and robs it again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Those six gardaí are not able to be on the street protecting people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: We have seen an increase in this over the years and all this morning's contributions have referred to the extraordinary levels of crime. Almost all shops have installed security systems at their own expense. Do people feel it has been a waste of money putting in security systems or would things be even worse if these things were not in place?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Does that happen frequently?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: However, that was deliberately done to try to catch the retailer out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: The only successful court proceedings the retailers seem to be involved in are the ones against them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: There is something wrong with that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shoplifting: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Gardaí will say they are frustrated with that. There is a greater problem within the courts. Instead of having that many people going to court, the only way to quickly deter it is by having more gardaí on the street.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Facilities (7 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I thank him for taking this important Commencement matter I have tabled. It relates to St. Anne's Secondary School in Tipperary town. I have two questions for the Minister of State. One relates to an application for additional space, essentially for an extension or new building for the students and the school. It is important. They have a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Facilities (7 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for his response, much of which related to the capital funding for developments. That is important in the long term. In regard to his response on school meals, he said the Department is going to liaise with the school with respect to its application. I thank him for that. The principal himself is willing to meet with either the Minister for Education or the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I facilitated a really important meeting with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and representatives from 120 businesses in Clonmel recently. The chairperson was Mr. William Burke, and Mr. Richie Gleeson, Ms Aisling Kilroy and Ms Nuala Hickey came to meet the Minister. The meeting was about Irish Water and water services in Clonmel. It is a huge issue for businesses. Essentially there...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Dec 2023)

Garret Ahearn: There was a welcome auction on Friday and on Monday of about €500,000 worth of goods that have been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB. Rolex watches, Louis Vuitton bags and other assets were seized from some of the highest criminals in the country. CAB is an organisation set up by Fine Gael to attack criminal organisations and such people as the former Sinn Féin...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (30 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad. I am always delighted when she comes in to respond to commencement matters. She dealt with two of my issues previously and both have been solved. I have said this to the Minister of State privately but I want to put it on the record of the House today. I raised the case previously of a woman who is an amputee but who did not have a medical...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (30 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Absolutely, the Minister of State has, and that is exactly it. It is about public consultation, bringing it in on a phased basis and making sure that we reassure people working in that sector that they are being recognised. In the Minister of State's contribution, she said that the settings and the particular type of childcare they provide will be taken into account, and it will be...

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I do not always agree with Senator Clonan but I agree with almost everything he said about things that have been amplified by people across the country, including people in both Houses. That needs to be addressed. Everyone here is coming from a very genuine background and believes what he or she is saying is correct, but there have been contributions even today saying "violence" and...

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: As I was saying, the Minister showed in Clonmel how her intervention, working with the Garda, can change things. We have seen it from the Government response in Limerick before. We need the same response the Minister made in Clonmel and previous Governments made in Limerick, which is to show force. As she said on TV, these people need to be held accountable for their crimes and locked up.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I also wish to be associated with the comments about the former Cathaoirleach, Tras Honan. She was a trailblazer in her own right and had connections to my home town, Clonmel and Tipperary. Her sister Carrie Acheson was also a T.D. for a period. I offer my condolences to her family and her extended family, including the Barlows in Clonmel, on her very sad passing. She was inspirational to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: They should be convicted.