Results 1-20 of 987 for garda speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising these important matters relating to the Garda. I look forward to an early meeting with the Garda Commissioner in order that I have a chance to tease through some of these issues with him. We are in the process of reforming oversight of the Garda to establish the new office of the police ombudsman and I hope that reformed office will complete investigations...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: With respect to Garda resources, while the Companies Act 2014 provides for the secondment of Gardaí to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), the Director and the Garda Commissioner are independent in their functions and the assignment of Gardaí to the ODCE is an operational matter for both the Director and the Commissioner. There are currently 8 members of An...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (17 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: ...safety and policing reform. The Cabinet committee on security last met on 30 October. Separate from that, however, I met Commissioner Harris on 3 December and he updated me on the work of An Garda Síochána in respect of drug gangs. The Government is committed to ensuring that Ireland is a safe place for all. The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to congratulate the Garda on its swift action to prevent rioting and criminal damage in Cork. I do not think there were 100 masked youths on the street. The matter is under investigation, but I do not think that is quite what happened. Certainly, the Garda acted swiftly to prevent any crimes being committed or criminal damage being caused. It is a very good example of policing...

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

Leo Varadkar: I agree that all parts of the country need to be adequately policed and not just our city centres. We are now back up to around 14,000 Garda members. Some 700 to 800 recruits will go through the Garda College this year. There will be 800 to 1,000 next year, and we anticipate we will be up to 14,500 gardaí again by the end of 2024. When the Garda College was closed during the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are now 13,500 members of the Garda and the number will increase to 15,000 as part of the current programme. We will also increase the size of the Garda Reserve and double the number of civilians in the force. That is what we are doing to improve the Garda. We also have a €300 million plan for investment in information technology, buildings and vehicles in the Garda. The...

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am told Cahersiveen Garda station has reduced opening hours to the public but it is still functioning on a 24-7 basis. The Killarney district has 107 gardaí assigned to it, including one superintendent and 18 gardaí are assigned to Cahersiveen Garda station. They can call on back-up from national regional units, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the armed...

Road Traffic Bill 2011[Seanad]:Report and Final Stages (20 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: While I understand the Deputy's point, in the scenario he has outlined the garda concerned should arrest the driver. Essentially, the Deputy wants to introduce in law a requirement that a garda arrest someone. Such a provision would be unprecedented as gardaí are always allowed to exercise some degree of judgment in deciding whether to arrest someone, even in the case of murder. In the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Like everyone in this House, I am very concerned about the situation developing in Drogheda. Additional gardaí and Garda resources have been provided. I ask people to support An Garda Síochána in its work and to provide it with any information they have. I thank An Garda for the excellent job it is doing. Any decisions on the deployment of further resources or 24-hour...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am coming to the answer to the Deputy's question. There are now 14,200 gardaí in An Garda Síochána, which is more than it has had for a very long time, as well as 2,900 Garda staff. I am confident that we will meet our target of 21,000 by 2021. A decision has been made in consultation with the Garda Commissioner, and taking into account the recommendations of the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Unfortunately, as Deputies will be aware, we have a shortage of gardaí all over the country. I was in Blanchardstown Garda station in my constituency in recent days. Blanchardstown station is located in the very big Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, west district, which as approximately 50 or 60 fewer gardaí than it had when Garda numbers peaked in 2020. Those numbers fell off...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Garda Vetting of Personnel (31 May 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is the responsibility of the Community Employment (CE) Sponsor to ensure that all CE participants working or training with children and/or vulnerable adults go through the Garda vetting process. Garda vetting of CE participants is primarily done through Volunteer Ireland. The cost of Garda vetting can be recouped from the materials grant provided by my Department to CE Sponsors. I have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: One development we want to see, of which I know the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, is in favour, is more people coming in from the outside. We have a division in the Garda between sworn gardaí and Garda civilian staff. We want to put that together into a single organisation. We want to have in Garda top brass and senior management a mix of people, some who are sworn policemen and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I join him in utterly and unreservedly condemning the attack on Garda Scott in County Cavan the other day. The House is united in horror and condemnation of that attack. An attack on the Defence Forces or An Garda Síochána is an attack on all of us because it is an attack on the State. In relation to Garda resources, we have more gardaí in Ireland...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My thoughts are with Thomas Niland who was a victim of a horrific attack in his home. As there is an active Garda investigation under way, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment in detail on the specific case, but I believe I speak for all in the House in sincerely hoping he makes a full recovery. I join with the Garda in appealing for any person who noticed anything unusual in...

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to repeat what I said earlier today. The report gives me confidence that the penalty point system has integrity. It has been hugely successful in terms of freeing up Garda time and changing Garda behaviour. The report found that a small number of gardaí may not have used their discretionary powers appropriately but that is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I can assure the Deputy that there are Garda checkpoints all over the country. I passed through one on the south quays just outside the Guinness brewery the other day. If there is anywhere where a checkpoint could cause a tailback, it is on such a busy road, yet there are checkpoints in those areas too for very good reasons. Neither I nor the Ministers, Deputies Flanagan and Ross, order...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (4 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: ..., the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) was allocated €300,000 to purchase EvidenzerIRL instruments. The Bureau is now ready to proceed with the purchase of 22 instruments for installation in Garda Stations and an additional 3 instruments are also being purchased to ensure sufficient spares are available.  The instruments will be installed in 22 designated...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Both the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, and I have visited Drogheda in the last few months to hear about the situation first-hand from both the Garda and people living in the area. Additional resources have been provided by the Garda Commissioner, and it is up to him to decide whether additional resources can be provided in the next few weeks. However, next year's...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Howlin and acknowledge his long-standing interest in reform of An Garda Síochána. I also acknowledge the work he did in driving that forward in the previous Government. We had a chance at Cabinet this morning to discuss the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. That was chaired, as Deputy Howlin knows, by Ms Kathleen O'Toole. We...