Results 1-20 of 97 for garda speaker:Michael Collins

Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 May 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank Deputy Connolly and her group for giving us this time to speak on such an important issue. Changes to the Garda compensation scheme have been proposed for a number of years and therefore this Bill is long overdue and welcome. For instance, the current scheme has a requirement to go to the High Court, which is leading to many instances where the legal costs incurred in the...

Garda Siochana (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage (22 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: .... I need to see that they will not dilute services on the ground to the people of west Cork who have seen a dilution of services in recent years. Some years ago, we had the closure of many Garda stations under the then Fine Gael-led Government. This led to the decimation of rural Ireland and started a flood of closures of local businesses, post offices and so on. The local Garda...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2016 (Resumed) (22 Jun 2016)

Michael Collins: One can never over-emphasise the importance of the partnership between An Garda Síochána and the community in continuing to prevent and detect crime and maintaining a safe environment for everyone. The role of our police force is of vital importance to us as a civilised society. The Garda Síochána Inspectorate report Policing in Ireland states that "community policing...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Jun 2018)

Michael Collins: In the programme for Government, under crime and prevention, the Government promised to reopen some Garda stations which had been closed by the previous Government. On 19 December 2017, the Government announced the reopening of six Garda stations, including Ballinspittle Garda station in my constituency. When will Ballinspittle Garda station in west Cork be open to the public? People are...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Michael Collins: In the programme for Government it was promised to reopen six Garda stations to redress some of the damage done by the previous Fine Gael-Labour Party Government through Garda station closures. In February Fine Gael MEPs, Oireachtas Members and local councillors were falling over themselves in Bandon, County Cork following the Minister’s announcement that Ballinspittle Garda station...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: Garda morale is at an all-time low. There is no Garda leadership in this country. Garda stations have been closed. Crime is on the rise in our cities and in the countryside and people are feeling in danger. This was the case well before the outbreak of this recent mindless crime in Dublin, when our capital city was in grave danger. I saw this situation for myself. There were shocking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Nov 2016)

Michael Collins: I am delighted that representatives of An Garda Síochána are with us today to discuss a few issues. I come from a rural community on a peninsula in west Cork. I attended a community alert meeting last night as the secretary of the Schull district community alert group. The witnesses mentioned that such voluntary organisations, including Muintir na Tíre, try to deliver as...

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Collins: As we celebrate the centenary of An Garda Síochána, it is crucial to acknowledge the pressing challenges this revered institution. Morale within the force has plummeted to an all-time low and this crisis of confidence cannot be ignored. The GRA, which represents rank-and-file gardaí, recently registered an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the force's most senior officer,...

Juvenile Crime: Motion [Private Members] (30 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: ...and various areas of west Cork, we have a certain level of youth crime. Overall we have a very honest community of proactive youths in west Cork. In saying that, I commend the work of the gardaí. One initiative in west Cork is the Garda youth awards which encourage and gives recognition to the positive actions of our youth in local communities. I had the pleasure of attending the...

Rural Crime: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: ...Cork, I know only too well the fear and worry caused by rural crime in our communities, especially among isolated people living alone who may be elderly and vulnerable. The prolonged closures of rural Garda stations are without doubt the biggest contributor to the fear that exists around this issue. The role of gardaí in rural Garda station is very important in crime prevention....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Sep 2018)

Michael Collins: Page 101 of A Programme for a Partnership Government states the Government will reopen a number of Garda stations. Six such reopenings were announced subsequently, one of which was Ballinspittle Garda station in west Cork. I have asked this question repeatedly but will the Taoiseach tell us today when will Ballinspittle Garda station be reopened and be fully manned so as to protect the...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2023)

Michael Collins: In the aftermath of the financial crash, as part of the Government's attempt to balance the books through wide-ranging austerity measures, a staggering 139 Garda stations were closed between 2012 and 2013. It was a Fine Gael-Labour Party Government that closed these stations. Five of those properties were sold between 2021 and 2022, which raised more than €1 million for the...

Rural Crime: Motion (21 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: ..., and especially for isolated people living alone who may be elderly and vulnerable. Last week, I spoke about the Government's failure to rural-proof its action. The prolonged closures of rural Garda stations around the country are without doubt the biggest contributor to the fear that exists around this issue. A number of Garda stations in my own constituency, including...

Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: On page 101 of the programme for Government, under the heading "Crime Prevention, Justice and Equality", there is a promise on the part of the Government to launch a pilot scheme to reopen six Garda stations in urban and rural areas. One of these Garda stations is in Ballinspittle in west Cork. When can we expect the Ballinspittle Garda station to be reopened? It is in a coastal area that...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Collins: Previously a garda would tell a person to drop in to the Garda station and produce his or her licence. Could we have a proper debate on the issue? Will the Taoiseach stand by those law-abiding people and not allow the changes to go ahead?

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: ...Consequently, the purpose of the Bill is to remove any instances in legislation where such a mandatory penalty occurs. If this Bill helps to prevent crime and save the public and members of the Garda from criminals, I will fully support it, as it is hard on the honest working people out there watching criminals getting away with crime that at the end of the day, the taxpayer must pay for....

Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Bill 2019: Second Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Michael Collins: I am happy to speak briefly on the Bill. I very much welcome some parts of what is in the Bill. Any measures that are introduced to strengthen co-operation between the Garda and general law enforcement should be welcome at all costs. The need for good relations between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland is as necessary as ever given the uncertainty that...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Community policing has served us well down through the years in west Cork with excellent gardaí such as Damian White and Brigid Hartnett who have been second to none in carrying out their duties and protecting the people they serve. This has not been made easy through the years due to the closure by the previous Fine Gael Government of seven Garda stations in west Cork, namely, those in...

Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2018)

Michael Collins: ...in rural Ireland feel safe again. I have stood here many times in this House highlighting the Government's failure to rural-proof its actions. There have been prolonged closures of rural Garda stations around the country, which is without doubt the biggest contributing factor to rural crime. There are three coastal Garda stations in my constituency, among many others, that have faced...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I wish the Minister the very best in her role. I commend the work which An Garda Síochána has done in west Cork, from the chief superintendent down to every individual garda, in putting people first. Community policing has been at its best, as it should be. I have argued that gardaí who are appointed to an area should reside in that area in order to build a relationship with...