Results 1-20 of 87 for garda speaker:Mark Ward

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Mark Ward: ...the loss of a loved one. One solution is enforcement. Information received by my colleague Deputy Martin Kenny stated that as of the end of February 2024, there were 627 members assigned to the Garda road policing unit compared with 623 in 2017. That is an increase of only four gardaí in the road policing unit in seven years. Surely even the Minister of State will admit this is an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Apr 2024)

Mark Ward: 917. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding allocated to Garda youth diversion projects in the Dublin mid-west area; the funding for the Clondalkin area; for a breakdown of where this funding is allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14985/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Arson Attacks: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the Garda representatives for attending. I will touch on the far-right tactics of baiting gardaí into a response and looking for a response. Sometimes when there is a perceived lack of response, that can lead to an escalation of some of the situations we have seen, most notably the Dublin riots and recent events in the Chair’s area in Celbridge where members of An Garda...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Arson Attacks: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Mark Ward: That is misinformation and a downright lie. To be serious again, the perceived lack of consequences for actions such as targeting gardaí with fireworks is just not on. That perception can lead to more of these situations and have a snowball effect. Has the Garda learned from this or changed and evolved its tactics for dealing with these more aggressive protests recently? I would not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Arson Attacks: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Mark Ward: I always find it very odd that it is not an offence. I feel it is a real invasion for somebody to go right up into a garda's face with a phone and incite a reaction from the garda. Is it not an offence to do that?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Mark Ward: 4. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 31 January 2024, why the Garda National Vetting Bureau does not have a role in vetting local authority housing applicants; if there is capacity within the Garda National Vetting Bureau to assist local Garda superintendents with this process; and if she will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the Minister for taking this question. I would like to know why the Garda National Vetting Bureau does not have a role in vetting local authority housing applicants. Is there capacity in the Garda National Vetting Bureau to assist local superintendents with this process? Is there a more efficient way to process Garda vetting for local authority applicants?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Mark Ward: This is probably where some of the confusion arises. I got in touch with my local authority, which said it is waiting for the Garda to get back to it about the vetting so tin order that a particular housing applicant can access a home. I have no reason whatsoever to criticise the Garda vetting process, which needs to be robust, especially when it comes to children and vulnerable adults....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Mark Ward: I thank the Minister of State. As I said, there is confusion. The applicants are coming back to me and saying they are awaiting Garda vetting. The local authority has come back to me to say it is waiting for Garda vetting. For example, South Dublin County Council has more than 10,000 applicants on the list waiting for social housing. That council's process is that it seeks some sort of...

Road Traffic Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

Mark Ward: .... The legislation is only a small solution to a much bigger issue. We need increased investment in enforcement, education and the quality of our roads. I acknowledge the hard work done by An Garda Síochána in trying to keep our roads safe. I also acknowledge the hard work that the gardaí do when they are first responders to a scene and they witness some of the most...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (1 Feb 2024)

Mark Ward: ...if a more cross-departmental approach is possible whereby we could nip this in the bud a lot earlier. I welcome that the community safety forum through our councillor, William Carey, called in the gardaí to meet them. That was the start of the engagement there. Before that happens, however, Dublin Bus should have a mechanism whereby it can engage itself with the Garda, youth...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2024)

Mark Ward: 105. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how many applications for Garda vetting are received per local authority; the average time it took to process an application in each of the years 2021 to 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4403/24]

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

Mark Ward: ...a distraction. I put it to those opposite that Fine Gael must have been distracted in the past 12 years that it has held the justice portfolio. On Fine Gael's watch, there are almost 500 fewer gardaí in Dublin since it came into government. Was it distracted when two gardaí who were on overtime from Ronanstown in my area were brutally attacked in Ballyfermot? Was Fine Gael...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Organisations (3 Oct 2023)

Mark Ward: 342. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of people and volunteers who have applied for Garda vetting through sporting bodies, by sport, from 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42310/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (13 Jul 2023)

Mark Ward: 541. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of young people who were diverted to Garda Youth Diversion Programmes in 2011 to 2022 and to-date in 2023, by county; the number that completed the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35341/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (13 Jul 2023)

Mark Ward: 545. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are follow-up services for those that have completed a Garda Youth Diversion Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35345/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (13 Jul 2023)

Mark Ward: 546. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of young people who have completed a Garda Youth Diversion Programme who have reoffended; the outcomes in these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35346/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (13 Jul 2023)

Mark Ward: 542. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding allocated to Garda Youth Diversion Programmes in 2011 to 2023, by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35342/23]

Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2023)

Mark Ward: ...and make a requirement which serves several purposes. It first ensures that people know what the rules are and that they know the law. This is a chance for the people to understand how An Garda operates and for them to feed into consultation. I accept that the Bill states: (i) the Minister; (ii) the Policing Authority; (iii) the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; (iv)...

Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2023)

Mark Ward: The Minister herself has said that this legislation is very new. It is new for An Garda, for the public and for ourselves in here. As much awareness as we can get out there - I take the Minister's word on it - and an awareness campaign would be very beneficial for the general public. As Deputy Howlin said, what is the harm in having an information campaign within the legislation.