Results 1-20 of 61 for garda speaker:Ossian Smyth

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (17 Apr 2024)

Ossian Smyth: ...to the Minister about this previously. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is committed, as is the entire Government, to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána across the country is central to this policy. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is legally responsible for the management and administration of Garda...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (17 Apr 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy asked about the status of the strategic assessment. I will ask the Minister to update her on that. It is the Minister's understanding that Garda estates management met colleagues from the OPW to discuss short-term works to accommodate the operating model within the existing station. The Minister also understands that Garda estates management is considering the accommodation...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Ossian Smyth: ...of an offence. This creates an offence of blocking a right of way and refers to the local authority's obligation to maintain rights of way. It is an offence and I expect people will contact the Garda if an offence has been committed. Perhaps a planning authority can take action against an individual directly.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (14 Feb 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Retired members of An Garda and the Defence Forces are entitled not just to respect from the State but also to great gratitude for what they have done, and they should always be treated with dignity in dealings with the State after they have served. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has acknowledged that there is a problem and that the interaction with the Department of Social Protection and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Work Projects (29 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...divert young people away from crime, but also work to foster young people’s talents, interests and personal development. These projects provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protecting local communities. To support youth justice services, and to ensure delivery of key objectives in the Youth Justice...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Court Accommodation (8 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...code, was approved in principle in June 2022. The original intention was that Hammond Lane would be delivered as part of a bundle of public private partnership, PPP, projects, including the two Garda stations the Senator mentioned. However, it was decided earlier this year that the two Garda projects would be decoupled from the PPP projects and would proceed by traditional direct...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Second Stage (21 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...to the making of a return and states that failure to do this is an offence. Finally, section 24 provides that the competent authority may enter and inspect premises as required to confirm that returns provided are accurate, a task in which the Garda can provide assistance, if required. Part 3 outlines the market cap fund which will be where all amounts paid under chapter 3 are...

Seanad: Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...Cyber Security Centre, NCSC. Its role is to protect Ireland from civilian cybersecurity threats. We have two other divisions that really provide cybersecurity in Ireland, one of which is the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which is tasked with law enforcement and intelligence gathering. There is also a division within the Defence Forces that provides cyber defence and protects...

Seanad: Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...the Department of Justice can be involved in the procurement of facial recognition technology before there is a legal basis for its use. The coalition Government has decided to proceed with the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022, which provides a legal basis for the use of bodycams by gardaí, but not to legislate for facial recognition technology. We will do that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety Authority (19 Apr 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...a great deal and continues to do so. However, there is one very specific and very important issue where difficulties have arisen and where the Senator is quite right to refer to section 8. The Garda conducts investigations into road traffic collisions and produces detailed collision reports. These reports provide essential information on the causes of collisions, which in turn indicates...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised) (21 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...because of the challenges brought about by the board resignations in the interim period since the review was carried out. There have been a series of protected disclosures and complaints to the Garda. There is a formal process for investigating protected disclosures and there are of course criminal investigations. It is difficult for me to comment on the likely outcome of any of these...

Seanad: Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...about the possibility of having some kind of director of intelligence service that oversees all the intelligence agencies in the State. The State has two intelligence agencies - one is under the Garda and one is under the Department of Defence. They are co-ordinated along with the National Cyber Security Centre, which is a civilian operation. Those three arms of national security are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Inland Fisheries (14 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: .... Following the conclusion of the investigation, that staff member has been dismissed. I should also advise that matters examined as part of this investigation are under investigation by An Garda Síochána and in that context, it would not be appropriate to comment further on this particular matter. In addition, evidence of attempts to place pressure on, and alleged intimidation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Inland Fisheries (14 Dec 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...of feeling from all three Deputies, that they are from different constituencies and that they mean what they say. I should be clear that the process is by no means over. There are a number of Garda investigations ongoing and the latest protected disclosures on IFI, which were mostly anonymously made, are still being examined. The Department has to follow due process; there is a set of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...that we in the Oireachtas are good at creating laws, but we have to take into account that those laws have to be implemented and that every law we pass creates new requirements and burdens on the Garda. Where possible, we should remove some of the laws that are on the Statute Book. He made the point that any recruitment campaign we run should be vibrant. Such campaigns should be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. I have listened carefully to his initial comments and it is clear he has been following up on this issue, which is close to his heart. He can see the benefits of the Garda Reserve and he has been persistently trying to follow up on when the recruitment campaign will start. The information I have been given is the information I have passed on to him, but I can pass on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising this issue. While recruitment to An Garda Síochána has faced challenges in recent times, this has been due in the main to public health restrictions in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. The effect of the restrictions has been a slower than anticipated flow of new entrants into the Garda College. ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Ossian Smyth: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this issue in the House. The Deputy will appreciate of course that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation and distribution of resources. However, I can inform the Deputy it is anticipated that the Garda Reserve recruitment process will launch in the coming year. As the Deputy may...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Communications Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: It would get that information from the security apparatus of the State, including the Garda and the Department of Defence.

Communications Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Oct 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...and Ó Murchú raised the question of nuisance calls, scam texts and scam calls, and asked for an update in that regard. Last year, I convened a meeting of the mobile operators, the head of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, the head of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau and ComReg. We set up a task force to deal with the problem, which is widespread and increased...