Results 1-20 of 24 for garda speaker:Vincent P Martin

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Vincent P Martin: ...orders were made. Some 5,000 of these orders were breached, but we currently have a one size fits all approach. My Bill proposes a hybrid approach to this important area of concern. I also note there were only 500 convictions on foot of breaches of protective orders. Last year there were 54,000 domestic violence-related Garda callouts. Sarah Benson, CEO of Women's Aid, spoke to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: In respect of the lockers that the Garda has, does all the necessary gear - fire-proof suits, body armour, public order batons, boots, helmets, communication gear and now tasers - fit in them? Are the lockers sufficiently large to contain all the necessary equipment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: Reference was made to monitoring online activity and that, I would submit, is vital to give An Garda Síochána a heads-up on what might happen. Without going into intelligence, can the Commissioner give the committee more information about what that entails? How many staff are there and are they dedicated solely to this purpose? Is it a 24-7 role? What is the training, including...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: ...the Minister proposes to enact. It is important to emphasise that at its core is community safety. Some of the people listening to these proceedings may not be instantly or keenly interested in Garda oversight structures, internal governance or national security legislation, although these are vitally important. Some are more worried about whether they will be able to get home without...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Vincent P Martin: ...outlined some helpful clarifying and constructive explanations in support of this initiative, which the Green Party grouping supports. The Bill provides for the wearing of body-worn cameras by gardaí and this is something for which gardaí have called for a number of years. It is worth noting that the ICCL has repeatedly expressed some concerns. I take on board concerns from a...

Seanad: Transport Police Service: Motion (25 Jan 2023)

Vincent P Martin: ...the Fianna Fáil group for tabling this motion and is pleased to support the motion. The Minister for Justice has previously stated that "there is no proposal to establish a specific unit ... the Garda Commissioner will always keep these matters under review" if problems got worse. It is clear that the problem is not getting any better and now is the time to review the situation. I...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: ...discretion in one sense would not tie the hands of the chairperson. Because it is an absolute discretion, this person, who we would expect to be competent, can act and may decide in an awful situation to go directly to the Garda or may report it directly to the Minister, who is in a position to take action. I think the “may” is important because no one is guilty without due...

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: ...existing public spaces and inform the design of future spaces. Feeling safe in public spaces is important, especially for women. Many of the indicators for the justice plan are based on the findings of the Garda's public attitudes surveys. One of these relates to a question on fear of crime and the impact it has on quality of life. We have the results of the 2021 survey and they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I am at an advanced stage of researching a Bill for regulation of the sale, supply and manufacture of number plates. The cloning and fraudulent use of number plates is a problem for An Garda Síochána. Although my Bill is aimed at combatting crime or making crime more difficult, it would come into play in this regard as well. It would be complementary in the sense that there would...

Seanad: Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Second Stage (22 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: ...and increasing trust in the wider system of military discipline and justice. This Bill significantly enhances the powers of the Military Police and brings them in line with the powers of the Garda in respect of DNA collection and fingerprinting of suspects. It should also be borne in mind that the Garda is operationally independent when carrying out investigations. The Military Police,...

Seanad: Defence (Restriction on Use of Certain Titles) Bill 2021: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Vincent P Martin: ...listen, try to understand where they are coming from and build up some respect. Equally, on the journey are the die-hard parliamentarians and democrats who stood by the flag through all those years of bitter pain when members of Óglaigh na hÉireann and An Garda Síochána in most towns in this country went out, left their families and never came home. I know all about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill: Discussion (15 Feb 2022)

Vincent P Martin: ...unduly suffering such inexcusable and inordinate prolonged delays. The process should not be going on for a day or an hour longer than is absolutely necessary. We are dealing with members of An Garda Síochána. Regarding matters that are not notified to people under investigation, I take the point made by Senator Ward and others. We can cite natural justice in this regard....

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage (27 Jan 2022)

Vincent P Martin: ...always great to see her here. I am conscious of time and do not wish to repeat points made, only to concur with what I perceive to be a warm reception for reform. The force of law and order, An Garda Síochána, should be conscious that reform is being sought with the very best intention. Lest we forget, an opportunity should not be let go without mentioning the fallen —...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Dec 2021)

Vincent P Martin: ...not just Ireland. There was a debate recently in the House of Lords. However, I am aware at first hand of the problems in three racecourses in the county where I live which impede members of the Garda in carrying out their functions, when there is a lacuna in the law, and the Garda is supportive of any initiative that can alleviate the problem and protect stakeholders adversely affected....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Nov 2021)

Vincent P Martin: ...The Green Party has a proud, close affinity and deep, strong advocacy for the use of public transport. What resources are required by the Department of Justice, the Department of Transport and An Garda Síochána to make public transport safe for people? I am aware of a person who got his dream job of providing catering services on trains. He had to leave that job owing to the...

Seanad: Private Security Services (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (6 Jul 2021)

Vincent P Martin: ...and laws will defend that person's home against all comers and, in so doing, give him or her some repose from the cares of the world and recognise, in some way, his or her human dignity. I praise An Garda Síochána for the work it has done in the testing times of the pandemic. What is the motivation behind this legislation, however? Let us be honest about it. An Garda...

Seanad: Search and Rescue System: Motion (28 May 2021)

Vincent P Martin: ..., who contributed just before me. He comes from a county with a very fine military tradition. I detected since I became a Senator last year the total respect that we have for Óglaigh na hÉireann, An Garda Síochána, search and rescue crews and everyone else. The Minister might update us on the Commission on the Defence Forces. We may have findings from it before the...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 May 2021)

Vincent P Martin: ...end is afforded full rights to refute and rebut, I see no difficulty at all. In fact, to deprive a person whose liberty is at stake of the opportunity to go there - let us say it is against a garda - could trammel on the constitutional right to a fair trial. All and every piece of evidence in a non-jury trial which can assist the judge, or in a jury trial which can assist the members of...

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement: Motion (10 May 2021)

Vincent P Martin: ..., but essential healing must happen before we can think of a united Ireland in real terms. We have a peace but it is not an authentic peace. I am sorry to pick on one tradition because both sides lost so many, but the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, is an inspiration. His father, an RUC officer, was killed. Drew Harris was asked in an interview how he got over it. He said he had not...

Seanad: Ábhair Ghnó an tSeanaid – Matters on the Business of the Seanad (22 Feb 2021)

Vincent P Martin: ...their pain by going down that road will be highly divisive and counterproductive. It will not heal them and will not heal the country. Perhaps they could take a leaf out of the book of the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris. I do not know if the Leader saw his recent interview on a TV chat show on a Friday night. That show is disproportionately full of sad stories of late, but that...