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

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: 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: Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Sep 2020)

Vincent P Martin: ...of the intention behind the Act and that powers will only be invoked on the basis of enforcement as a last resort. However, they will soon be on the Statute Book and I am hoping that members of An Garda Síochána will be fully trained. The general secretary of the Garda representative body recently expressed concern about their understanding and the legislative import of their...

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?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020: Motion (6 Nov 2020)

Vincent P Martin: I do not wish to repeat the points that have already been made but a central acknowledgement is that An Garda Síochána has not issued, as has been said by the Minister of State, any closure or compliance order. On one level this vindicates the legislators who supported this two months ago and on another level we can say the Members of this House and the Lower House who opposed it,...

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: 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...

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: 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...

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: 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: 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...

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: 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: 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...

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...

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: Recognition of Irish Military Service at Jadotville in 1961: Statements (11 Nov 2020)

Vincent P Martin: ...the valiant defence of Jadotville in September 1961. I am sure my colleagues in the House will also join me in thanking them but also the thousands of members of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána who have served this country and the United Nations with honour since 1958. During this debate, I think especially of those Defence Force personnel and their Garda colleagues,...

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...