Results 1-20 of 88 for garda speaker:Barry Ward

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Barry Ward: Go raibh maith agar a Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, cuirim fáilte roimh an Áire ar an obair seo go háirithe. I echo what the Minister said about recognising the contribution members of the Garda Reserve make. As a society, we can be very proud that there are so many individuals who are willing to do work that is unpaid and monetarily unrewarded, albeit that it comes with its...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Barry Ward: ...my professional career defending the people Senator Flynn spoke about and the High Court jurisprudence is littered with cases that have been taken against unjustifiable and arbitrary decisions by gardaí to stop and search people and so on. The Senator is right about that. My concern is that this amendment will not fix that. The danger with some of these amendments is that they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: We had engagement with the Commissioner earlier and one of the big issues that came up was the recruitment and retention of gardaí. In some respects the Garda is a victim of the successful employment situation whereby there are many options for people with the skills that gardaí have. An issue that arises in my area is the cost of housing. For gardaí at Blackrock Garda...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Women's Shelters and Domestic Abuse Refuges: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Barry Ward: I thank Ms Bentley for the work she does. She talked about the invisible man. It is an issue that has been highlighted here. Ms Sherlock made a comment on the training of gardaí and the Garda domestic abuse policy. Does she feel there is sufficient training? If a man or woman goes to a Garda station seeking assistance, what are the chances that he or she will meet a garda who is...

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

Barry Ward: ...in custody, the gathering of evidence and other areas. In this amendment, I am specifically considering Judges' rule 9, which relates to the taking of an account of what a person said while being interviewed in custody by members of the Garda. The Judges' rules are common law and go back to the early 20th century. They were affirmed into Irish law in the Pringle case in 1981. In that...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Barry Ward: ...very well with it. The notion that we would now turnaround and remove the word "preventing", in the context of preventing crime, from the legislation, to my mind, is a totally unwarranted tying of Garda hands or at least the tying of one hand behind the back, which is unnecessary. The safeguards the Minister has already spoken about, in terms of applications having to be made, are...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Sep 2020)

Barry Ward: ...others who had other agendas. The point the Deputy was making is sound and needs to be looked at. Senator Bacik said that, when passed, this legislation will significantly expand the powers of An Garda Síochána. That is absolutely correct. There is no disputing that. It will significantly expand Garda members' entitlements to enter licensed premises to carry out inspections,...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (8 Nov 2023)

Barry Ward: Senator Ruane referred to what I said on Committee Stage about these amendments. I do not accept that the Garda should be put in the same category as the police in the United States, particularly, or even in the UK. I think they are better than that but in saying that, I can see that there are bad apples in the barrel. There always are. I recognise the point Senator Ruane is making...

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

Barry Ward: Let us say that I am being investigated for fraud by An Garda Síochána. All of the investigations would take place. My bank accounts might be examined, there might be surveillance and whatever else might happen by An Garda Síochána, and rightly. It would not want to tip me off to the fact it is on to my wrongdoing. Obviously, before the Garda sends its file to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: One of the points that has come out of these discussions is the importance of the protocols from the Department and within An Garda Síochána. Is there any proposed protocol or measure that will penalise someone or is there any consequence for a garda who gets it wrong when he or she should objectively have got it right?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Barry Ward: I might raise a few issues. Obviously, this is a discussion on policing. One criticism made in some quarters is that gardaí were not more forceful in their engagement with rioters on the streets. I have lived in different cities in Europe and I have seen forceful engagement of riot police with people in a public order scenario. I do not want to see that here. I do not want to see...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I accept that, but in circumstances where a garda is investigating a serious offence and is under considerable pressure to identify someone, what do we do to avoid the danger that the garda, however well trained, might naturally feel pressure to find someone to prosecute, investigate or whatever the case may be? What is there specifically to disincentivise following the chain in a way that...

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

Barry Ward: ...negative experiences they have had with all types of motorists and even other cyclists. In that regard, the portal is tremendously interesting but it comes with evidential challenges, of which the Garda will have to take stock. Extra instructions may need to be given to members of the Garda on how quickly they must act on this information, how they will preserve it and make it ready for...

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

Barry Ward: ...to deal with antisocial behaviour and worse on public transport routes, not only on Dublin Bus, but also on other routes. It is important that there is a clear response from the Government and An Garda Síochána to deal with that and to send out the message that it will not be tolerated. It cannot be tolerated. As the motion correctly points out, it is negating the significant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister and I have another question about GSOC. The Minister has heard Garda representative organisations state that gardaí are afraid to do certain things because they are concerned it will result in a matter coming before GSOC. In the first instance I want to say that I absolutely support GSOC. The level of accountability that it has brought to policing is very...

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

Barry Ward: ...anyone on what they said, but could we explore a bit more the issues of natural justice that have been outlined? Two things were said that I am concerned about. First, on the issue that a garda can be investigated by GSOC without being on notice of that, I do not necessarily see that as a problem. On the other things that have been said about a garda being suspended while he or she does...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Barry Ward: I said at the outset of this Bill that it is very important that we put in place protocols governing the use of Garda bodycams and material that is going to be gathered in regard to members of the public in a public place or, indeed, in a private place, for example, a home. Those protocols have to be tight, as I have said to the Minister before. They need to guarantee the safety and privacy...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021: Second Stage (22 Mar 2022)

Barry Ward: ...át sásta leis an mBille ach, ag an am céanna, feicim an fáth go bhfuil sé ann. I understand the relevance of this Bill and the reason it is being introduced. In my profession, I have seen instances in which gardaí have had to react to violent circumstances, such as when a melee breaks out. Where members of An Garda Síochána are present in such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Barry Ward: I will first say that I appear in court on behalf of the Garda Commissioner and I am a member of the ICCL. I do not believe that either circumstance conflicts me, but I wanted to declare it at the outset. The questions I wish to ask relate to false positives and the concerns in that regard. I have listened to what the Garda has said about this essentially being a data-processing tool...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (8 Mar 2022)

Barry Ward: This is an issue with which the Acting Chairman is very familiar. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to deal with this matter.He will be aware that in 2012 An Garda Síochána undertook a rationalisation programme, which meant that it looked at whether it needed all its stations throughout the country. As a result of that review, a decision was made to close a...