Results 1-20 of 32 for garda speaker:Tom Clonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Tom Clonan: At the outset, I must declare a conflict of interest. My father was a garda in Pearse Street Garda station, and my grandfather was a garda in Kevin Street Garda station. Their service overlapped briefly in the 1950s. I am told that my grandfather used to go from Kevin Street to Pearse Street to make sure my dad was in bed. I believe they had a doorman there. Dad would have retired around...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Apr 2023)

Tom Clonan: For the record, I will mention a social media message that was posted last night by Senator Keogan. It refers to certain office holders in the State, including the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. On my behalf and that of Senators McDowell, Boyhan, Craughwell and Norris, I wish to publicly repudiate the tone, content and message contained in that post. It will raise feelings of alienation...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Possible Enhancement of Child Protection Powers of Tusla: Discussion (25 Apr 2023)

Tom Clonan: I commend Ms Duggan on that. I wrote to the Garda Commissioner in the past week asking for a Garda investigation into the residential setting for persons with intellectual disability and, unfortunately, in writing to the Commissioner, I had to point out that some of the statutory agencies involved are actually the ones placing obstacles in the way of such full disclosure, with the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2023)

Tom Clonan: ...day 24 years ago. I was there that year as a staff officer bringing journalists out. I am always mindful of the sacrifice our men and women have made overseas. I am also mindful of the precedent set by the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, who, since his appointment a number of years ago, has been very proactive in recognising valour and courage displayed by deceased members of An Garda...

Seanad: Impact of Cost of Living Issues on Young People in Ireland: Motion (28 Sep 2022)

Tom Clonan: That is something we have in common. My grandfather was a garda. He married a woman from Drogheda and had nine children. He lived in the community he policed. He had his own home and was able to send his children to school. Even back in those days, some of them actually went to university and became engineers, teachers and nuns. My dad became a garda himself and, like my grandfather, he...

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: .... What we need now is solidarity and a bit of unity in this House, but in order to do that, we have to face the facts of life. I was downstairs in committee room 4, where the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána was being questioned by the Joint Committee on Justice, and Senator Ruane asked a very important question. She asked what the primary driver is for the latent, inchoate...

Seanad: Impact of Cost of Living Issues on Young People in Ireland: Motion (28 Sep 2022)

Tom Clonan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an Aire Stáit and I thank all of my colleagues for their responses. If I heard the Minister of State correctly, his father was a garda.

Seanad: European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 Oct 2022)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I commend this legislation. I have an abiding interest in transnational crime within the European space. The Garda Síochána is the primary intelligence agency within the State, although we have new emerging structures. The discussion of this legislation prompts me to comment that we, as a House and a Legislature, need to be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Mar 2024)

Tom Clonan: The guests are all very welcome here this morning. I will raise a couple of issues this morning. First of all, my dad was a carpenter before he joined the Garda. As a consequence, when I was the age of our guests, I spent every weekend and every summer working with my dad. I learned a great deal about carpentry, joinery and all sorts of other stuff, so I am pretty handy. Today, I went-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: ...city descend into anarchy as it did. I wrote an article inTheJournal.ie on 21 October in which I predicted precisely this set of circumstances. I think a Rubicon has been passed in that members of An Garda Síochána were targeted. That is a new phenomenon. Rioting has happened in our city centre but the deliberate targeting of An Garda Síochána is a new phenomenon,...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Possible Enhancement of Child Protection Powers of Tusla: Discussion (25 Apr 2023)

Tom Clonan: ...know if the witnesses want to comment on that because it might cast some of their predecessors in a particular light. Other organisations were mentioned in which Tusla is collaborating with an Garda Síochána because there is a suggestion, and based on the threshold on which it seems to operate, that seems to me to be a serious risk. Are those organisations identified in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Decongregation of Mental Health Settings: Mental Health Commission (8 Dec 2022)

Tom Clonan: ...and mental health issues. They are sleeping in doorways and on streets. When they are taken out of congregated settings, they move in with elderly parents, experience a crisis and then end up in Garda stations, accident and emergency departments or on the streets. Given that we are in the middle of a crisis and that people with disabilities and mental health issues are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (14 Feb 2023)

Tom Clonan: ...model offered by such groups as Home Care Direct is actually working. I know because we had no problem recruiting my son's carers. It is very flexible. The carers are very happy. They are all Garda vetted and qualified. That is provided through the Higher Education Authority but the HSE will not deal with them because there is no service level agreement. All that is required is for...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Tom Clonan: ...communicate in other ways and we all know where that leads us to. From my area of interest, I believe that in ten or 15 years' time Óglaigh na hÉireann, or the Defence Forces, will no longer exist. An Garda Síochána, our police force, will no longer exist on this island and I do not know what will have replaced them. Perhaps An Garda Síochána will be called...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 May 2022)

Tom Clonan: ...and systemic sexual assault and rape of female soldiers. You can make a moral argument for theft, lying, even killing. That is the premise upon which we use force in the armed forces and An Garda Síochána. However, there is one thing we as a species cannot tolerate and that is sexual assault, sexual abuse and rape. That organisation did everything in its power to destroy me...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Protected Disclosures (20 Jun 2023)

Tom Clonan: ...is the perception that this was not an independent report. The HSE and other State agencies have unfortunately been recidivist in not publishing the material. I had to write to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, who is currently investigating another State agency for the withholding of information regarding vulnerable citizens. I intend to pursue the matter, and I will...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: ...the kind of alacrity and attention this issue deserves from her colleagues in other Departments and Revenue because it is an essential service that I would put with the ambulance service, health or An Garda Síochána. I know Dr. Brooks knows that but I am concerned by the distress I read in the correspondence. I thank her for her very comprehensive responses.

Seanad: Ireland's Military Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Tom Clonan: ...it never happened. There are moments in our co-operation when we can agree to act collectively without compromising our military neutrality. I do not believe that Óglaigh na hÉireann, or An Garda Síochána for that matter, will exist in 15 or 20 years time. Whether we like it or not, and whether we are ready or not, we are heading at considerable speed towards an...

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

Tom Clonan: Before I address the Bill, I congratulate the Minister and her Department on the increase in number of people applying for An Garda Síochána. Some people made light of the fact there were older candidates. I believe they bring life experience to the role. It is a good news story and the Minister deserves recognition for that. That initiative was swiftly acted on and pushed...

Seanad: Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Tom Clonan: ...how it looks than if a woman gets raped and if you do [complain] the court sits in hell and Satan is the judge. I would categorically state that if any woman in the Army is harassed, assaulted or raped, inform An Garda Síochána, not the military police. Otherwise you will not get justice. Those interviews are from August, 1999, 25 years ago. Those interviews are on the public...