Results 21-40 of 739 for garda speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Jan 2023)

Brendan Howlin: 1098. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will set out the establishment number and the current number in the Garda Reserve force; if the Garda Commissioner plans to recruit additional members during the course of 2023; if a review has taken place of the role and function of the Garda Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1017/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (1 Dec 2022)

Brendan Howlin: 317. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions that she has had to date with unions representing civilian staff working with An Garda Síochána in advance of drafting of the general scheme of the policing, security and community safety Bill; if it is intended to change the terms and conditions of such staff; if she will meet the unions to discuss...

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Brendan Howlin: ...consolidation anyway because this is difficult legislation to read in conjunction with the 2011 Act. It is difficult for providers or citizens to know what their privacy rights are or even for An Garda Síochána to have certainly about it. A consolidated Bill should be a priority for the Minister. She should be able to tell us definitively that this will all be done and dusted...

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Brendan Howlin: That would be very welcome because legislation should be readable and we should be able to understand exactly what the rights of every citizen are in relation to data. The Garda should be crystal clear on its rights when accessing and using data for criminal investigation purposes. That is really important. Equally important is the point already made - a question I asked the...

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Brendan Howlin: ...the law as it has been stated by the Court of Justice of the European Union and we have to make the best fist of it. I would have liked more time to tease this out with representatives of An Garda Síochána because I am not sure it has fully thought through how useful the particular piece of legislation will be for it. In terms of the so-called Schedule 2 data, such retention...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (5 Jul 2022)

Brendan Howlin: 25. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to a Dáil Parliamentary Question in January 2021, if she issued a directive under section 25(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to the Garda Commissioner on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35900/22]

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Brendan Howlin: ...to see who is actually presenting cases. Many summary decisions are being made in a court of first instance but experience is important in presenting a case. I had the pleasure of visiting the Garda Training College in Templemore and I know there are specific training modules for presenting a case. It seems, however, that like everything else, there is a knack and a specialty to...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (25 May 2022)

Brendan Howlin: ...places. Members will recall the hiatus last year when there was total confusion about the legal situations, with local authorities wondering whether they were the licensing authority and with the Garda contacting the Minister directly enquiring as to what was happening. There was a particular difficulty in Galway about which, I have no doubt, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle was contacted...

Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 May 2022)

Brendan Howlin: There is general agreement that, as they are now structured, the existing compensation mechanisms available to members of An Garda Síochána who are injured and to their family members is cumbersome and in need of major overhaul. I heartily welcome the new arrangements set out in the Bill before the House. The objective is to make the process easier and speedier. We hope that will...

Prüm II Proposal: Motion (26 Apr 2022)

Brendan Howlin: ...states and jurisdictions across the globe to ensure the law enforcement side of the battle is as capable of using technology as the criminals. This is my first opportunity to pay tribute to An Garda Síochána for the spectacular success of last week. The efforts made by the Garda in persuading international law enforcement agencies, especially the United States Department of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Brendan Howlin: ...hundreds of Ukrainian refugees will arrive on these ships and the ones to follow. However, although there is amazing and heart-warming goodwill from local community volunteers, local authority staff, the Garda Síochána, the Department of Social Protection and many others, there is a clear lack of co-ordination at the port – a lead agency, someone to be in charge, to...

Legacy Issues in Northern Ireland and Reports of Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland: Statements (23 Feb 2022)

Brendan Howlin: ...a great deal to do in implementing the key Patten message that community policing must be at the core of every police service and the core function of every police officer. However, the PSNI and An Garda Síochána remain haunted by their legacy issues. On both sides of the Border, the perceived need for an uncompromising response to terrorism led, in some instances, to the...

Gender-based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jan 2022)

Brendan Howlin: ...colleagues, her friends, her pupils and all who have been so deeply affected by her savage murder. The murder investigation will continue to take its course. Enormous efforts are being made by An Garda Síochána to investigate this most awful of crimes and to bring those responsible to justice. We will allow the Garda to do its job but the profound question being posed to...

Appointment of Member and Chair of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (15 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak briefly on this matter. The vast bulk of members of An Garda Síochána, whom we are very fortunate to have, have been the line of defence of our State over several turbulent decades, but there have been several issues. There will always be issues that require an investigation independent of the police because society and the Oireachtas...

Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: ..., the Minister has set out a number of significant improvements to an array of legislation in light of our deepening understanding of sex offenders and sex offences. The requirement to notify An Garda Síochána of a change of address within three days rather than the existing seven days is important. There is merit to it even on the basis of putting it in sync with what happens...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (16 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: ...of confusion between what was lawful in terms of local by-laws and overarching national policy. Indeed, a number of local authorities voiced confusion about what was lawful and members of An Garda Síochána acted, at that time, to intervene because the law was unclear. The Department did not act immediately, but eventually agreed that the issue needed to be corrected by way of...

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: ...in particular talking to the then parish priest of Wexford, Fr. Jim Fegan, whom the Minister of State would know well. He was one of the people, together with local ambulance crews and members of An Garda Síochána, who had to go inside that place of suffering. The experience is still seared on those people. There is a beautiful memorial to those who died at the site in...

The National Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and Supporting Community Safety: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

Brendan Howlin: ...criminal justice system is too often set in train from an early age. A strategy that involves the whole of society, and not simply the criminal justice system or the Department of Justice or An Garda Síochána, is the only one that has any prospect of success. In his foreword to the strategy, the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, sets this out clearly enough. The analysis is...

Garda Siochana (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage (22 Sep 2021)

Brendan Howlin: ...indicated, this is part of a comprehensive reform agenda. It is a technical measure, but is part of a suite of very substantial change. The Minister will know I have been advocating change in An Garda Síochána for a very long time, since my involvement in various inquiries. The Garda itself wants a fundamental shift in its structures and so on. Thus, I very much welcome the...

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence: Statements (6 Jul 2021)

Brendan Howlin: .... We defined it in section 39 of that Act. There was concern that there would not be prosecutions because it is do difficult to prove coercive control in court, but there have been. I commend An Garda Síochána and its specialist units on following such cases up. The belittling abuse and control of people's lives, and women's lives, by and large, by coercive men is a shocking...