Results 61-80 of 740 for garda speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Authority (10 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: 14. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the future role of the Policing Authority especially regarding the appointment of senior officers of An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22833/20]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Statutory Instruments (10 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...of Health on the guidelines published in SI No. 326 of 2020 (Health Act, 1947) (Section 31A- Temporary Restrictions) (Covid 19) (No. 4) Regulations 2020; the nature and extent of consultation with An Garda Síochána on the instrument; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22832/20]

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...benefit of Deputy Danny Healy-Rae I am not suggesting that a person would appeal a decision to the High Court. I am suggesting that in the normal September licensing hearings, if a member of An Garda Síochána, as outlined properly in terms of my intent by Deputy McNamara, objects to the granting of a licence on the basis that the premises was closed for a day under an emergency...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: This is a matter of rights. The Minister would have to accept that without specifically stating that these are contestable facts, the overwhelming balance falls to the member of An Garda Síochána who can point to an uncontested emergency closure order against the premises. If we do not state it in the law that because it is an emergency closure order, the facts of the case have...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: When an immediate closure order is made by An Garda Síochána, as is clear from the term, it has immediate effect. If somebody feels aggrieved there is no way that the validity or reasonableness of an immediate closure order can be scrutinised by a court because if a premises is closed for the day, by the time a proprietor has any remedy it is obviously too late. We accept that...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...this in this Bill? This Bill is supposedly confined to licensed premises. The notion of having a catch-all "or otherwise" added to it because some other regulation might be brought in such that a garda can enter under a warrant to give a direction when there by the by is not the way that normal legislation is constructed. It is not normal to put in a catch-all so that if a garda sees...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: .... Deputy Bruton did not mention the amendment. We need to ensure that the laws we enact are very clear. I was taken by the Minister's comment that this will provide clarity to members of An Garda Síochána. Like others, I listened to the representative of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors last weekend. The representative body of middle ranking members of An...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, to delete line 14. The amendment pertains to section 3 of the Bill, which provides entry and inspection of relevant premises by members of An Garda Síochána. Section 3 states: 3. (1) Any member, whether in uniform or not, may enter without a warrant any relevant premises at any time and there make such inspection, examination, observation...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (2 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...people had of a situation in Dublin, where a barman stood on a bar counter, pouring vodka down the throats of clients. People assumed that that could be acted on but the only criminal sanction the gardaí have is if a particular premises is not selling €9 worth of food to every one of its clients. The rest of the activities were covered by mere guidelines. They are not...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Sep 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...'s business, as a longstanding Member of this House I want to raise a point of serious concern. Later today, we are to debate a criminal justice Bill which gives new powers of enforcement to An Garda Síochána and penalties for breaches of acts which are now to be criminal acts. This is a Bill that creates penalties for crimes that are not set out in it. It is a very unusual...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...Brexit as the focus. I also wish the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, well. In my judgment, the most important task the Minister will have in the coming years is completing the programme of Garda reform. We have talked about this for a decade. The single most important decision made in the justice area in recent decades was the establishment of an independent policing...

Covid-19 (Measures to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence): Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...of Wexford. I acknowledge the sterling work of the voluntary people who are the drivers of those centres, and the superb co-operation between the statutory and non-statutory groups, between An Garda Síochána and the HSE, and in particular with Wexford local authorities, namely, Wexford County Council. Brand new and modern facilities are now in train in Wexford to improve those...

Covid-19 (Measures to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence): Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...in this unprecedented time. We may never get a complete picture of the extent of the domestic violence that has happened over recent months. We know that domestic violence reports to An Garda Síochána have increased by some 30% in certain areas, but how many of those in lockdown, in close proximity to their abuser, have been unable or have had no opportunity to reach out and...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Brendan Howlin: I begin, like others, by expressing my sincere condolences to the family, friends and work colleagues of the late Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The whole country was shocked when the news came of his brutal murder. It has united the nation in grief and has underscored for all of us the importance of our police force, An Garda Síochána, the protectors of the peace. Unlike many...

An Bille Sláinte (Caomhnú agus Cosaint agus Bearta Éigeandála Eile Ar Mhaithe Le Leas an Phobail), 2020: An Dara Céim - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Second Stage (19 Mar 2020)

Brendan Howlin: ...of contravention of a regulation under the new section is an arrestable offence? Nothing in the original Act nor in this Bill seems to make the new offence an arrestable offence. This would mean that the Garda would be very limited in its powers to enforce it. If a garda wanted to stop somebody from contaminating others, there would be no point in saying, "We will serve a summons on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: ...to work every day. According to the Government's plan, legislation will be implemented over the course of the next five years which would require childminders to gain formal qualifications and be Garda vetted. Their homes would also have to be inspected to ensure they meet certain requirements. In principle, these are sensible proposals, but there is a risk that they will be implemented...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2019)

Brendan Howlin: On Wednesday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris gave a stark warning about the rise of far-right extremism, which he categorised as a threat. He called it "a growing concern right across law enforcement and intelligence agencies across Europe" and stated that the Garda was concerned about right-wing social media activity, planned arson attacks targeting direct provision centres and the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2019)

Brendan Howlin: ...in a gangland area. Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House today and to all of us that no part of this country is controlled by gangs, that we do not have gangland areas or no-go areas for the Garda in maintaining peace and order in this land? We cannot have a situation where murders are somehow diminished because the term "gang" or "gangland" is attributed to the incident. We must not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2019)

Brendan Howlin: ...these areas so that we simply are not talking about general figures for our unemployment being 5% and all is well. We need to drill down. I ask the Taoiseach specifically about the number of gardaí, because it is an issue that is coming up again and again. People want to see the visible presence of gardaí in our communities, and community policing is a critical focus of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Garda Reform (26 Nov 2019)

Brendan Howlin: ...that Ireland had one of the lowest police-to-population ratios in Europe. The average ratio across the EU 28 was 318 police officers per 100,000 inhabitants while in Ireland, that figure was 278 gardaí per 100,000 inhabitants. This definition does not take account the number of civilian staff who are not directly involved in police work and vast numbers of civilian staff are...