Results 161-180 of 740 for garda speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (5 Apr 2017)

Brendan Howlin: We read in today's newspapers that the Tánaiste, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, yesterday secured Cabinet approval to establish an independent root and branch review of An Garda Síochána. The Taoiseach is aware that the Labour Party published draft terms of reference for such a review last weekend. We have seen no similar draft terms of reference from the Government. I will meet...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Howlin: 115. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drink driving tests carried out between 2012 and 2016, in addition to the previously reported figures for such testing, by year and Garda district, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16070/17]

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...tests were recorded or that there were 14,700 false convictions. They are facts and somebody must be accountable for those now. As regards the notion that we will have another review, the Garda Inspectorate has published a series of very good reports. Almost 2,000 specific recommendations have been set out. Is it not now time to implement those rather than to set another body on...

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...in saving lives. The Road Safety Authority is not the only one concerned. Today, Professor Denis Cusack of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety clearly said that both in 2014 and August 2015, the Garda was alerted to the significant discrepancies between the amount of equipment used and the amount of breath tests recorded. I listened carefully to the Taoiseach's response. He said we are...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2017)

Brendan Howlin: The Government is committed to provide Garda representative bodies with access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court, as the Tánaiste will recall. Is it intended to provide similar access to PDFORRA and the representatives of the Defence Forces in the legislation? Can the Tánaiste indicate when the adjudicator's payment of €15 per day, to be paid to...

Commission of Investigation into the Grace case: Motion (7 Mar 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...with this task was inevitable. Nevertheless, we have gathered some more detail about the appalling mismanagement of the Grace case. We discovered that although the HSE had hidden behind the ongoing Garda inquiries as its reason for not publishing these two reports, it has been stated now the HSE did not contact the Garda about these reports until three years after work on them was...

Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...done much work they can be proud of too. Over the weekend we heard more about the appalling mismanagement of Grace's case. On the "This Week" programme, it was revealed that the HSE did not contact the Garda about making public the two reports into Grace's care until three years after those reports were completed. Yesterday, we heard for the first time from Grace's mother. She was a...

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...shift is put in place in some instances is a much more daunting task. It is also depressing, if true, that this survey was only published following an instruction from the Policing Authority to senior Garda management to do so. I refer to the figures published in An Garda Síochána's own public attitudes survey. If a public attitude survey is done, it is important we actually...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (28 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...to review issues of culture and ethos. Would the Taoiseach not agree that that runs parallel to the work currently being done by an independent body headed by an international expert, namely, the Garda Inspectorate? It has a very fine body of work, with two reports already published. What we do not want is a series of parallel reviews. The Garda is under enough stress. The Garda...

Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...and damaging allegations. As my colleague, Deputy Alan Kelly, and others have highlighted, it appears he is not the only one to have been subjected to such a campaign. Public confidence in An Garda Síochána has once more been undermined. The very many honourable men and women working in An Garda Síochána to keep our society safe have had the integrity of their...

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...Government has not even considered tackling, including water charges, the eighth amendment, the funding of third level education, the baptism barrier in our schools and, of course, whistleblowing in An Garda Síochána. There is no issue the Government seems sufficiently to believe requires resolute and real action. My party believes the power of the State should be an enabler of...

Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...for Justice and Equality seeking input into the terms of reference. I am sure the leaders of all other parties have also been contacted. In regard to the formulation of the terms of reference, the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 provides a distinct role for the Policing Authority in all these matters. In the light of recent...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...in the House, was probably the spate of gangland killings that blighted and gave a negative view of this remarkable area, given the day that is in it and in the teeth of the controversy about An Garda Síochána, it is an appropriate moment to say that the Garda has done terrific work on this issue. This is coming directly from the community. We should say it on the day that...

Commission of Investigation relating to disclosures by members of An Garda Síochána: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...leave pending the outcome of a full investigation. Today we debate the establishment of a commission of investigation. We are told that it may take nine months to report and the media narrative has taken hold that a Garda Commissioner could not step aside for that length of time. This point was also made today by the Tánaiste herself. I believe that view is wrong. Prior to her...

Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...of outcome, until there is a full, fair and complete investigation of all the matters concerned and a determination of the outcome. Our primary duty is to ensure that we restore confidence to An Garda Síochána, which has been battered and bruised by many investigations and allegations. I believe that means we must have decisive and clear action from all sides of this House.

Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...to be a formal inquiry into these matters. I am saying that I have been contacted by somebody who is willing to give evidence to the commission and, in the circumstances, it is my belief that the Garda Commissioner should stand aside until the inquiry comes to its determination. I ask the Taoiseach to agree with me on that.

Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2017)

Brendan Howlin: The charges that have been laid at the Garda Commissioner's door are incredibly serious. The Government has acknowledged this in making the decision to establish a commission of investigation to be chaired by Mr. Justice Peter Charleton. It is quite unusual for the Government to have made a decision to establish a commission of investigation without consultation with the Opposition parties....

Order of Business (31 Jan 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...horrific litany of abuse against "Grace" and more than 40 other children and young people and how this came about. We have been told the HSE refused to publish these reports on the advice of local gardaí in Waterford that it might jeopardise potential inquiries. Following a letter from Deputy John Deasy to the Garda Commissioner, the way was finally cleared two weeks ago for the...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Jan 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ..., that Dublin Airport Authority currently has this responsibility. I hope this will be contemplated by the review he mentioned. I thank the Taoiseach for responding to the point I raised about the Garda College. He will have seen the disquieting report in The Sunday Times about the result of the internal audit. I am not sure if I can ask the Taoiseach specifically about whether this...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Jan 2017)

Brendan Howlin: ...Would he agree further to report back to this House on the issue of taking clear control of security at Dublin Airport away from the Dublin Airport Authority and having a bespoke division within An Garda Síochána to ensure we have robust mechanisms to ensure the security of our seaports and airports? I am not sure, from recollection, whether activities such as the operation...