Results 61-80 of 987 for garda speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...the campaign we have run on Coco's Law on sharing intimate messages with people. The Deputy will be familiar with it. That commitment has been made. A commitment has also been made to engage with An Garda Síochána because there should be greater engagement with the Garda around detecting and prosecuting crimes against the LGBT community. In fairness to An Garda...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...abuse allegations. If immediate risks to the safety of residents are identified, they are expected to take action and prevent a recurrence. This can also include, where required, a referral to An Garda Síochána. They are also required to notify the chief inspector of HIQA of any suspected or alleged actual abuse within three days. It is clear that did not happen in these...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...were. There were other allegations, which were not followed up by staff, as they should have been in line with existing HSE safeguarding policies. All incidents were subsequently referred to the Garda and all of the families affected have been informed. I can only echo the words of HSE CEO Bernard Gloster in his statement today, in saying that our concern has to be with the family of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Equality Issues (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: .... It is hard for me to answer that. In terms of my actions, I do not think I personally was guilty of racial bias, nor was my party. I met the family and their legal team. I also contacted the Garda but did not meet with the gardaí involved. It is my view that we should allow an investigation to take place. That is just me; I cannot speak for other politicians, RTÉ or the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...sectarian killings were committed by paramilitaries. We all have a role to play when it comes to legacy. I encourage all parties to encourage anyone they know, or are connected to, to provide information to the Garda or the Police Service of Northern Ireland if they believe it could lead to a prosecution of a paramilitary or somebody involved in any such killings and not to partake in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...who are unfortunately afraid to use public transport at night because of the security issues the Deputy has rightly raised. We now have a new control centre at Heuston Station, which allows An Garda Síochána to monitor what is happening on public transport and in our stations. Obviously, any decision on the establishment of a dedicated transport police service would involve...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for recruitment but the Minister for Justice keeps in regular contact with him about this important matter. Funding has been provided for 1,000 new Garda recruits this year. That remains our target for the year. We are confident that the number of new recruits this year will exceed the number of retirements and resignations. In addition, we are...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...of the country were confined to their homes. On the Deputy's substantive question, I can make that commitment. We have provided enough funding in the budget for this year to recruit 1,000 new gardaí. It is a stretch target and it remains our target but we are confident that the number of additional gardaí who are sworn this year and who are new to the force will exceed the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...do not always work out very well. Some have worked out well and some have not. There are lots of different ways to carry out investigations. Commissions of investigation are one way while tribunals, Garda investigations and GSOC investigations are others. Of course, the new Corporate Enforcement Authority, which I established last year as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...is an unreasonable request, with respect to all of the people involved. Deputy Dillon raised the issue of the Mayo-Roscommon policing division. As the House will be aware, the assignment of gardaí and the assignment of gardaí of particular ranks is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. It is not a matter for the Minister for Justice or for the Taoiseach, and I do not think...

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry. I thought I had covered the deployment of gardaí in my response to Deputy Dillon. The deployment of gardaí is a delegated function to the Garda Commissioner. It is not a decision that is made with the Minister for Justice or the Taoiseach. I am happy to transmit any thoughts the Deputy has on that, if she has not done so already.

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...enhanced governance and accountability framework laid out in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill will be established. Major reforms to date include: progressing the operating model for An Garda Síochána, designed to streamline Garda administration and provide a more visible, responsive and localised policing service to communities nationwide; pilots of the local...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (24 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...governance and accountability framework being introduced under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill will have commenced. Major reforms include progressing an operating model for An Garda Síochána designed to streamline Garda administration and provide a more visible, responsive and localised policing service to communities nationwide. That is well advanced and, it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Let me be very clear. I believe we need more gardaí and more Garda staff. I said so last week when I was asked about it and I stand over it. We need more gardaí and more Garda staff, and that is exactly what we are doing. We have authorised the recruitment of 1,000 new gardaí this year. Of course, there will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...to people coming from overseas. It is impossible for me to say whether the far-right is growing. I do not think it is growing in the context of political support. I might be wrong. Perhaps the Garda Commissioner was referring to that or perhaps to the number of protests or to the number of people turning up at those protests, but I do not have those figures to hand.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...is never acceptable. I also condemn the alleged assault of a man in his 70s in County Clare the other day. I extend my best wishes to him and I hope he makes a speedy recovery. I know the Garda will want to interview him and take action on the case. There is always a place in a democracy for peaceful protest. People have a right to have their voices heard but engaging in violence,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...figures for prosecution files does not include work undertaken by the ODPP in relation to other matters not directly related to criminal prosecution files such as requests for legal advice from the Garda Síochána, local state solicitors or other agencies, policy related matters or queries of a general nature.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...directions received, to the value of just under €800,000. On the issues raised by Deputy Catherine Murphy around the appropriateness of commissions of inquiry more generally, we now have the Corporate Enforcement Authority and the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, NBCI. I am not sure commissions of investigation are the best means by which to examine commercial...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...we will give it some consideration. We are also giving consideration to Simon Community legislation that would assist people who are at risk of homelessness. Deputy Dillon raised the issue of Garda resources in Mayo and other parts of the country. I certainly hear what he is saying, but I can give the assurance to the House that Garda numbers are growing again. Templemore college is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (26 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Moynihan's colleague, Deputy Creed, has raised this issue of a Garda station Macroom with me many times. We are working on the issue. I met the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Office of Public Works recently about it. A new station is needed in Macroom quite urgently, as well as one in Clonmel. The...