Results 141-160 of 247 for garda speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: .... I refer to the area of gun crime. Very close to where I live, there was an interception of a gang apparently on the way to commit a murder. Intercepting that person was great work by the Garda. A garda was shot in the line of duty only days ago, and then, shockingly, this week we have heard reports of a baby being caught in the crossfire. Too often in society, when there is a gun...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...In fairness to the Minister, she came into the House and we had a debate. We are respectfully asking for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, on the actions he has taken as Minister and on Garda overtime. In Dublin city, where I live, we had a very successful Garda operation recently when gardaí intercepted what appears to have been a shooting about to take place and they...

Seanad: Justice Matters: Statements (22 Nov 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...I did - as her Minister of State - when it was completely reeling following the resignation of the previous Minister associated with this issue, the resignation - we will say he resigned - of the previous Garda Commissioner and the resignation of the Secretary General of the Department.The Toland report is damning on the culture in the Department of Justice and Equality. Notwithstanding...

Seanad: Well-being in Schools: Statements (4 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...of their background or because of something that has happened to them. What does a teacher in his or her 20s do when he or she has to deal with a child whose father has just been shot dead by the Garda? How can they deal with that situation? Consider a child who has a family member who has been killed in a gangland situation, or the child who has had a suicide in the family. It is very...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...in the road traffic legislation emerged. It relates to the absence of the word "or" in the current legislation, which no doubt was an error when the Bill was amended. Under the previous Bill, if a garda intercepted someone they had to be guilty, or perceived to be guilty, of 1, 2 or 3 - I will not outline the offences - but in the current Bill the word "or" is missing, and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...Leo Varadkar accused the now Senator James Reilly, who was then a Deputy and a Minister, of doing something that looked like a stroke in his constituency. There was an announcement today that the Garda station in Stepaside will be reopened. This is from the Minister, Deputy Ross, who apparently came into politics to get rid of stroke politics, wants an independent Judiciary and does not...

Seanad: Controlled Drugs and Harm Reduction Bill 2017: Second Stage (31 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...the mind of one person who has the potential to allow this Bill to pass further, then I do not think I will ever say anything more important. Drugs are everywhere in Irish society. There are gardaí, members of the Judiciary and politicians, including Cabinet members, who have in the past taken illegal drugs. The same is true of teachers, nurses and journalists. However, none of us...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...Order of Business to table the Order for Second Stage for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017. I raise with the Leader the issue of the ongoing Garda controversy and question marks over the tenure of the Garda Commissioner, senior Garda management and the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. To bring it down to street...

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...addressed and if this report were not implemented to the letter. I do not believe the Department of Justice and Equality is fit to deal with this issue, because it has to deal with the issues of Garda reform, the prison service, the vast bulk of legislation that goes through these two Houses, all the equality issues and, on top of that, integration, immigration, refugee and asylum issues....

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...but that is not his job. His job is to be the Minister for transport. The Independent Alliance now seems to be running around the place and getting very excited about the latest controversy with An Garda Síochána. At the same time its senior Minister, who presents himself as the leader of the Independent Alliance group is responsible for the transport policy of this country....

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

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...laid down. We have had a turbulent week and it gives myself and my party, considering our position in opposition, absolutely no satisfaction whatsoever to see what has happened in recent days. An Garda Síochána is again in the midst of a huge controversy. Tusla has been dragged into it as well. Public confidence in an Garda Síochána has been shaken to the core. I...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...justice on the bloody television leaking bits of information on what he knew about how a Dáil Deputy had behaved in using his mobile phone at traffic lights. Then the Taoiseach effectively fired the Garda Commissioner without telling anybody in either party in government, including the Tánaiste. It was absolutely outrageous. We had to drag Fine Gael Members kicking and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will be brief. I understand that the witnesses are restricted in what they can say because the Department has to implement Government policy, the Garda has to implement law and personal opinions do not come into it. I understand that terminology is important and the idea of this centre being policed is not what we want to emerge from these proceedings, but streets and areas are policed....

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...of years Ireland has enjoyed some level of relative industrial peace. At this stage, however, we have reached a grave situation. We are facing strike action by second-level teachers and by An Garda Síochána. Today's advertisement in the national newspapers seeking members of the public to go in to schools to perform supervision and substitution work is, at best misguided and...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...cold light of day in a courtroom situation, it should be a defence for somebody to admit to being an addict and that he or she is in possession of drugs because of the addiction. I am sure any prosecuting garda, judge or jury would be able to make a determination that the nature of the addiction is a reasonable defence for the individual. To reinforce what we have always done because we...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...failures of the past. I do not believe it should be a criminal offence for a person to be caught in possession of something to which he or she is addicted. I am of the view that it is a waste of Garda time. I also do not believe this legislation should separate out the issue of injecting centres. In my previous role as Minister of State with responsibility for this area, I felt I had...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (2 Feb 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...that these substances are only prescribed as appropriate. The Health Product Regulatory Authority which is the competent authority in Ireland for human medicines, Revenue’s Customs service and an Garda Siochána work closely to prevent the unauthorised flow of illegal medicinal products into and out of the State. The enforcement of the law relating to the sale of drugs,...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...a review of the response of the criminal justice system to the problem. The review examined legislation, the management of prolific offenders, policing and crime prevention. It involved the Garda Commissioner, the Probation Service and the Prison Service. The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, has been consistent in her view that serious and serial offenders must continue to be imprisoned in...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...protect their fellow citizens. There are no words of sorrow or gratitude equal to that service and that sacrifice. We can, as legislators and Government, show our support for the members of An Garda Síochána in a practical way by giving them the resources they need to do their work. I have spoken already of the investment in vehicles, equipment, buildings and technology being...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...burglary, the Government is particularly focused on serious and repeat offenders in terms of sentencing and in smarter and more co-ordinated offender management and investing in the capacity of An Garda Síochána to tackle such offenders. The Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, commissioned a review of this area earlier in the year and the Bill is directly informed by the...