Results 81-100 of 133 for garda speaker:Dessie Ellis

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (25 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 761. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if membership of the Garda Reserve will provide candidates just outside the cut-off point any special consideration should new recruiting begin in the future. [13356/14]

Misuse of Motor Vehicles (Public Spaces) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I am absolutely flabbergasted by the Minister's response. It is not dealing with the real world. The Minister says advice was provided from the Garda Commissioner's officer. It flies in the face of what is said by every garda and superintendent I have met at the joint policing committees, which are also attended by councillors and Deputies from Fine Gael and the Labour Party. The Acting...

Misuse of Motor Vehicles (Public Spaces) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: No, they cannot take them. If they do, they must give them back. That is the specific issue we are discussing. I have attended numerous meetings with gardaí but they have consistently told me that they cannot seize the vehicles. Is the Garda Commissioner lost somewhere? If he is giving this advice, there is something wrong. All we ask is that this legislation be brought forward...

Misuse of Motor Vehicles (Public Spaces) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: ...their safety and that of others. I was first struck by the need for this legislation almost two years ago after attending a number of safety and policing fora meetings. I raised the issue with the Garda and others and it was apparent that there was a hole in the legislation which allowed people who used these vehicles for anti-social behaviour to sidestep gardaí in public spaces and...

Criminal Law (Incest) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: ...there is an insufficient number of sexual assault treatment units, SATUs, nationwide. According to research conducted by Rape Crisis Network Ireland, RCNI, the reasons victims do not make complaints or reports to the Garda are varying and complex, and concerns about the criminal justice system feature prominently among them. However, the most commonly stated reason is the victim did not...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Feb 2014)

Dessie Ellis: ...public interest and the civil liberties of citizens in this State and to allow those institutions of the State to fulfil their roles. The targeting of GSOC, an organisation tasked with holding the Garda to account, for unwarranted and unlawful surveillance would clearly be a matter of grave concern for most democracies. The implications are enormous. However, that is not case with this...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (18 Feb 2014)

Dessie Ellis: ...the reason only one Calpa van covers the entire State in view of the potential for Calpa vans to decrease delays in picking up patients who have mental health issues and in some cases also saves Garda time. [8277/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Taxi Licences Renewals (11 Feb 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 470. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff in the Dublin Garda carriage office working on the processing of taxi licences and licence renewals, respectively; and the number of licences being submitted and processed on a weekly basis. [6807/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (5 Feb 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 113. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the future plans for the old Ballymun Garda station, swimming pool and health centre. [5755/14]

Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (15 Jan 2014)

Dessie Ellis: ...that have not been hit before, which is important. Ultimately, it is all about safety. The year thus far has started off rather badly in that regard. The RSA has referred to many problems with Garda cutbacks and problems with traffic, in particular the monitoring of speeding and so on. I lost a friend in Mayo over Christmas. It struck home how bad it can be and the number of...

Bethany Home: Motion [Private Members] (10 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: ...that she should remain in a home. She was sent to Bethany Home. In January 1940 The Irish Timesand Irish Independentpublished reports from the High Court to the effect that the civic guards, the Garda, were in the habit of sending any homeless Protestant girl to Bethany Home. It is untrue for any Minister of State to come to the House and paint a picture of private institutions where...

Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)

Dessie Ellis: We have all experienced noisy neighbours and the feeling of powerlessness in dealing with them. The hands of the Garda Síochána are tied. The noise nuisance Bill has powers to impose on the spot fines as well as mediation. When will the Bill be brought before the House? It is a major issue when neighbours have parties.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Dessie Ellis: ...is much in the Bill that is welcome. The reduction of the period of exemption for Cabinet papers and the extension of freedom of information legislation to a new layer of public bodies significantly funded by the State are welcome. The restriction on information on the Garda is something at which we need to look, as we need to look at some of the other exemptions. There are provisions...

Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Dessie Ellis: ...much, especially for family and friends, years of dedication to tackling road safety by successive Governments, local authorities, the Road Safety Authority, media outlets, community groups and, of course, the Garda has led to a dramatic drop. The well-used term "carnage on our roads" is in this era leaning towards hyperbole. We should be glad of this. It is to our credit as a society,...

Other Questions: Social Welfare Fraud (9 Jul 2013)

Dessie Ellis: 60. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of personnel involved in the investigation unit of her Department; the number of joint checkpoints with An Garda Síochána and Customs and Excise there were on each of the past five years; and a regional breakdown of those checkpoints. [33264/13]

Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Dessie Ellis: We have all received complaints regarding unruly and noisy residents and the lack of power the Garda and other enforcement agencies have to tackle this. The noise nuisance Bill that is due to be published should allow for fines and mediation between neighbours. It is embarrassing that the gardaí are obliged to call to these houses and use peer pressure to get people to turn down the...

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (16 May 2013)

Dessie Ellis: ...; of course it should. All decent, honest drivers - that is, the vast majority of drivers - agree with that. We already have laws against the criminal behaviour that goes on in the industry but the Garda is unable to enforce them due to underfunding. The work has also been hampered by the massive swell in the number of taxis due to deregulation. Policing the taxi industry is a serious...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (14 May 2013)

Dessie Ellis: ...there are anti-social behaviour problems. I know there are anti-social behaviour problems in the Traveller community, right across the board, but that is no excuse for not dealing with them. The Garda should be able to deal with families. To put pressure on families to deal with them is to put them in the front line. One would not be asked in any other community to put people on the...

Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Dessie Ellis: ...of non-use and they pay their way just like everybody else. In my view, keeping the month's grace and introducing the other measures will make a crackdown on motor tax evasion much easier for gardaí, who will be able to focus on those who are unquestionably avoiding tax. The month's grace and tax evasion are two completely different issues. There is also the issue of a charge...

Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Dessie Ellis: .... It will also stop drivers falsely claiming that they have put their cars off the road and seeking refunds of motor tax. Of course, some will continue to attempt to avoid both the tax and the reach of the Garda Síochána but these steps will make that more difficult. The move away from requiring a garda witness for a declaration of non-use could also help to free up...