Results 121-140 of 215 for garda speaker:Martin Conway

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Garda Commissioner (11 Nov 2015)

Martin Conway: I join my colleagues in expressing sympathy to the family and colleagues of the late Garda Golden. I welcome the Commissioner. She mentioned the text alert system in her opening address. It seems the system has been quite successful, with 125,000 people participating in various groups. What is the cost to An Garda Síochána of the text alert system? Does the Commissioner plan...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Garda Commissioner (11 Nov 2015)

Martin Conway: Perhaps Mr. Ó Cualáin might do so in his own time. My second question relates to the ongoing Garda operation at Shannon Airport as a result of the protests against the American military's use of the airport. I presume the ongoing operation is a great drain on resources. Have the resources the Garda is deploying in this operation increased in recent times? Has the force been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Garda Commissioner (11 Nov 2015)

Martin Conway: ...of it. Have the numbers of investigations and convictions for cybercrime and cyber-bullying, in particular, increased? Were there convictions? Has there been much success in this area? Does the Garda have a unit in its headquarters or an IT section that monitors social media to identify sources of cybercrime and cyber-bullying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Garda Commissioner (11 Nov 2015)

Martin Conway: ..., the number of tourists to County Clare, particularly to the north and west of the county, has increased considerably. My question is similar Deputy Kieran O'Donnell's with respect to additional Garda numbers. Ennistymon and Kilrush were joined as a single district but the number based in Ennistymon Garda station has been considerably reduced in recent years. When the new Garda...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2015)

Martin Conway: ...remember that as very young people at the time. The tragedy in Carrickmines was followed by the killing of Anthony Golden in Omeath. As the Fine Gael spokesperson on justice, I often speak about the Garda Síochána and pay tribute to it for the enormity of the job it does and the sacrifices it makes. In this case Anthony Golden has paid the ultimate sacrifice by losing his...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works Properties (30 Sep 2015)

Martin Conway: ...of their propositions, worded differently but essentially saying the same thing, namely, that there was no interest in doing anything. I acknowledge that circumstances have now changed. Many Garda stations are vacant, and I salute the Minister for making vacant Garda stations available to members where it was deemed appropriate, which has worked very well. There are numerous examples of...

Seanad: Longer Healthy Living Bill 2015: Second Stage (30 Sep 2015)

Martin Conway: ...career to this, he sees it at first hand. That is how the expertise he has brought to this House as an independent Senator can contribute to the legislative process. A few years ago, an assistant Garda Commissioner, Martin Donnellan, took a case to the High Court on the basis that he was forced to retire from the Garda. I do not believe he was successful in that case, so if we were to...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)

Martin Conway: Go raibh maith agat. That is very generous of you. I wish to add my voice to those across the House in condemnation of the behaviour of individuals outside the House. I commend the Garda Síochána and, indeed, members of the staff of this House. The 300 or 400 staff who work full time in the Houses have an expectation that they can come to and go home from work. I am always...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (23 Jun 2015)

Martin Conway: ...are not all entirely happy with every aspect of the legislation, but it is a very significant step in the right direction in instilling the type of accountability the people want to see within An Garda Síochána. I was part of a delegation of the justice committee which travelled to Portugal some weeks ago and spent several hours at police headquarters in Lisbon. The absolute...

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (11 Jun 2015)

Martin Conway: ...four minutes. Senator Byrne has stolen my thunder because I was going to make a similar point. I agree with him that we should make these provisions a permanent instrument that would equip the Garda to deal with a growing terrorist threat.We have had a type of terrorist threat until now, given that the provisions of the Offences Against the State Act have had to be used on so many...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Martin Conway: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide for the establishment and functions of a body to be known as An tÚdarás Póilíneachta or, in the English language, the Policing Authority for the purpose of overseeing the performance by the Garda Síochána of its functions relating to...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Martin Conway: ...have been only six shootings in ten years, one of which was fatal. I would like to think our police force would receive that type of support. Communities throughout the country have a huge regard for An Garda Síochána. The fact that the police force is unarmed is a significant cultural aspect of the Garda Síochána, in that it has not been found necessary for all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Annual Policing Plan 2015: Garda Commissioner (25 Mar 2015)

Martin Conway: ...her for a comprehensive presentation. She has hit the ground running in regard to where she is bringing the force. Does she envisage recommending to the Government the closure of any more rural Garda stations in the next year or two?

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2015)

Martin Conway: ...it. Consideration perhaps should be given to a 60-day period because that definitely would be practical under any circumstances. It is not just a question of GSOC getting information from the Garda, as victims of crime often have serious difficulties in getting access to an updated status on a crime. In the United Kingdom, a system has been put in place on the Internet called...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: Obviously a firearm is a deadly and dangerous piece of equipment. Does An Garda Síochána carry out random inspections of homes of people who have a licence to retain a firearm or firearms? Is there any process under which the Garda picks X amount of houses per year and gardaí knock on the door and explain that they have come to inspect the security of a firearm?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I have a final question which Mr. Healy may be unable to answer. Does An Garda Síochána have any intelligence on how many unlicensed firearms there are in the country?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: ...or among the few countries that have an unarmed police force. I fully support the recommendations made. I recommend that the committee write to the Minister in support of the recommendations of An Garda Síochána without exception. That said, I am taken aback, as is Deputy Finian McGrath and I am sure others, that there are 200,000 licensed firearms in the country. Is it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: It would be helpful if Mr. Healy could provide the information for the committee secretariat. Approximately how many firearms have been repossessed or taken back by An Garda Síochána for one reason or another?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Aggressive Begging from a Public Order Perspective: Discussion (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: ...a summit or task force, to which Deputy Mac Lochlainn referred, were established, it should include representatives of the groups appearing here today, together with NGOs, local authorities and An Garda Síochána. That would push this matter forward. Although technically it may not be considered begging, I would also include people constantly selling lines with buckets. They...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: I wish to distance myself from the remarks made about the Garda Commissioner. I wish Noirín O'Sullivan the best of luck. It is a great week for her and her family. To be the first female Garda Commissioner is a significant achievement. It is worth noting that practically all of the senior positions in the justice sector are now held by females. We are witnessing positive changing...