Results 21-40 of 104 for garda speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for the work the Garda does on behalf of us all in increasingly difficult circumstances. Our appreciation is heartfelt. I wish to ask a number of questions. The Commissioner mentioned the new operating model. In my neck of the woods of Cavan and Monaghan, there are deep concerns among members of the community and gardaí. Changes have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...is welcome here this afternoon. From the discussions today and from the discussions with the representative associations a couple of weeks ago, it is clear that there are problems within An Garda Síochána as regards recruitment and retention. That can be taken as a given. The members of this committee deserve credit for arranging, through the secretariat, these discussions...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...a campaign to create awareness of this offence.More important, we must show young people who may have been victims of this particular act that there is a pathway for them to come forward, through the Garda and the authorities, and encourage them not to carry this on their own. It is a despicable crime. The only word I can use to describe it is disgusting. I encourage anybody who has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (24 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome all of the witnesses and thank them for their contributions. I also thank An Garda Síochána for the difficult job it does every day on behalf of us all. I am sure I speak for all committee members when I say that. The word "morale" has been bandied about quite a lot this afternoon. Based on the contributions, it is clearly a big issue. I am astonished things are as...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...welcome and support the Bill, which, as the Minister outlined, provides a new framework for policing, security and community safety. When enacted, it will repeal and replace the current legislation, the Garda Síochána Act 2005, in its entirety. The Bill is based on the recommendations of the commission report, which was informed by extensive consultation, including with members...

Seanad: Crime and Policing: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...policing in both rural and urban communities and ensuring more visible community policing, in line with the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing; - community policing, where members of An Garda Síochána are known to, and have, a relationship with local businesses, services and citizens, including young people, is essential for building stronger, safer communities;...

Seanad: Crime and Policing: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...address and answer some of the issues he raised during this debate. On a more serious note, though, and I am sure I speak on behalf of all of the Members present, I commend the men and women of An Garda Síochána who, as many of them mentioned, go out daily to protect us. They are the thin, blue line between peace and anarchy and we should never forget this. Every day they put...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister back to the House. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I very much welcome and support the legislation. As she outlined, it provides for the use of body-worn cameras for gardaí, the expanded use of automatic number plate recognition and provisions relating to the use of CCTV footage and the recording of telephone calls. Any measure we can introduce that...

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...this initiative a number of years ago. It certainly had merit then and one would argue that it has even more merit today. From a Fianna Fáil point of view, we are strongly in favour of the Garda Reserve. Like others, we believe it has serious potential. It is disappointing the reserve has not been the success Senator McDowell, as the then Minister, hoped it would be....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Apr 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...requested a debate that would cover a wide range of areas pertaining to that, which would also be very worthwhile. We kicked off with Senator Currie who welcomed the news regarding railway stations. We are now seeing signs of a Garda presence there. Many voices have called for that for some time. As the Senator said, it is very welcome development that she would like to see expanded, as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defibrillators Provision (20 Apr 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...credit, but they need to be backed up by a strategic system rather than an ad hocaffair. A nationwide approach to improving the strategy is absolutely essential. I spoke the last time in the House about Buncrana Garda station, with which the Acting Chair will be very familiar, in Buncrana Garda district. The National Ambulance Service provided cardiac first response training to members...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defibrillators Provision (20 Apr 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...norm is slightly over 10%, which shows we have a way to go. I very much welcome the strategy. It is an excellent idea. We have a resource within each community throughout the country in both the Garda fleet and the fire service vehicles as well. That should be utilised to its absolute maximum. We are talking here about saving lives, and it is to be hoped the next time this issue is...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ..., continue to do and no doubt will continue to do going forward. I would like to commend them as well. On the last day we were in the Chamber having a debate, mention was made of reports being made to the Garda that were not followed up on. That is very concerning. I would like to send out a strong message today that nobody should suffer in silence. I would encourage anybody who is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: ...sentencing for anyone who assaults an emergency worker. Unfortunately, assaults on emergency workers are on the increase. We noted the horrific assault over the weekend of two members of the Garda, a man and woman going about their duty to protect the community they serve. Unfortunately, other professionals, be they nurses, paramedics, doctors or others in the medical setting, have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: ...points. It is amazing how that message hits home and perhaps there is a wider role for technology in terms of getting a quick hit on these other issues. I have a number of questions for An Garda Síochána. Are offences in these areas on the increase? What is the trend there, year on year? Where does technology fit into this in the context of GDPR? Is there an obstacle...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: If we are to get to a point where there is zero tolerance towards offences here, most people would accept that it is impossible for the Garda to be at the scene of every offence as it occurs. Therefore, we will need to embrace technology in order to bring detection rates much higher than what that they are currently. Would that be a fair comment?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (20 Sep 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: ..., where the application process first began in 2017. This scheme should have ensured that towns like Monaghan and many others elsewhere had their CCTV systems up and running long ago. Communities and the Garda want it. We all have a responsibility to bring in whatever measures are possible to assist gardaí to do their jobs. There was an impasse for some time with regard to the...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (29 Jun 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: ...of drugs, firearms and explosives. As the Minister of State outlined, this legislation is necessary to protect those who are members of juries from intimidation. It was mentioned that it is the view of the Garda it is important both these pieces of legislation continue for another 12 months. I welcome that and take the opportunity to commend the Garda on the work it does in this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (17 May 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: ..., MI5, the PSNI and the Ministry of Defence, have now handed it over. It is deeply worrying, and very sad and frustrating, for the families to learn that the obstacle or blockage now rests with An Garda Síochána. I understand it is a legal interpretation of the terms of reference which it signed off on 12 or 18 months ago. Instead of referring to Operation Denton or the...