Results 141-160 of 565 for garda speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Does this section not seem to politicise the Garda Síochána? This section and the amendment proposed to it gives power to the Minister to play a hands-on role in the operation of the Garda Síochána. Subsection (1)(a) provides that the Minister will have a say, after consulting with the Garda Commissioner and the Government, on the different ranks into which the members of the Garda...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: It is difficult to see how it will ensure greater transparency because I do not believe the Minister of the day had any say in the promotion of members of the Garda Síochána to the rank of Garda sergeant or superintendent. However, this section and the proposed amendment to it provides that the Minister, after consultation with the Commissioner, could have a say in the promotion of a member...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: ...no way transparent. Will the promotion boards be set up on an area basis or on a national basis? Will there be a separate promotion board for each rank or one board for the entire membership of the Garda Síochána, given that there are only 10,000 members and I do not know how many promotions? Whatever is done should be transparent because we need a force that works for the betterment of...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: The Minister recently increased the age threshold for entry to the Garda Síochána. I understand that the retirement age is 57 and that gardaí with a minimum of 30 years service are eligible for a full pension. Increasing the threshold for entry means that somebody who has entered the Garda Síochána at 30 years of age will have only 27 years service and will not, therefore, be entitled to...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: I appreciate that. The Minister made great play of the fact that he was increasing the age limit and I thoroughly agree with him. However, members of the Garda Síochána must resign on reaching the age of 57. If people who have reached the age of 30 have entered the Garda Síochána and served 27 years, the Minister will have no choice but to let them serve until they are 60 so that they can...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: ..., to make speed limits temporary. Does it allow the manager to make temporary speed limits on national routes as well as county roads? In making a temporary speed limit the manager must consult the Garda Commissioner. What is the position in regard to emergency situations where, for example, there is an oil spill and the manager may not have the opportunity to get the permission of the...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Does the Garda Commissioner have power to impose a temporary speed limit?

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Could we clarify it further? The Minister is saying that the garda will write a summons and send it to the service provider.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: The garda will issue the summons.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Will the Garda Síochána decide on how best to deliver the summons to ensure the person gets it?

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: When the garda issues a person with a summons, does he have to send a note to the service provider as well?

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: How does the service provider know that the garda has sent a summons to me or to anybody else? Who contacts the service provider? Who issues the service provider with the notification that somebody has received a summons?

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: When a garda stops me on the road and issues me with, for example, two penalty points and a €50 fine, he will issue me with a notice. Does the garda also have to tell the service provider he has issued me with a summons?

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: "Prime Time" last night highlighted the case of a woman who visited a Garda station on several occasions but could not find a garda to deal with her. Eventually, she ended up in court. The position is similar regarding many Garda stations. What of a person who genuinely visits a Garda station on a number of occasions but finds only the green man, which I am not sure will be much help? This...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: ...in the post. I welcome the provision because considerable frustration is caused by motorists driving at 30 mph or 40 mph at the front of long queues, thereby holding up the whole shebang. The gardaí would be well employed to pull in those motorists and advise them that they are not the only drivers on the road.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (10 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: There is an ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Senator Leyden mentioned earlier that a spouse of a member of the Garda Síochána could make a complaint on his or her behalf. It would appear farcical that a spouse can make a complaint when a member of the force could not. That might well be worth looking at in the context of the further legislation the Minister said is being contemplated. It...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Second Stage. (9 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: ...part to the patchy implementation and enforcement of the penalty points system. There have been numerous inconsistencies in the system's implementation. We need a road courtesy policy for which the Garda has responsibility. Section 28 provides that it will be an offence to drive with reasonable consideration. Much driving of this kind results from the frustration drivers experience when...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jun 2004)

Paddy Burke: Will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to clarify the position as regards the proposed closure of 700 Garda stations around the country? Great concern has been expressed to me as regards my area in respect of Garda stations in Balla, Tourmakeady, Lahardane and Ballyglass, because they could face closure. It is very important to have a debate on...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2004)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister back to the House. On Tuesday I mentioned that the Minister might encounter problems with the GAA if gardaí joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland. However, the GAA held a special congress in 2001 which changed the rule in this regard. The Minister stated local authorities would have a say through county development boards under chapter 4. That is not the right...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2004)

Paddy Burke: ...ranks of the force will also be appointed by the Minister. The Government has gone to great lengths to put a new system in place for all Civil Service appointments, yet under this legislation, the Garda Commissioner, who is a Government appointee, will be given powers to make appointments to the Garda's civilian staff. The Commissioner, therefore, could appoint all the civilian staff. The...