Results 21-40 of 72 for garda speaker:Sharon Keogan

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

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me in. The Commissioner is very welcome. In regard to the Garda station in Meath east, around the Laytown and Bettystown area, is a vital piece of infrastructure that we need there on the coast. The current one is in the middle of a housing estate and is totally unsuitable for the needs of the growing population on the east coast. In regard to...

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

Sharon Keogan: Can I just finish with automatic number plate recognition, ANPR? ANPR is probably one of the most vital tools that An Garda Síochána can use. We had it on a system in Duleek as part of a community CCTV programme but had to take it off because of the regulations. The Commissioner asked us to take it off. It was a shame because it is a quick way to solve crime. It is easy to get...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...in Meath will miss him equally greatly. My sympathies go to his mother; his fiancée; Carly; and Kyle. I am calling for a debate with the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, on the issue of crime, An Garda Síochána and national security. This month saw a 99% vote by rank-and-file gardaí to express no confidence in Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, with record turnout,...

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

Sharon Keogan: ...a recording device is overly broad. Anything from a camera on a piece of clothing, a device fixed to a structure, a drone or our own 72-hour CCTV footage could be considered a recording device the Garda can use and access without judicial approval. The information gathering regulations the Garda must follow do not make sense. After a crash, the Garda often appeals to the public for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jun 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...this will be extremely costly and will result in serious issues relating to data protection and the protection of civil liberties. The press release issued by the Department of Justice states the Garda Commissioner will begin tendering for the purchase of body cameras. This is putting the cart before the horse. We will spend a sizeable amount of money on technology that we may not be...

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

Sharon Keogan: ...regard to the report? It is harrowing to think about what is happening to our children, especially in State care. People have fed into the report and it has come not just from Tusla but from An Garda Síochána, the Children's Rights Alliance, DEIS school communities, foster parents and Tusla itself. Children are being victimised, sexualised and groomed, and predators are...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...Section 14 establishes that the DPP has absolute discretion when it comes to which cases to pursue where a contravention of the Act has taken place. Obviously, there will not be enough members of An Garda Síochána to carry out all the arrests that would be necessary under this Act if it had to be enforced at all times. The DPP can pick and choose who to make an example of....

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, to the House for statements on the Garda Reserve.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 May 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I am sure many of us saw on Twitter the video of an exchange between a member of An Garda Síochána and "Billboard Chris", a Canadian father of two who has been touring North America, and now Europe, engaging in conversations about the use of puberty blockers on children. While walking Grafton Street over the weekend wearing a sandwich board that read "Children cannot consent to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 May 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...the future. The school officials need to look at this very strongly and see what they can do to educate their children on being a little more inclusive to others in life. I will be talking to the Garda later today about the incident. I thank Senators Davitt and Carrigy for bringing up the issue of security for our representatives at local government level. When I was in local...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...as a comma of consideration given to the possibility that the Bill might be unconstitutional. That is despite the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, telling us here in the Seanad in February 2022 that An Garda Síochána believes that the proposal is unconstitutional and would not survive a legal challenge. The Minister recently told the Dáil that he had five meetings with...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Apr 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ....He has an opportunity to put a real marker down if he participates in putting a state-of-the-art prison back into Ireland to stop the revolving door system as regards criminality in this country. The Garda and judges have nowhere to put criminals and they are back on the street again. Rehabilitation is also important but we must state that crime does not pay in this country.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Mar 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...from Thursday so we need to prepare now. What plans does the Minister have to ensure the physical well-being of women and their children? Will they be protected at that event? Has the Minister or Garda Commissioner assessed the need for personal security arrangements for Ms Keen-Minshull? Does the Government think that the women of Ireland are worthy of protection? If so, we need to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...and private sectors. Increasingly, we see people forced to embrace values with which they do not agree. A new policy entitled Gender Identity in the Workplace is mandatory for all members of An Garda Síochána. It states that refusing to acknowledge a person's gender pronouns or new name will constitute discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equality...

Seanad: Moving Towards Zero Tolerance of Violence against Women: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...vast regional variations and nine counties still have no refuges. I want to give a shout out to Women's Aid, Safe Ireland, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Men's Aid Ireland. The Minister talked about recruiting gardaí. I know we are not getting enough recruits, but the elephant in the room is integration. We are getting a lot of refugees. Many communities are angry about the...

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times and Hospital Admissions: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...to care for her. Who could I reach out to for help? The doctor-on-call could not be contacted. People were ringing the doctor-on-call for three days. The only service I could reach out to was the local Garda or ambulance. That was the only choice I had. Citizens deserve better. The Minister's voters deserve better, and he knows that.

Seanad: Transport Police Service: Motion (25 Jan 2023)

Sharon Keogan: ...just certain parts of Dublin. Let us call a spade a spade. This motion is all going great and looking great. It then calls for, "the establishment of a dedicated Public Transport Unit within An Garda Síochána".The proposal contained in this motion is unworkable because we do not have enough gardaí. We spoke about this in November during a debate that took place when...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I call upon the Government to provide greater resources to the Garda to stop the illegal catalytic converters and scrap metal trade. Technology advances, along with the uptake of crime in this area, means our current approach is no longer fit for purpose. Catalytic converters are valuable because the precious metals they are made of, such as rhodium, platinum and palladium, have increased...

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

Sharon Keogan: ...and every person in communities affected by gangs and criminal violence to play their part, whatever that may be. The Government has a responsibility to act, but even with double the number of gardaí we have now, there will never be as many boots on the ground as there will be if every citizen plays their part. That will look different for everyone, but it starts with children....