Results 21-40 of 49 for garda speaker:Mary Seery Kearney

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

Mary Seery Kearney: ...communities that have made the headlines in the past week, the vast majority of people go about their daily business normally and peacefully, abiding by the law and working in co-operation with the Garda. They support the Garda and strong and safe communities. I am with Senator Ruane in believing there is a danger in homing in on everything that is wrong when discussing topics like this,...

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

Mary Seery Kearney: I echo the statements of Senator Flynn with regard to the people of Ballyfermot, although I stand in solidarity with An Garda Síochána and particularly with the two gardaí who went out to work expecting to come home safely but did not.That should not happen under any circumstances. There is also a community at the heart of this which is full of very good people who have a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...journalist Hugh O'Connell had a story in the Irish Independentabout two joint committees. I will be careful, Cathaoirleach. The committees were obliged to waive privilege to allow members of the Garda in the north west access to their computers. That is in the context of a staff member of a Deputy being accused of viewing child abuse materials. The staff member is being investigated...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Antisocial Behaviour (22 Sep 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...the commitment that is there for the community in Cherry Orchard. We have seen the videos online of what happened and they are horrific. I want to begin by condemning the actions against the two gardaí who went in there. They were treated in the most disgraceful and dangerous way and that is appalling. I express concern for them. I have been working with community groups in the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...begin by associating myself with the remarks of Senators Ruane and Flynn. In terms of certain videos broadcast online, people are to be condemned for their behaviour and condemned for ramming a Garda car and my thoughts go out to the gardaí who were in that car. At the same time, stigmatising a whole area and community as a consequence, and labelling the people of that community...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: Last night, we saw frightening lawlessness in evidence in Cherry Orchard, including the ramming of a Garda car. Just before lunch today, the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Drew Harris, condemned the ramming and called it disgraceful and concerning. He stated that the Garda had stood up the public order unit, as it had done over the weekend, and that a full investigation is now under way. I would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessing Justice: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...and that there is a necessity to have that power in certain, very exceptional, circumstances, it strikes me that the training and competencies should be questioned. I have enormous respect for the Garda Síochána, but in the heat of a moment, what checking or oversight is there of its members' discretionary use of this? We have checks and mechanisms in other areas of criminal...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...O'Mahony and the response to that, which is to implement his recommendations, at that point an assessment could be made as to whether to refer this to the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Garda for a criminal complaint. The issue then is who is the complainant. Is there a statutory footing? Is it a common law offence or a statutory offence? It has been illegal since 1874 to...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...concentrated in Clondalkin. There were recent incidents in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, that show the effects of such a concentration. In the context of all this, we need a reappraisal of Garda stations. I am part of a task force of local and public representatives that is arguing for such a reappraisal. We need to watch this space and be reassured. I am in touch with the Minister for...

Seanad: Violence Against Women: Statements (27 Jan 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...a whole heap of words go with that. I have never counted that and have always just taken it on the chin. It is a little like the social media abuse we get as politicians. When I first spoke about it, the Garda in Terenure rang me to ask why I did not report it. I thought it was just something I had to take as part of the course of my life. It never occurred to me to report it because...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (27 Jan 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...St. Catherine’s Church on Thomas Street from a derelict state to its current condition where it is operated by the Church of Ireland. A skull was found in it. That triggered the calling of An Garda Síochána. It is this kind of thing I am trying to get to here. How does one know that this is something that has to be acted upon and in respect of which a declaration has...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jan 2022)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...committee of Dublin City Council heard a report from Detective Inspector Daniel Kelly on human trafficking statistics and actions for 2021. He said that there were 44 victims recorded by the Garda, 28 of whom were female and 16 were male. Some 19 victims were identified as being of labour exploitation and 25 were victims of sexual exploitation. The Minister of State, Deputy James...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...hate crime or racist or religious abuse on the street, as all too often happens, that the shop is a place of refuge. The person will be given a chair and a drink of water and staff will call the Garda and the person’s family. One of the women shared her experiences of this at today's meeting. The Amal Women's Organisation is beginning to roll out this initiative, which it had...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Oct 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...the Tusla social workers. These children, whom the State has a responsibility for and to, are going unaccounted for. We need to have a debate on their care and oversight. Since it involves the Garda and Tusla, this matter crosses two Departments. There is a question of whether the missing persons unit is fully resourced.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...administration such that even the preschool regulations seem to be orientated towards avoiding the risk of litigation rather than the practical provision of childcare. Even the manner in which the Garda vetting is conducted, whereby it does not travel with the employee, is in itself causing real difficulty. I am very much aware of the challenges in the sector and greatly value our...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Sep 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act whereby anything that is on a loose or casual relationship basis does not require the people involved in such work to be Garda vetted. I appreciate that the Minister for Justice has conducted over a number of months a comprehensive and thorough review of the Garda vetting system. I have fed into the review on other...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Stalking) Bill 2021: Second Stage (22 Sep 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...lives will be ended by this individual. Calling it stalking and having a serious penalty attached to that is very important. It is incredibly important we have that on our Statute Book and that the Garda and all services recognise just how serious it is. It is unacceptable that, as you read the reports and the victims' experiences, people feel that when they first talk about it, it is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...highlight, and find some means by which to explore, the small cohort in society that bullies, harasses, says hateful things and continuously gets away with it. I recently made a complaint to the Garda Síochána about two prominent individuals who are well known to everyone. They are former journalists. They spout racial hate speech all the time. I made a complaint to the Garda...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (28 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: ...doubt all in the Civil Engagement Group played their part very well in supporting the Senator on the Bill. Wearing my employment lawyer and data protection officer hat, I have advised employers on Garda vetting and its implementation, particularly in the recruitment industry, which might supply carers and employees to many industries. In this regard, I have always advised employers to...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Mary Seery Kearney: ..., because it may set a precedent or have other consequences. It is never envisaged, however, that in an unforeseen cause of litigation, it would be used to prevent somebody from going to the Garda. That is an appalling abuse and an appalling twisting of legitimate business practices. In the context of the employment environment, a couple of issues need to be considered.First, the use of...