Results 1-20 of 47 for o'higgins commission of investigation speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Third Interim Report of the Disclosures Tribunal: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2018)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am sure all Members of the House will join with me in expressing the hope that the publication of the recent report by the disclosures tribunal will represent a turning point for Sergeant Maurice McCabe, his wife, Lorraine, and his family. Since its publication I have spoken with Sergeant McCabe directly in order to express my personal good wishes for him, Lorraine, and his family. No...

Seanad: Justice Matters: Statements (22 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome this opportunity to update the Seanad and put on the record of the House certain matters that have been raised in the Oireachtas and in the media in recent days. As the Taoiseach said in the Dáil, I had no hand, act or part in the former Garda Commissioner's legal approach. I want to reiterate that point. The former Commissioner's legal approach was a matter for her alone...

Seanad: Justice Matters: Statements (22 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: When the truth is revealed at the disclosures tribunal it will be because of that work from all Members of the Oireachtas. I do not believe we should be running a parallel process, though, of course, I fully respect the role of the Seanad and the Dáil. The terms of reference clearly mandate the tribunal to consider a wide range of questions, including the then Commissioner's legal...

Justice Issues: Statements (21 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: ...and evidence is being given, that actually makes it more understandable that I might not remember it because it says I have no function in relation to it. I do understand that a tribunal of inquiry or commission of investigation is under way and evidence is being given at it, including by officials in the Department on the various issues that were thrown up by the Guerin inquiry and...

Justice Issues: Statements (21 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome this opportunity to put on the record of the House certain matters that have been raised in the Chamber and in the media in recent days. I am circulating separately the email that has been the subject of discussion. My objective is to put as much information as I can into the public domain while respecting the work of the Charleton tribunal. For the benefit of all Members of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Inquiries into Garda Activities (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will recall that counsel for the independent review mechanism examined 320 cases of allegations of wrongdoing or failure in An Garda Síochána. There were many different recommendations. The recommendation of counsel in five of those cases was that I should establish inquiries to inquire into certain aspects of the handling of the cases, some of which are very well...

Garda Commissioner: Motion [Private Members] (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:“recognises that: — the recent controversies surrounding An Garda Síochána are of the utmost seriousness and go to the heart of policing in the State; — it is essential that the Government, this House and all our citizens can trust members of An...

Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move:"That Dáil Éireann: — bearing in mind the serious public concern about allegations that senior members of An Garda Síochána sought to discredit Sergeant Maurice McCabe because of complaints he made about the performance of An Garda Síochána; — noting the Protected Disclosure that was made by Superintendent David Taylor to the Minister for...

Seanad: Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: ...for being here, the contributions that have been made and making time available this evening. I was in the Dáil earlier, but I am very glad to be in the Seanad this evening. I have a list of the various questions raised. The first thing I want to say is just how serious an issue this is. I gather quite a number of Senators have addressed this point. The fact that we are in this...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Why did the Deputy not tell the investigation that was sitting at that point that he had his meeting? That would have meant that some of these issues he was told about could have been dealt with by the O'Higgins commission.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: ..., I must agree with the Deputy. I have already spoken in the Dáil about the changes he has brought about, for example, with regard to penalty points and the issues that arose subsequent to the O'Higgins commission where a huge amount of action has followed given the points he raised regarding Garda management of investigation of crime. With regard to the question about the...

Other Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not a game. What I am doing is following proper procedures. The Deputy may be aware that following the referral by me to GSOC of certain allegations which arose following the O'Higgins commission report, the chairperson wrote to me seeking access to certain records of the commission. Having received the Attorney General's advice, I informed the chairperson of GSOC of the necessity to...

Other Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The reality is that due procedure is being followed. I have replied to GSOC. It will make its decision with regard to the next steps in terms of accessing the transcript but as the Deputy rightly said, I did refer some of the issues that arose following the O'Higgins commission of investigation to GSOC and I await the outcome of that, but it is not a game. It is following due procedures.

Other Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: ...it is important to correct what might be a misunderstanding in the Deputy's question. In depositing the evidence and documents with the specified Minister in this case, there was no question of my having authority to access that evidence or those documents. The purpose of depositing documentation with the relevant Minister is for safeguarding it. It would be unthinkable that any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, on 16 June 2016 I made a referral to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission under section 102(5) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 concerning certain allegations which arose following the publication of the final report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation. Obviously I have to be careful not to say anything which might interfere with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, on 16 June 2016 I made a referral to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission under section 102(5) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 concerning certain allegations which arose following the publication of the final report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation. Obviously I have to be careful not to say anything which might interfere with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Inspectorate Reports (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' which was published last December is a comprehensive report into all aspects of the administration of An Garda Síochána. In July the Government approved my proposals for a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the report of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (27 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, on 16 June 2016 I made a referral to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission under section 102(5) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 concerning certain allegations which arose following the publication of the final report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation. Obviously I have to be careful not to say anything which might interfere with the...

Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am equally astounded that the Deputy believes I should access papers belonging to a commission of investigation held in private, with people afforded confidentiality with respect to evidence. I am equally astounded the Deputy believes that should be done despite legislation and the detail of it. Mr. Justice O'Higgins was in a position to hear all the evidence presented to the commission...

Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Before its dissolution and, in accordance with section 43(2) of the Commission of Investigation Act 2004, the O'Higgins commission of investigation deposited its files with my Department. The provision in question allows for the depositing of papers in circumstances where a commission is no longer in existence as papers belonging to a commission must be held somewhere. What is at issue here...