Results 21-40 of 47 for o'higgins commission of investigation speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, I published the report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters relative to the Cavan-Monaghan Division of An Garda Síochána) on 11 May. As I have previously stated, it deserves the most careful consideration so that we can do everything possible to avoid a repeat of the issues which gave rise to the commission in the first place. On...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Administration (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am satisfied that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has the support it needs to carry out its important work, including in respect of its role in relation to protected disclosures. GSOC's budget for 2016 is €9.546 million, which represents an increase of some €500,000 on the 2015 amount. 2015 also saw an increase in the number of staff working for GSOC. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I received the report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation on 25 April 2016. I published the report on 11 May 2016. As the Deputy is aware, the report was the subject of a debate in the House on 25 and 26 May 2016. In the course of my contribution I outlined the reasons why publication was not possible before the date on which I did publish it. As I have already informed the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that I am currently awaiting a number of reports from statutory bodies, the details of which are given in the following table: 1 The Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory independent office established under the Prisons Act, 2007. Since 1 January, 2012, the death of any prisoner in custody or on temporary release is the subject of an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The O'Higgins report identified a number of weaknesses in the conduct of Garda investigations in the Cavan Monaghan District of the Garda Síochána in the period 2007/8. I want to assure the Deputy that the new Garda training programme and new supervisory arrangements which are now in place should ensure that, as far as possible, there should be no recurrence of the types of...

Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters Relative to the Cavan-Monaghan Division of An Garda Síochána) Report: Statements (Resumed) (26 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: ...on this very important matter. As I said in my statement yesterday, we need look no further than the bloody recent events in north city Dublin to understand just how important is the work of the Garda Síochána. It is precisely because the service the Garda provides is so vital, so important, that it must be delivered to the very highest standards. The O’Higgins report,...

Order of Business (26 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is proposed to take No. b5, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the final report of the sub-committee on Dáil reform; No. c5, motion re Standing Orders 143, 143A, 143B, 143C, 143D, 143E and 143F; and No. 7, statements on the report of the O’Higgins Commission of Investigation (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos....

Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters Relative to the Cavan-Monaghan Division of An Garda Síochána) Report: Statements (25 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome this opportunity to debate the report of the O’Higgins commission. Mr. Justice O’Higgins is a distinguished retired judge of the High Court, and I take the opportunity to formally record my thanks and appreciation to him for his thorough, thoughtful and clear report on matters which, as we know, were far from clear when this process started. We were fortunate to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Issues of supervision by Garda Sergeants and poor note taking by members were at the heart of a number of the Garda investigations which were considered by Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins in his investigation which was carried out under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. Chapter 15 of the Commission's report contains recommendations, including recommendations to address these two matters....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reports (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, I published the report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation into certain matters relevant to the Cavan/Monaghan Division of the Garda Síochána on the 11th of May. The report deserves the most careful consideration so that we can all do everything possible to avoid a repeat of the issues which gave rise to it in the first place. In this regard, I...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Of course I will share as far as possible what I can in regard to the question Deputy Burton has asked, but let me make this point. Deputy Burton is incorrect to say that full information is in the public domain. It is not in the public domain. There is some information, based on illegal action. The Deputy is asking me to comment on what has been an illegal act that has produced these...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me make the point that the same thing can be done by people who make allegations as well. We have had a commission of investigation for two years now led by Mr. Justice Kevin O'Higgins, and a thorough and thoughtful report. It behoves us all to consider the report in its entirety, and I will have-----

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy. The first thing I would like to do is put on the record of this House what the commission said about Sergeant McCabe. It stated:Some people, wrongly and unfairly, cast aspersions on Sergeant McCabe’s motives; others were ambivalent about them. Sergeant McCabe acted out of genuine and legitimate concerns, and the commission unreservedly accepts his bona fides....

Adjournment Debate: Garda Reports (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputies are aware, I published the report of the O'Higgins commission of investigation into certain matters relevant to the Cavan-Monaghan division of the Garda Síochána on 11 May. The report deserves the most careful consideration so that we can do everything possible to avoid a repeat of the issues that gave rise to the commission in the first place. The Government...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Obviously, the Taoiseach will make a statement when we have the debate in the House. That debate is being arranged by the Whips. In this era of new politics, it is important that I respect the law and the duty that I have to it. That is what I have been doing in my responses to the Deputy on this question. The commission and Mr. Justice O'Higgins were in the best position to hear all...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Obviously, we will have a debate in the House on the commission of investigation. It is important that we look at all the details. What Deputy Martin has said in relation to the commission of inquiry is not what Mr. Justice O'Higgins said about the hearings and the way they were conducted. He said that they were inquisitorial and not adversarial and that is from the judge himself. He went...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to acknowledge the role that Deputy Martin himself played in highlighting the issues in relation to the victims whose cases were investigated in the O'Higgins report. I want to reiterate the point I made when publishing the report that we should not lose sight of the central fact that at the heart of this report are the victims who were let down. The Deputy made that point himself....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Reports (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I stress that it would be highly unusual to ask one party to a legal proceeding to disclose to another party its dealings with its legal representatives. Imagine if such a demand were made of everybody who gave evidence to a commission of investigation. It is important that people have confidence in the commission of investigation structure. More than 97 witnesses were called to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This question also relates to the commission of investigation carried out by Mr. Justice Kevin O'Higgins. I thank Mr Justice O'Higgins and his team for the manner in which they fulfilled their mandate. Mr. Seán Guerin, on presenting his report to Cabinet, recommended the establishment of a commission of investigation into all of the matters addressed in his report. The Cabinet...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, I published the report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation into certain matters relevant to the Cavan/Monaghan Division of the Garda Síochána on the 11th of May. I want, again, to record my thanks to Mr Justice O'Higgins and his team for carrying out their task so expeditiously and for the thorough and thoughtful report. It deserves the most...