Results 1-20 of 35 for gsoc speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (26 Jun 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...". I appreciate very well the restrictions that apply regarding commenting on a matter that within a very short time, hours only on that day I believe, was referred to, and is now being addressed by, GSOC. There has been virtually a close down of any public commentary. There was a limited response from the press office to a local newspaper inquiry at the time that shed no light, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Ms Justice Ring stated on a number of occasions that GSOC now has a full complement of investigators. Do I take it that the 21 outstanding appointments do not relate to investigator roles?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That came across in the opening statement and, as Chairman of the committee, I support what was said. Ms Justice Ring has made it very clear that one of GSOC's real concerns is matching a new remit with resources. In 2018, in excess of 500 cases went back to the Garda for investigation. If they are to come under GSOC's direct attention once again, there will have to be a significant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...prove itself but that it would also be obliged to carry forward a considerable lack of public confidence. When Deputy Clare Daly referenced damage, I made the note that the damage had been done to GSOC in terms of public confidence by virtue of the fact that the resourcing was not all it should have been. It was stated that GSOC could not just tell people to go away. In that context,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I will ensure she has sight of the respondents I am referencing. In the case I have mentioned a decision, so-called, has issued. I would like to comment on a case that has been referred to GSOC in the relatively recent past, but I am restricted somewhat in how I can reference it. I endeavoured to raise the matter on the floor of the Dáil and ask a question on behalf of my community...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 May 2019)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...with us in her reply. I will take that with me from our exchange today and I thank her for that. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. FitzGerald are both very welcome to this committee as commissioners with GSOC, alongside Ms Justice Ring, the GSOC chairperson. Mr. Sullivan had an easy day, which is not always the case for the commissioner. I thank the witnesses for their engagement with us and for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...of exasperation that she has correctly shared with the Minister is also felt by this committee on that matter. He recently requested the committee to address the designated new commissioner to GSOC arising out of the transfer of Mr. Toland to the Garda Inspectorate last October. We were willing to do that but we find the new designated commissioner is in the United States and not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...on 2 August, the day of Mr. O'Farrell's tragic death. There is a societal requirement to address properly all of these failings. Will the Minister give us any hope or expectation? Aside from GSOC continuing to address it, will the Government consider the case of Mr. O'Farrell? It will inform us of where the clear fault lines are in the practices of An Garda Síochána and,...

Death of Shane O'Farrell: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jun 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...of the substantive issue. The individual who mowed down innocent Shane O'Farrell should not have been behind the wheel of any car. He should not have been in a position to do what he did. The GSOC report has found that gardaí did not act criminally. I believe, however, it is fair and just for us to say and incumbent on all to recognise that there were very deep failings on the...

Fatal Road Traffic Collision in County Monaghan in 2011: Statements (31 May 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ..., the absence of proper application of the law by members of An Garda Síochána, even where all the salient information was not to hand, merits comprehensive address. The recently published GSOC report fails the test. This is not about scapegoating garda A or garda B. It is about exposing and addressing the systemic failures of our policing and justice systems. It is about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Inspectorate (23 May 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...Mick Wallace. I can almost anticipate from where he will come on the matter. We share a disposition on many matters. Would Mr. Toland like to elaborate a little on what he said? This series of engagements with GSOC, the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate is taking place against the backdrop of the publication of our report and I would like Mr. Toland to give a little more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...oversight and accountability and look at the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the joint committee as published in December 2016 in its report on the subject. We shall also consider GSOC's proposals for stand-alone legislation for it. We note the publication of a report by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring in December 2017. We thank her for her attendance in such inclement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank Ms Justice Ring. It was a comprehensive opening statement and I thank her for it. It would be only right to wish everyone on board the GSOC ship a happy birthday, having passed that ten-year milestone. I will open the floor to members. The first to have indicated was Deputy O'Callaghan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...2016, we made recommendations and we are now very anxious. We have made it a priority job of work, at the commencement of 2018, to review progress on our recommendations that cover the areas of GSOC, the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate. We will meet each of those entities, respectively, over the coming period, and then with the senior management of An Garda...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That is more legislation. In terms of informal resolution, GSOC does not yet have the power to decide whether informal resolution should be attempted.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...for investigation under the Act referred to An Garda Síochána and reads:At present, only when the complaint indicates a member of An Garda Síochána may have committed a criminal offence does GSOC investigate directly, investigation of other complaints is undertaken by a Garda Síochána Investigating Officer. Has any of that changed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Our recommendation No. 1 continued:Enhancing powers for GSOC in relation to reviewing investigations. In unsupervised investigations, a complainant has a right to have GSOC review the investigation. However, the outcome stands. Has anything changed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ...is not just a foolhardy exercise with no consequences. We want to see results. Recommendation No. 2 refers to former members of An Garda Síochána. I note from the report compiled by GSOC last December that there is a slight variation in the solutions or recommendations. We have indicated in our recommendation No. 2 that "the Police Ombudsman in the North can investigate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Yes. Our recommendation was, nevertheless, based on fact. It is just in terms of the passage of time element that GSOC felt that the catch-all situation was that someone under investigation should not find a bolthole to exit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That is literally what the recommendation made by GSOC is all about. In terms of recommendation No. 3, there is a call for GSOC to be empowered to accept and undertake to investigate matters dated beyond the current timeline limitation. If I remember correctly that may be six months.