Results 1-20 of 81 for gsoc speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I have a second question for GSOC. We will have a presentation this afternoon from Dr. Richard O'Flaherty from Limerick. Are there any lessons to be learned in that regard? He has brought matters to the attention of GSOC. They have dragged on for three years. He will present based on his experiences. Does GSOC have any reflections on the issues he has brought to its attention?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (4 Feb 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: That takes me to my next question, which is on GSOC. The Government has asked it to examine the penalty points issue. A major investigation has to be undertaken in that respect. We will also be giving GSOC additional powers when the Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill is passed today. That will entail the provision of more resources. Is the Minister satisfied that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I accept that. GSOC then contacted its sister organisation in Britain, which it is perfectly entitled to do. I know that the Ombudsman in Ireland, whether that was Emily O’Reilly, or now, Peter Tyndall, co-operates with her or his European counterparts regularly. GSOC sought advice on a high-quality security consultancy, one of the best international standard, as I think Mr....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Minister has been critical of members of Committee of Public Accounts and has said that he referred the matter to GSOC in the public interest due to the direction in which it was going. He now says that the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality should have dealt with it. That committee and the Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions were both of the view that GSOC was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 107. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of the recommendations made to the Garda Commissioner by GSOC that are not implemented that is figures since the inception of GSOC. [47416/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Mr. FitzGerald said last night that the decision to bring in a security sweep of the GSOC premises happened around a time when sensitive investigations were taking place. Can I confirm that GSOC was completing the investigation of these matters at the time it was thinking of doing the security sweep of its premises?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Obviously, there is consensus among the presenters today and our members on an independent policing authority, strengthened powers for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, and so on but I want to focus on areas on which there does not appear to be consensus. My first questions are for the GSOC representatives. They make the point about efficiencies and that there are...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...across this State. To put it kindly, we have had a problematic 18 months in terms of public confidence in the Minister's ability to preside over and assist, depending on what body it is, the GSOC or An Garda Síochána. When previous issues came into the public domain relating to the GSOC, the Minister's instinct was to defend the system. What I found remarkable was the fact...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It might be useful if the Garda Inspectorate, and possibly GSOC, could make a submission to this process around the international practice. Why should the two organisations continue to exist? How can they complement each other's work? In fairness, Mr. Olson goes some way in that direction in his submission but with the contribution of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, it would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: These were matters of such public interest that GSOC took it upon itself – as it has the right to do under law – to investigate them. It took four years to complete the investigation. Am I right in saying that it took so long because of the profound delays in getting co-operation on this matter of huge public interest from senior management of An Garda Síochána?...

Other Questions: Corrib Gas Field (30 Apr 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...attained from it. The Minister is aware that the UN special rapporteur on human rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, among many others, is part of an increasing call for an investigation into these matters. GSOC found that the superintendent in charge should face disciplinary measures. The Garda Commissioner failed to enact that, without any explanation. We are considering GSOC powers and...

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...the Garda Commissioner tried to prevent Sergeant McCabe giving evidence to the PAC. Then there was the scandal of allegations of bugging at the office of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. The Minister's response was to seek to put GSOC in the dock, aided by the Taoiseach, who misrepresented the Garda Síochána Act 2005 by implying that GSOC was the...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2018)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: We cannot leave it to GSOC. The first part of its report is a shambles and a travesty in terms of what we can see with our own eyes based on the dossier of evidence that Lucia O'Farrell herself has put together. It is an insult to the Irish people just to leave it to GSOC. There has to be a public inquiry. We have some solemn powers in the House. We do not abuse them and we use them...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Feb 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...Commission has the capacity or power to fully investigate matters about which they are concerned. While certain aspects of the legislation are encouraging and welcome, the new powers conferred on GSOC are wholly inadequate. The amendment fits into the idea of a new beginning in that it would give people more time to submit a complaint to GSOC. It also has an element of natural justice...

Appointment of Chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (16 Jul 2015)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Minister will be aware that the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality was tasked with examining the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and considering ways of strengthening GSOC, having a policing authority, ensuring the accountability of the Garda and setting up new structures. One of our recommendations was to replace the current three-person commission with one ombudsman, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I will conclude with this. It is being said, and Mr. FitzGerald identified this last night, that because GSOC was pursuing an investigation - which it is its job to do, courageously, without fear or favour, to pursue every issue - that had very serious ramifications for people at a higher level in An Garda Síochána, it had therefore put itself in the way of surveillance and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The commissioners came before us last July in respect of their concerns about co-operation with GSOC investigations by senior management of the Garda Síochána. Protocols have been in place since. I am particularly interested in the public interest investigation conducted by GSOC. Am I correct that it is a public interest investigation, without naming individuals, into reports...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Oct 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...weeks. I, and my party, will be continuing to push for this as we believe that it is integral to the reform of policing in this State. For example, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, did not have the ability to oversee the Garda Commissioner. I am happy that this Bill will rectify that in section 7. For the first time the Garda Commissioner will be brought within...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...in terms of the rights of members of the Garda Síochána. The other issues raised were that these investigations can be expensive and the money is taken from the Garda budget rather than the GSOC budget. These are reasonable points. There is wide consensus that we need to give GSOC more powers and also to listen to the experience of serving members of the Garda...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: ...chief inspectors in terms of policing. The jury is out on this matter. The case of the ICCL is that because there will be a new policing authority, a Garda professional standards unit and GSOC, there is, with all due respect, no need for a Garda Inspectorate, which is an organisation too many. Based on the submission of the Garda Inspectorate, it is looking for more powers of...