Results 1-18 of 18 for gsoc speaker:Alan Farrell

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Alan Farrell: I, too, wish to express my sympathies to the family on the tragedy that occurred two years ago. I appreciate the comments of the Minister in respect of the independence of GSOC but I must express my disappointment at the turnaround time. Two years is an unacceptable period to wait for an assessment of this matter to be made. I fully understand the gravity of the situation and, indeed, of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: I suggest we ask the clerk to the committee to write to GSOC regarding that matter in order to inquire as to status of its inquiry. That would be interesting.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 12 - Management of Ancillary Services at the Garda Training College (23 Nov 2017)

Alan Farrell: I have articulated my views on the fund in this room. It is subject to GSOC inquiry and I hope it will finish soon. It has had plenty of time. We are talking about moneys deriving from the public Vote or part thereof. We cannot be certain, one assumes. In the course of Mr. Kelly's audit, has he ceased investigation of the transfer on the basis it is with GSOC?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister for Justice and Equality (5 Oct 2016)

Alan Farrell: Many of the points I was going to make have been covered, but I have a couple of small questions and points for the Minister. Following the visit of GSOC not too long ago, the first one is the suggestion and follow-up correspondence from GSOC on the need to review legislation in its area. We have been requested to make suggestions and, or, work with GSOC to achieve that. Does the Minister...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (21 Sep 2016)

Alan Farrell: ...going to ask have probably been covered at this stage but I will touch on them to see if there is any additional information. On section 94(3) with regard to public interest investigations that GSOC is now permitted to commence without a complaint, is the commission aware of, or does it participate in the oversight of the secondary element of that process where it is reviewed by another...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...about An Garda Síochána. Unfortunately, the public perception of the force has been damaged in the past couple of years. We are familiar with the whistleblowers episode, the independent operation of GSOC and the bugging incident or whatever one might want to call it. The Bill is welcome as part of a suite of measures introduced by the Government in the justice area to deal...

Cooke Report: Statements (19 Jun 2014)

Alan Farrell: I welcome the Government's acceptance of the findings and conclusions of former Judge Cooke's inquiry. That inquiry was tasked with examining the sequence of events and the facts which led GSOC to begin a public interest investigation in October 2013. However, Judge Cooke found that "evidence does not support the proposition that actual surveillance ... took place and much less that it was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: I thank the acting Garda Commissioner for coming before us. The only observation I can take from her submission is that the role of investigating misconduct by gardaí should be assigned to GSOC. I do not think that is a particularly shocking statement given the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Should a serving member of the Garda be seconded to GSOC or how else might we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...people in from outside is always a good thing. Ms O'Sullivan mentioned the internal audit and internal affairs type of structure in the force and spoke about whether that should be moved to GSOC as part of its role. Perhaps that would not include the auditing element but the investigative element could certainly be considered. I ask her to outline this in more detail.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...to whom they are not being directed should feel free to weigh in, if he or she has something to say. I will begin with Baroness O'Loan, who mentioned there should be a provision to allow for GSOC to investigate or have access to a Garda premises. I will extend that a little by inquiring on her views as to how far that should go. In the context of GSOC's remit, is one merely talking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...vehicle that they might be using, for example. There have been instances mentioned in recent years of serving members of An Garda Síochána using their own vehicles. I wonder whether the role of GSOC would include that. While taking on board what Baroness O'Loan said about the criminal investigation, I am just thinking of an investigation being carried out by GSOC and whether,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: As for GSOC investigating the Garda Commissioner, the Northern Ireland Policing Board obviously has a role to play in this regard and I note the joint committee will visit Northern Ireland and Scotland very soon. As I have heard a great deal of commentary on extending that remit to GSOC, is this an absolute as far as Baroness O'Loan is concerned?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Alan Farrell: ...is one I am not entirely sure Baroness O'Loan will be able to answer. In the course of the last public hearing on this issue a couple of weeks ago when the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and GSOC were present, a discussion arose on the dual functions they conduct, where there is some crossover and whether the existence of both organisations as separate entities should be continued....

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

Alan Farrell: ...own role. That is welcome in the context of reforming the legislation. What is done by other ombudsman offices across civil society? If the Garda Inspectorate is overviewing the structures and GSOC is investigating certain other issues, if I apply that scenario to any other section of society, are there two separate authorities?

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

Alan Farrell: I will come back to GSOC. I stepped out for a few minutes and then came back. I think I missed a critical piece of information about GSOC's view of the possibility of discussing or implementing the dual function of both GSOC and the Garda Inspectorate and how amalgamating those two bodies-----

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

Alan Farrell: During one of his contributions, Mr. Fitzgerald mentioned that the investigatory process within GSOC was taking upward of a year or over a year.

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

Alan Farrell: ...the possibility of an oversight function for a committee within the Houses of the Oireachtas having some form of oversight over the administration of justice be it in parallel with the likes of GSOC, the Garda Inspectorate or the policing board. Could he provide some more of his views or those of Transparency International about whether something like that could be implemented within the...

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

Alan Farrell: ...systemic issues of customer service and service delivery. I appreciate what he said in terms of his role as an ombudsman. Is the implementation of best practice in that particular area something he feels GSOC can make a contribution to? Mr. Fitzgerald mentioned the forthcoming annual report of GSOC. Is it going to be part of that or is it something that could be added as an addendum?