Results 1-14 of 14 for gsoc speaker:David Cullinane

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: ...of transparency and accountability in An Garda Síochána. Two issues arose in recent days that are of concern in that regard. The first is the view of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, that full accountability and transparency and its ability to do its job and hold the Garda to account is "impossible" because of the actions of An Garda Síochána....

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)

David Cullinane: ...committee because it is our core function, but I imagine he would also put the same emphasis on his responsibility in relation to transparency, good governance and accountability. In that vein, GSOC raised concerns in relation to its authority yesterday or the day before. I am assuming that Mr. Harris understands why GSOC was established in the first instance and what its role is. It is...

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)

David Cullinane: Mr. Harris obviously is on the opposite end of the argument if GSOC is saying that it finds it impossible to do its job, which is to hold An Garda Síochána accountable, and there is a difficulty from its perspective. Mr. Harris might have a different perspective, but GSOC is the independent body and it took a lot for it to come out and say in the very clear, stark terms it did that...

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)

David Cullinane: I accept Mr. Harris's response, but while he may see those things as achievable, GSOC obviously has a concern that they are not being achieved or delivered. I would like to move on to the related issue of accountability. Yesterday, Mr. Harris made reference to the setting up of an anti-corruption unit, which on the face of it looks like the Garda investigating the Garda. Did Mr. Harris...

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)

David Cullinane: It is not missing the point to say that in seeking out corruption it is international best practice for the work not to be done by people within the force but by an independent body. As GSOC is the independent body, why did the Garda not use its remit? Why did it set up an internal structure in which gardaí would investigate gardaí?

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)

David Cullinane: Did it consult GSOC in advance of making the statement on the anti-corruption unit? What was the force's level of engagement with GSOC, given that it is the independent body that oversees An Garda Síochána and deals with wrongdoing?

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)

David Cullinane: I understand that, but I am asking if the force consulted GSOC on the establishment of the unit.

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)

David Cullinane: That is a mistake. Consulting GSOC was something the Garda should have done before establishing the unit. The serious issues GSOC has raised in recent days add to my belief. I spoke to the Chairman about a particular case in advance of the meeting. I do not want to name an individual, even though it is a case that was in the public domain and before the courts before being dropped. A...

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)

David Cullinane: No, that did not go through GSOC.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2015)

David Cullinane: ...Garda Inspectorate.”.”.I have no problem with the grouping of the amendments because they all relate to the need for, in our view, an independent adjudicator in regard to this section of the Bill. Historically, GSOC would be stopped in its tracks with an investigation by being told certain information was not available to it or would be delayed on the basis that it was a...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2015)

David Cullinane: .... Given the Minister of State's previous contribution, I can hazard a guess that he will not accept the two amendments. The amendment is about the removal of the Minister having the power in order to allow GSOC retain its independence. I wish to make the point that we believe GSOC must be as independent of the Minister and the Department of Justice and Equality as is possible, which is...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2015)

David Cullinane: ...Commission may, if the investigation so requires, access the PULSE system.”.This issue has been discussed on Second and Committee Stages and the amendment recommends that access to the PULSE system by GSOC is given on a statutory footing and not by way of protocols. If I may quote from one of the joint committee's recommendations:The access to Garda systems is of integral...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2015)

David Cullinane: ...“as soon as practicable” and substitute “within 30 days”.I will be brief. Sinn Féin has concerns that the Garda sometimes can cause undue delays in the granting of information or data to GSOC investigators. The amendment proposes to replace the words "as soon as practicable" with "within 30 days". Its purpose is to place a limit on the length of time the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2014)

David Cullinane: ...and the Garda Commissioner at the time to muddy the waters and to call into question the integrity of the two whistleblowers. That was quite serious at the time. We also had an alleged bugging of GSOC and now we hear about the recording of phone calls into and out of Garda stations. One of those Garda stations is in Waterford, where recordings were made of calls between members of An...