Results 1-20 of 22 for gsoc speaker:Jack Chambers

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

Jack Chambers: The opening statement referred to breaking the umbilical cord between GSOC and the Department. Is that based on formulating an idealistic governance arrangement, which GSOC would prefer, or is it based on the experience GSOC has had with the Department?

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

Jack Chambers: I refer to the 500 complaints that were handed back, and I know we have had discussions with GSOC before. My colleague, Deputy O'Callaghan, mentioned the report from the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, but that is a different arena from where GSOC is at at present. What is the follow-through or audit of those cases that are handed back? Does GSOC seek an update on the...

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

Jack Chambers: At a previous justice committee meeting, I asked about resourcing and then Carmel Foley responded how GSOC determines it can maximise its resources to ensure the better use of public funds. There was a standard response that we received from other agencies as to how they would do with what they have. GSOC was not overtly explicit about increased staffing requirements and resources before....

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

Jack Chambers: In the media and elsewhere, GSOC has been referred to as a watchdog on a tight leash. Has GSOC felt the leash at times?

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

Jack Chambers: The Minister has said he has an open mind on GSOC's independence, as well as providing it with sufficient resources and staff numbers. Has GSOC received anything recently from the Minister which would give it confidence that it will have its requests met?

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

Jack Chambers: GSOC has also requested section 102B be amended around the censuring of the Garda Commissioner. Is that based on having a proper legislative framework in place or does GSOC have recent examples where it felt this needs to be changed?

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

Jack Chambers: GSOC is contacted by the Policing Authority on the promotions list. Where there has been a delay to a complaint made, how does GSOC respond to that?

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

Jack Chambers: ...a significant number of staff, and they have not got the communication, whether it is a positive or a negative result, the follow-through can break down confidence in some levels of policing. GSOC has engagement with an Garda Síochána. How does GSOC act on the general dissatisfaction that has been highlighted in this trend, in terms of its role, and how are the improvements on...

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

Jack Chambers: In its annual report at the end of 2015, GSOC outlined that it had 77 staff. This compares to 105 in 2007. GSOC said that it was going to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of increased resources and staffing levels. Has Ms Justice Ring met the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in recent months and, if so, what was the outcome of those...

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

Jack Chambers: Does GSOC feel it is being used as a delaying tactic by any organisation or group in the public service?

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

Jack Chambers: GSOC has requested that section 103A of the Garda Síochána Act, whereby the Garda Commissioner can censor information for the purpose of investigation, be amended in line with the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. Does that happen much?

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

Jack Chambers: Is information being withheld under the exemption of section 103A which, in turn, prevents GSOC from investigating properly?

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

Jack Chambers: Has GSOC had issues with that process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2017: Discussion (8 Nov 2017)

Jack Chambers: Would Ms Moore not accept that it is important in the interests of the media that we have protection for journalists, particularly in the context of what the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, was doing? Does she not think that there is a need to include that within the general scheme of the Bill?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Priorities for Garda Inspectorate: Discussion (19 Oct 2016)

Jack Chambers: ...regulatory resources too thinly across too many organisations which will inhibit effective governance and oversight? Much of what the inspectorate talks about is something we have heard from both GSOC and the Policing Authority. The inspectorate has nine staff plus themselves, the Policing Authority has 13 and is trying to hire more, and GSOC has numbers in the 20s. Would this be a...

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

Jack Chambers: ...made a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission that they have hit a brick wall. They have been frustrated and delayed and waited years without a conclusion to their case. When does GSOC expect this to change in order that there are outcomes? I am aware that the commission is engaged in a process with the Department. Has there been any improvement in the past 18...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Authority: Discussion (28 Sep 2016)

Jack Chambers: ...might respond to those questions. I raised a question with Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring when she appeared before the committee last week about the annual report of Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, which contains 36 recommendations on systemic and management issues in An Garda Síochána. In the vast majority of cases some were not responded to at all and some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Future Direction of An Garda Síochána: Garda Commissioner (24 Oct 2018)

Jack Chambers: ...him. New offices have been proposed, including an independent office of the police commission and a policing and community safety oversight commission. The Policing Authority, the Garda Inspectorate and GSOC are in the mix already and there is also the potential for a new board. Where does the Commissioner see this going? I know that ultimately it is a Government decision as to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Jack Chambers: ...is being developed. The Minister mentioned that there had been public commentary about the concerns about the overall policing architecture and the extent of it in terms of the Garda Inspectorate, GSOC and the Policing Authority itself. Is the Minister concerned that by taking out part of the functions of the Policing Authority and replacing them with a new merged structure composed of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Jack Chambers: ...engagement with the Department of Justice and Equality. It was all politically correct around the engagement of the commission and how it was getting on. Underneath it all, it was very difficult for GSOC. The authority needs to learn from the experience of the commission. I appeal to the authority not to keep referring to the Department and the Minister. The authority will need reform...