Results 1-20 of 60 for gsoc speaker:Niall Collins

Inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell: Motion [Private Members] (12 Nov 2019)

Niall Collins: .... This mechanism was far from satisfactory because people could only make written submissions to it and they did not get an opportunity to meet with people face-to-face. This case has been through that process and GSOC. We now need a public inquiry, the terms of reference of which we are now discussing. I will sum up by setting out the manner in which this case has evolved. The...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2016: First Stage (27 Jan 2016)

Niall Collins: ...is of paramount importance that the independence and freedom of the press are respected and upheld. The issue that came to fore, and that was brought to our attention, was the fact that the test that GSOC applied on whether to access the records of journalists - and, by extension, people with whom they had been in contact - was not clear. There is no transparency around it; nor is there...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (27 Jan 2016)

Niall Collins: ...regarding the access of journalists' telephone records, there also was much public disquiet about the quantity of other people's telephone records that also appear to be accessed. In respect of GSOC, as I have stated throughout my commentary on this issue, it is important to state that no one is above the law and no journalist is above the law either. Everyone must be subject to scrutiny...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (27 Jan 2016)

Niall Collins: I have tabled this question in light of the recent issues which have arisen in the media relating to the accessing by GSOC of the phone records of journalists and, by extension, the phone records of people who were in contact with them. The issues surrounding the independence of the broadcasting and journalistic communities which have surfaced have been well aired and these communities, in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Independent Review Mechanism (20 Oct 2015)

Niall Collins: .... Will a proportion require some follow-up action and, if so, what will it be? The Minister has concluded that no further action will be taken in some cases, which have been referred back to GSOC. I am sure there are a cohort of cases, however, that will require further investigation. How will that be done? Will there be a catch-all commission of investigation to take on the block of...

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Niall Collins: ...senior managers at the Department of Justice and Equality did not know of the Garda recordings, given that it was revealed in November 2013 during the Ian Bailey case, and earlier that year as part of a GSOC report. The fact there was no communication between the Attorney General and the then Minister for Justice and Equality about the matter until the fateful meeting in March in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Appointment of Member of Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Motion: Minister for Justice and Equality (15 Jul 2015)

Niall Collins: I thank the Minister for her introduction of the nomination of Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring as chairperson of GSOC. I want to express my thanks to the outgoing GSOC chairperson, Mr. Simon O’Brien. We always read that GSOC is fraught with difficulties. It is an organisation that has a difficult task. In fairness, if there were not working tensions between it and An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Investigations (7 Jul 2015)

Niall Collins: ...from the tragic case of Sergeant Galvin, has a three-way discussion taken place between the Minister, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and An Garda Síochána given the history of friction between GSOC and the Garda? While the relationship between these bodies had been improving, this case will have set back recent progress. In the interests of promoting...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Investigations (7 Jul 2015)

Niall Collins: ...been appointed to carry out an independent judicial inquiry into this. It is appropriate following the call from the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, for such an inquiry. A GSOC spokesman stated at the time that it often engaged in peer review, whereby it got sister organisations from outside the jurisdiction to peer review some of its case work. Is that still...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Witness Protection Programme (26 May 2015)

Niall Collins: ...with the witness protection programme but the support offered to them after they had fulfilled their side of the agreement was not upheld by the State. Unfortunately, they have had to engage with GSOC and their solicitor, Kieran Kelly, and I find much of what they told me disturbing. Joey O'Callaghan sought a meeting with the Minister and it is a matter for her whether she can meet...

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

Niall Collins: ...,”.This issue was discussed on Committee Stage and earlier in our debate on Report Stage. If the Garda Commission is not subject to the same degree of oversight as everybody else in the organisation, GSOC will be perceived to be at a disadvantage and its independence will be undermined. I acknowledge that amendment No. 14 allows the Minister to change the relationship with the...

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

Niall Collins: ...shall, subject to subsection (4), comply with the requirement.”.”.As discussed on Committee Stage, the amendment relates to putting access to PULSE on a statutory basis to empower and bolster the independence of GSOC. As we have spoken about it on many occasions, I do not need to labour the point.

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: ...assumed that the members of the traffic corps acted within the legislation that enables them and that if she had an issue, she could complain to the local chief superintendent or take the matter to GSOC. That was the level of the engagement I had with her. She went away very frustrated because, with all the public discourse we have been having about GSOC, her perception, rightly or...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: ...rolls out. Members of the public who feel the Garda Commissioner of the day has wronged them want to be able to make complaints through the normal complaints mechanism. The flip-side is that for GSOC to be truly independent, so that it can carry out its remit, everybody in the organisation should be subject to its oversight. On this basis, we will press the amendment.

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Niall Collins: ...operations of An Garda Síochána.".". We discussed this matter on Committee Stage in the committee rooms. I restate the reason we submitted this proposal. To strengthen and uphold the independence of GSOC in carrying out the oversight function with which it is charged under the legislation, it is very important that the holder of the office of Garda Commissioner is held...

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)

Niall Collins: ...the PPP partners signed up and ready to go? Is the finance available once the tender process is completed? Will the Minister outline the process she will follow to head hunt for the vacancy in GSOC at commissioner level?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Niall Collins: ...of An Garda Síochána but not in his capacity as head of national security, for the operations of An Garda Síochána.”.”. This amendment would bring the Garda Commissioner under the remit of GSOC. Much of the commentary on GSOC has related to its ability to hold all members of An Garda Síochána properly to account. It is fair to say that GSOC's...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Niall Collins: ...subject to the consent of the Minister,”. This relates to the issue of the Minister having consent or, as Deputy O'Brien correctly said earlier, a veto. The optics and intent of it are wrong. If GSOC is to be truly independent in carrying out its role and fulfilling its remit, providing for ministerial veto or approval is wrong. The amendment seeks to delete that from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Staff (15 Jan 2015)

Niall Collins: ...and Equality the appointment procedure for the incoming chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; if there has been further correspondence or meetings between her Department and the GSOC following the publication of the findings in the Cooke Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1401/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Staff (25 Nov 2014)

Niall Collins: 276. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of GSOC staff who are former or seconded members of An Garda Síochána, the PSNI or other police service; her plans to reform this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45046/14]