Results 101-120 of 145 for gsoc speaker:Alan Shatter

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...there was a “device”, without referencing what it was, relating to UK 3G network telephones that could have resulted in their being accessed if it was utilised for that purpose. If someone had GSOC under surveillance, presumably it would be through the telephones members of GSOC were operating. When I raised that question, they said “No, they did not have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I was summarising for the Dáil the three threats, GSOC’s conclusions on them as I was advised of them, and the ultimate outcome of GSOC’s investigation. I thought that was the correct and appropriate way to proceed. It was certainly not my intention to mislead anyone. Why would I do so? GSOC was coming to this committee the following day at which any issues of relevance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...reference for the review are being finalised as we sit here. It is important all colleagues in Cabinet agree to them. The judge will be able to ask people questions. It is my understanding that GSOC, Verrimus and Rits will co-operate. All documentation and information available to me will be furnished to the judge. If there is anything additional the review requires from GSOC it will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...I know it based on the information that I am given. My interest is ensuring that the Garda Síochána and the Garda Commissioner properly carry out their duties in accordance with statute and that GSOC properly carries out its very important public functions independently and is allowed and facilitated to do the job we have asked it to do, but I cannot make a pretence that I know...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is absolutely right that if there is a threat or a suspicion that GSOC was under surveillance that it is appropriate that the matter be investigated, but what he is missing is that GSOC itself investigated it. It decided there was no definitive evidence of surveillance and it referenced what occurred as "anomalies". One of the anomalies - I am happy to address the other two but I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The problem is that GSOC has said that there is no evidence of Garda misconduct-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The conclusion of GSOC is that there is no evidence of Garda misconduct. The Deputy has accepted other GSOC reports where Garda failures have been identified. He has a difficulty accepting a GSOC report where GSOC itself says there is no evidence of Garda misconduct. All the jumping up and down in the world does not establish Garda misconduct. On the issue the Deputy has raised, in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...that it is not correct to say this is technology that can be acquired only by governments. Second, an issue that arises is that this was presented as if it were some device on the street outside GSOCs’ offices or lurking close to them. I have been told this is a piece of equipment, if it exists, that could be operated within a 2 km to 3 km radius of GSOC’s offices, which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...Mr. O'Brien was trying to backtrack last week. Mr. O'Brien was quite clear last week on the matter that ended up in the public domain on Sunday last. He said there was a document that had leaked from GSOC's offices which contained some inaccurate factual matters that gave rise to the suggestion that the security sweep it had done in September was the result of a senior garda knowing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: .... This issue arose at an extraordinarily early stage last week when people were demanding that there be some form of inquiry. I met with Mr. O'Brien and received a brief from him in writing and GSOC issued a statement. If one looks at it in the round, what occurred, based on the information I had, was that a security sweep was initiated by GSOC. What was termed "Anomalies", "potential...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I do not wish to confine anyone to the number of questions they ask but if I could just deal with them in some sort of order. The Deputy's first question was why did I fail to outline the fact that GSOC had undertaken a public interest investigation. I expressly said in my script that GSOC had commenced an investigation. I then proceeded to detail the outcome of the investigation. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: It is rather complex and a short answer could be misleading. I have no wish to comment on whether GSOC should have commenced the section 102 investigation at the point when it did. I have merely described the information on which the commission commenced it. That issue can be considered in the context of any matters of relevance to this by the judge who is going to conduct the inquiry. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...Purcell who is the Secretary General, and Mr. Michael Flahive, who is the assistant secretary general. They are both with me because they were both present during my meeting with the chairman of GSOC, Mr. Simon O'Brien, which took place in my Department on the Monday after the report in The Sunday Times. I followed with interest the proceedings before this committee last week, and I read...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...as "anomalies". There were two issues that arose prior to the section 102 investigation. The first, if I could describe it in non-technical terms, seems to be that a Wi-Fi system which had been acquired by GSOC either late in 2007 or early 2008 had never been used for anything, was connecting to something external and remote, as the report from Verrimus states. As matters stood by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (19 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: In my statement to the House on 11 February, 2014, I detailed the background to the investigation GSOC initiated and the outcome of that investigation. I summarised for the House the information furnished to me by GSOCs Chairman at our two hour meeting and that contained in the briefing note I received from GSOC and its public press release. I addressed the central issues of the...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion [Private Members] (18 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...It is not fair, however, in playing that game that aspersions are cast on the Garda Síochána in circumstances where there is no evidence for such aspersions to be cast based on the conclusions of GSOC. It is unfair to suggest I have any interest of any description in trying to undermine the work of GSOC. I want to ensure that if things went wrong in this context, including the...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion [Private Members] (18 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: ...the Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission are vital pillars in our democratic policing structures. The work of the Garda Síochána, in fighting crime, combating terrorism, and protecting the public, is of critical importance. Equally, the role of GSOC, in independently investigating complaints or concerns relating to the Garda...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion [Private Members] (18 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: Today, it was agreed at Cabinet that the input of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality would be sought on the amendments to be made to the 2005 Act with regard to GSOC, in advance of my finalising the proposals to be brought by me to Cabinet - hardly the actions of someone seeking to undermine the work of GSOC. On Tuesday last, in this House I detailed the...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion [Private Members] (18 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: Even GSOC does not accept that.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues (18 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 to 541, inclusive, and 547 together. I briefed Cabinet today on developments that have occurred in relation to concerns that GSOC may have been subject to surveillance, following on from the Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions hearing last Wednesday. I have also briefed the Cabinet in relation to further information and documentation...