Law - Thurles Information

Security & Protection Review Announced For Oireachtas Members & Staff Working On Oireachtas Campus.

Security & Protection Review Announced For Oireachtas Members & Staff Working On Oireachtas Campus

The Garda Commissioner is to undertake a new security and protection review of TDs, senators, their staff and people working on the Oireachtas campus.

The chairs of the respective parliamentary parties and parliamentary groupings in the Oireachtas, and representatives of the staff and media working in Leinster House, will be asked to contribute to the review and will be met with, as part of this process.

This will allow those working in the Oireachtas to give their views on general security and protection, including their work in their constituencies, as well as on the security approach to parliamentary set days, such as Budget Day and the first sitting of Dáil terms.

This review will be concluded by the end of October and full details will be provided to the Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee TD .

Officials have been asked to examine whether existing legislation is sufficient to deal with intimidation centred on our democratic institutions, including consultation with the Attorney General on this matter.

The Commissioner’s review will also feed into other work being carried out under the auspices of the Oireachtas and elsewhere, such as:-

The Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life.
A review of security announced this week by the Ceann Comhairle.
The potential impact of the new security allowance for members of the Oireachtas, which was introduced earlier this year.

An Garda Síochána constantly monitors the security of elected representatives.

A recent assessment of security for office holders has led to increased protection over recent years and each Garda Division has a Crime Prevention Officer who is qualified and tasked to liaise with and provide advice to elected representatives.

Serious justifiable concerns have arisen in light of the recent incidents involving protests.

New Bill To Establish A Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Agency.

New agency to drive and co-ordinate the Government’s response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including refuge delivery
Position of CEO of new agency to be advertised within weeks
DSGBV Agency Bill to be taken in the Dáil by the end of the month
Agency to be up and running by January 2024

Government approval has been secured to publish a Bill to create a statutory agency dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and support victims and survivors.

Government approval of the new Bill should see the new agency set up and running by the end of January 2024, with the position of CEO of the new agency to be advertised by the end of the month. Candidates for the position will have three weeks to submit their application to the Public Appointments Service (PAS) following the opening of the competition.

The Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023 follows a Government decision that an agency should be established under the remit of the Department of Justice to deliver on commitments under Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on DSGBV, with the Bill being introduced in the Dáil by the end of September 2023.

The new agency will bring the dedicated and expert focus that is needed to tackle the serious and complex societal problem of DSGBV. Its main functions as set out in the Bill include:–

Planning, coordinating and monitoring the development of refuge accommodation.
Providing support, including financial assistance, for the delivery of services to victims and persons at risk of DSGBV.
Developing standards for funded services, and monitoring compliance.
Co-ordinating the delivery of relevant Government strategies and plans.
Delivering public campaigns aimed at raising awareness of DSGBV and reducing its prevalence.
Carrying out ongoing research to support the development of future policies and programmes.

In carrying out its work, the agency will also be mandated to engage and consult appropriately with the DSGBV sector and other stakeholders.

The Bill has already benefited from constructive engagement with relevant Government Departments and State bodies, in particular with the Department of Children, Equality, Integration and Youth and the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in the context of the transfer of responsibility for funding of DSGBV services from Tusla to the new agency.

The agency will be led by a chief executive to be recruited by open competition, with strategic guidance and oversight from a non-executive board with expertise in relation to DSGBV, organisational management and governance, and other matters relevant to the functions of the agency.
The chief executive will be responsible to the Dept. of Justice for the performance of the agency.

Cannabis Herb Valued At €30,000 Seized In Dundrum, Co. Tipperary.

A man has appeared before Ennis District Court this afternoon, following the seizure by Gardaí, of cannabis herb, with an estimated street value of over €30,000.
The cannabis herb was seized in the Dundrum area of Co. Tipperary yesterday.
Investigations are currently ongoing in relation to this seizure.

Tipperary Man Caught Travelling In Cork Using Stolen Car.

A 27-year-old Tipperary man, named as Mr Martin Harty, who was caught travelling in a stolen car in Cork city earlier this year, has been jailed for six months.

Mr Harty, with an address at No. 59 Summerhill, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, appeared before Cork District Court, and pleaded guilty to the accused charge, which arose out of an incident where he was found to be a front seat passenger in a stolen vehicle.

The crime was first detected on January 15th 2023, when Gardaí responded to a report that a stolen Vauxhall Insignia car was being driven in the area of Barnavara Crescent, Banduff Road, Co. Cork.
The vehicle came to a halt at the rear of a house at Barnavara Crescent. Two men were then observed exiting the vehicle, before fleeing into a back garden. The front seat passenger was identified as Mr Harty who pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle.

Mr Justice Olann Kelleher noted from 96 previous convictions; on this occasion it was the third time the defendant had travelled in a stolen car and that this latest offence merited a prison sentence.

Claims Of Over €2M + Euro Funds Go Missing At Garda College, Co Tipperary.

It is understood that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), has, at last, sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), following lengthy investigation into financial irregularities at the Garda Training College, situated in Templemore, Co. Tipperary.

Following investigations, same begun some 75 months ago, a decision is now awaited on whether any serving or retired Gardaí are likely to be charged in relation to this possible embezzlement.

It is understood that millions of euro, including European Union funds just vanished, with over €2m unaccounted for, and linked mainly to a restaurant at the Garda Training College, as well as huge sums linked to golf course land and a boat club.

Included in the internal audit report, are accusations as follows:-
(A) The Training College rented out land it did not own.
(B) Operated some 50 bank accounts with some allegedly used for purposes other than those for which they were intended. This included the buying of gifts, spending on entertainment and sponsoring garda clubs.
(C) Used public money to fit out privately owned shops.
(D) Operated one bank account in the name of the Garda laundry account, which were used for the payment of bonuses, some loans to staff, and the funding of entertainment and sporting expenses.
(E) Redirecting European Union funding into own bank accounts, before possibly being diverted to a Dublin bank account, referred to as the ‘Cabra Account‘.

These allegations first date back to 1999 and were then highlighted by Garda Human Resources boss Mr John Barrett. Mr Barrett gave extensive details of his efforts to raise concerns about Templemore’s existing finances.

Same was not referred to GSOC until June 2017 by the then Garda Commissioner Ms Nóirín O’Sullivan.
In her evidence to PAC in 2017, Ms O’Sullivan said that she first found out about same financial issues at a two hour meeting, described as a brief meeting, at the Training College, back in July 2015. However, inquiries do not appear to have continued, once Garda Commissioner O’Sullivan handed over her report to GSOC.

To date, one former senior Garda member, who was involved directly with the training college, has been deemed unable to fully co-operate with on going enquiries, due to failing health.

It is expected that this case could take the Irish State prosecutor some 12 months to rule if any current or now retired Gardaí should face criminal charges.