Results 1-20 of 1,085,991 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Pat Deering OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:James Lawless OR speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Simon Coveney OR speaker:Rose Conway-Walsh OR speaker:Chris Andrews6 OR speaker:Alan Farrell OR speaker:Heather Humphreys OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Pauline Tully OR speaker:Thomas Pringle OR speaker:Carol Nolan OR speaker:Verona Murphy OR speaker:Patrick O'Donovan OR speaker:David Stanton OR speaker:Réada Cronin OR speaker:Catherine Martin OR speaker:Jim O'Callaghan OR speaker:Jackie Cahill OR speaker:Alan Dillon) in 'Committee meetings'

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: I welcome the Minister of State and her officials. I, too, associate myself with the condolences to the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, on the recent passing of his mum, which is not easy. Looking through what we have been presented with, I am struck by the huge amount of work by officials going on in the Department. A huge amount of positive stuff is going on and businesses are being...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: When does the Minister of State expect it to start?

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: As an aside, and maybe I am stretching it a bit raising it with the Estimates, there is going to be huge potential in the development of offshore wind. A lot of jobs will be created in that sector. A lot of new skills will be required and there will need to be a lot upskilling. A lot of the landing jobs will be onshore but many will be on ships. What strategies are being put in place to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: Apologies have been received from Deputies Niamh Smyth and Alan Farrell. This meeting has been convened to consider Supplementary Estimates for Vote 20 - Garda Síochána, Vote 21 - Prisons, Vote 22 - Courts Service and Vote 24 - Justice. The Supplementary Estimates were referred on 15 October 2024. Under Standing Orders, the role of the committee is to consider the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister. We will give consideration to Vote 20 first, which concerns An Garda Síochána. Do Members have any questions?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Minister for her input. She said we will facilitate the entry of 800 to 1,000 new trainees to the Garda College next year. How close to maximum capacity for the college is that? Will 800 or 1,000 trainees mean the college is running at full capacity?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: No matter what, consideration is going to have to be given to an additional college or a significant boost to the existing facilities.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: When somebody applies to become a garda, they know that is going to be expected of them.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Subhead A8 for superannuation cost includes an underspend of €16.5 million. The document states that was the "result of a welcome lower than expected retirements and issues relating to the migration of Garda pension payments to the National Shared Service Office". How much does the National Shared Service Office contribute to savings?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Pardon?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Will that €2 million in savings recur in other years from now on?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Under the capital spend, a €6 million fleet has been reorganised. The document states that the investment will allow the Garda to purchase two water cannons. How much are the water cannons costing? Will people be trained to drive them when they have been bought, given the difficulties in getting training places for services?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Finally in relation to the €8 million for aircraft, which is funding to support the replacement of a second helicopter in the Garda air support unit, how much does one helicopter cost?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Is that €8 million for one aircraft?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: For one helicopter.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Is it capable of being operational nationwide?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: That is €1 million per year then.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I would not like to be jumping into it when it is 19.5 years old.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Pringle. With regard to the superannuation underspend of €16.5 million I am pleased to hear there has been a lower than expected number of retirements from the Garda. Is this related to the increase in the retirement age? What type of figure are we looking at for the numbers of gardaí who reached 60 and who are now staying on?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am very pleased to hear that 1,800 people applied for the Garda Reserve competition. How many are we recruiting? Under the legislation the Garda Commissioner has complete responsibility for what the Garda Reserve will or will not do, but do we see any role for the political body in trying to make decisions as to how we should direct them? The Garda Reserve was not effectively used by...