We oppose section 26, which provides for the appointment of the Garda Commissioner, in its entirety as its inclusion in the Bill risks politicising the office of the Garda Commissioner. It is a retrograde step without any evidentiary justification and we are unclear why it has been taken. In recent years, the independent Policing Authority has had a strong role in the appointment process, running the competition and nominating the Commissioner for appointment by the Government. The Bill proposes to reverse this to …

I will waive my opposition to the section at this point and come back on Report Stage with an proposed alternative section. My assumption is the process is laid out in how we have previously done it but as for this legislation specifically, I will withdraw my opposition to the section, reserving the right to submit amendments that will protect the current model whereby the Policing Authority is part of the selection process for the Commissioner.

I oppose the section, in a similar vein to the previous section. The Bill will provide for the appointment of the deputy Garda commissioner and we oppose the entire section given its inclusion poses similar risks to section 26 in politicising the office of deputy Garda commissioner.

I move amendment No. 27: In page 41, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(d) the person has engaged in conduct that brings discredit on An Garda Síochána or that may prejudice the proper performance of its functions, or”. Amendment No. 27 seeks to include a provision in the Bill that the Commissioner or deputy commissioner of An Garda Síochána could be removed from office in circumstances where the person has engaged in conduct that brings discredit to An Garda Síochána or that would prejudice the pr…

I move amendment No. 28: In page 41, line 17, after “Síochána” to insert “or public safety”.

I move amendment No. 31: In page 45, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(c)significant developments that might reasonably be expected to adversely affect the performance of An Garda Síochána;”. This is a simple enough amendment that would mandate the Garda Commissioner that he or she be duty-bound to keep the Minister and Secretary General at the Department of Justice informed of any significant developments that might adversely affect the performance of An Garda Síochána. As drafted, the Bill provid…

I move amendment No. 32: In page 49, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:“(6) In making a determination under this section, the Garda Commissioner shall have due regard to the capacity of An Garda Síochána to fulfil its regular functions.”. Section 43 makes provision for policing services to be provided for private events by An Garda Síochána. I refer to events like concerts, sporting events, festivals and conferences. This amendment simply inserts a qualifier stating that in making a determination in …

I am thinking of public interest underpinning the decisions on where police are deployed or not deployed. I think that makes sense. When we look at the prosecutorial powers of members of the Garda, I question whether it is in the public interest to keep guards in courts. Is there another part of the legislation where decisions are made that are not in the public interest? I am not sure if I am pronouncing "prosecutorial" right. I am not sure whether it is in the public interest that guards are in court. I accept th…

I move amendment No. 33: In page 51, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:“(c) the person has engaged in conduct that brings discredit on An Garda Síochána or that may prejudice the proper performance of its functions, or”.

I move amendment No. 34: In page 51, line 20, after “Síochána” to insert “or public safety”.

I move amendment No. 35: In page 54, line 9, after “Síochána” to insert “or public safety generally”. Section 51 provides for the removal of members below the rank of chief superintendent for reasons of public confidence. As drafted, members could be removed from office where public confidence is undermined by their continued membership. As with similar amendments that I have already spoken to, my intention in tabling this amendment is to tease out the distinction between public confidence and the exercise and fulf…

I probably sound like a broken record but we often do not think about public safety in terms of occasions when gardaí are overly aggressive or abuse stop and search powers. The use of stop and search powers is for other legislation at another time, however. Sometimes public safety can be threatened in particular communities because some gardaí do not necessarily work towards having a positive relationship with the community and they can be verbally or physically aggressive. That also has an impact on public safety …

I move amendment No. 36: In page 54, line 10, after “confidence” to insert “or public safety generally”.

I move recommendation No. 1: In page 65, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “Report on private pension tax relief 39. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on private pension tax relief which shall include an assessment on both the gender and distributional impact and an assessment of the potential impacts or benefits of a shift from a marginal rate to a 30 per cent standard rate approach for private pension tax relief in re…

This recommendation relates to the report on private pension tax relief. It states, "The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on private pension tax relief which shall include an assessment on both the gender and distributional impact and an assessment of the potential impacts or benefits of a shift from a marginal rate to a 30 per cent standard rate approach for private pension tax relief in respect of cost to the exchequer and gender impact…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on Universal Basic Income for care-leavers 21. The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas and the Joint Committee on Social Protection a report on options for introducing a Universal Basic Income scheme for care-leavers.”. More than 600 care leavers signed up to a universal basic income pilot scheme in the UK in the past year. One of those participating in the…

I raised this issue in the committee. It would be on the Minister's radar. I thought there might be some crossover or intersection where a person is 18 and leaving care. Some people, when they leave care at 18, might not necessarily avail of one of the aftercare housing schemes and so on. Some may not come under the umbrella of what falls under the Minister's Department. I may be wrong in thinking that and such cases might fall under social welfare in the case of an independent adult who is no longer receiving afte…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on income adequacy of lone parent families 21. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas and the Joint Committee on Social Protection a report on the income inadequacy of lone parent households, including an analysis of the main drivers of income inadequacy among this group, and social protection measures which could address this inadequacy.”.

I was not aware that amendment No. 7 was in the earlier grouping and had already been discussed with amendment No. 1.

Okay, I will press the amendment.