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Garda Operations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2014

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Ceisteanna (413, 414, 415, 416, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 437, 442, 443, 444, 446, 448, 451, 452)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

413. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is the practice of An Garda Síochána that telephone calls to and from Garda stations are recorded; the legal basis for this practice; when this practice commenced; the number of Garda stations involved in this practice; when this practice was discontinued; the reason the practice was discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15090/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Robert Dowds

Ceist:

414. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if phone calls made to Garda stations are or have ever been recorded; if this was done in accordance with the law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15098/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ciara Conway

Ceist:

415. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is the practice of Garda stations nationwide to record incoming and outgoing phone calls; the reason this is so; where the information is stored; the person who has access to it; the length of time for which it is stored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15101/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

416. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in County Kerry that had their telephones bugged and-or monitored; the period of time in which these bugs-monitors were in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15107/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

421. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of installing the NICE recording system in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15257/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

422. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality under what Vote and subhead of the Estimates the cost of installing the NICE recording system in or around 2008 was met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15258/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

423. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a tendering or official purchase process used for the installation of the NICE recording system in or around 2008, and under the auspices of what State body was this tendering or purchase process held; the specifics of that tendering process; the specification of the equipment sought; if it involved the installation cost and any ongoing maintenance or operational costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15259/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

424. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of NICE recording systems that were installed; and the Garda station locations in which they were installed in or around 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15260/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

425. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of NICE recording systems purchased in or around 2008; if each of these units have been accounted for having been installed in a Garda station or any other location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15261/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

426. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality during the period of the installation of the NICE recording systems in Garda stations in 2008 under what purchase or contract were these systems installed in any other Government facilities or properties; if he will list those locations and the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15262/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

427. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the staff level in his Department at which approval was given for the purchase and installation of the NICE recording systems in Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15263/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

428. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if ministerial approval was given in or around 2008 for the tendering, purchase and installation of NICE recording systems in Garda stations; if he will provide a copy of any relevant documentation on this approval; if this was brought to his attention by his Department or An Garda Síochána at the time; and if so, the person who was the corresponding official; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15264/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

429. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Defence Forces or any organ thereof, was involved in the installation of the NICE recording systems in Garda stations in or around 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15265/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

430. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a private contractor carried out the installation of the NICE recording systems in Garda stations in or around 2008, and if so, who was that contractor, company or person; if security clearance was required for this work; and for each installation the person responsible in An Garda Síochána or his Department for granting that clearance for each location where a NICE recorder was installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15266/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

431. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process in place for the recording, storage and archival of recordings carried out by the NICE recording systems installed in 2008 in Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15267/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

432. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the person in An Garda Síochána or his Department who had responsibility for the oversight and operation of the NICE recording system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15268/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

433. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the information recorded by the NICE system was encrypted or in any way protected; the number of hours of recordings there are; if it is recorded on hard drives, CDs or if he will detail the specific type of digital device; where these devices stored; the person responsible for their safe keeping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15269/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

437. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will name the Garda stations that carried out recordings of incoming and outgoing calls from Garda stations. [15295/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michelle Mulherin

Ceist:

442. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will identify the Garda stations that had in place a system for the recording of phone calls to and from the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15339/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michelle Mulherin

Ceist:

443. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount it cost to change or upgrade the system for the recording of phone calls to and from Garda stations to a digital system in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15340/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

444. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if phone calls in Kildare Garda stations were taped and recorded as reported in the media; and if he will provide a breakdown of the stations that were targeted. [15348/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

446. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the practice of recording incoming and outgoing phone calls was carried out in Drogheda Garda station; if he will provide details on the purpose of such a practice; when the practice commenced; when it was discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15377/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Niall Collins

Ceist:

448. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an updated statement on his knowledge of the Garda recordings. [15407/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Niall Collins

Ceist:

451. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the impact of the Garda recordings on future cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15411/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Niall Collins

Ceist:

452. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the terms of reference for a commission of investigation into the recordings controversy will be completed; the expected timeframe for the investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15417/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 to 416, inclusive, 421 to 433, inclusive, 437, 442 to 444, inclusive, 446, 448, 451 and 452 together.

The Government has decided to set up a statutory Commission of Investigation into the recording of telephone calls in certain Garda stations. In this context the Government have agreed that the Commission of Investigation should examine all matters of public concern relating to the issue of taping of conversations in Garda Stations.

The Government have also decided to appoint Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly, currently serving as a Judge of the Supreme Court, as Chair of the Commission of Investigation which is to be established under the 2004 Act. The full terms of reference will be finalised shortly in consultation with Mr. Justice Fennelly.

Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to comment in relation to a number of matters which will be addressed in the context of the establishment of the Commission of Investigation. In relation to the other matters raised, information is still being collated and, insofar as it is possible and appropriate, after the information has been fully collated I will write to the Deputy.

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