117. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if the selection competition for identifying and recommending to the Government a person for appointment as Garda Commissioner has commenced; if he expects that a new Garda Commissioner will be in place when the extension of the current Commissioner's contract ends on 1 September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24687/25]
Sentiment score: 0.18
The selection competition for identifying and recommending to the Government a person for appointment as Garda Commissioner has been delayed as a result of the Government's failure to enact the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act. This is a crucially important position in our society and particularly in our policing services. Will the Minister give an assurance to the Dáil that a new Garda Commissioner will be in place by 1 September of this year when the current Commissioner's contract ends?
Sentiment score: 0.18
I thank the Minister. I join with him in expressing our condolences to the family, friends and Garda colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley. The outpouring of grief we have seen from his local community points to the fact that Garda Flatley represented all that is good about An Garda Síochána and its membership. Regarding the new Garda Commissioner, I agree with the Minister that the Commissioner is only as strong as his or her members. Clearly, there has been somewhat of a breakdown in trust - that is putting it as diplomatically as I can - between many Garda members and higher echelons of management. That is why the appointment of a new Commissioner must mark a new beginning and a new phase in the operational issues of An Garda Síochána that we know are there and must be addressed. Therefore, is the Minister satisfied that there is now a prospect of somebody with no policing experience whatsoever taking over the role of Garda Commissioner? Many people are quite surprised that that is even an option. I would like the Minister to comment on that.
Sentiment score: 0.38
That is important, and it is regrettable that we have a situation where senior gardaí are saying - if not on the record, then letting it be known - that the position is not tenable for them. Those issues must be addressed. What the public at large wants to see is an improvement in Garda visibility in their communities. We need a clear plan for putting more gardaí, particularly community gardaí, on our streets in our communities. The Minister will know that, in March, the current Commissioner, Mr. Drew Harris, said it was simply not possible to achieve the Government's goal of having 1,000 new members attested in 2025. He said the maximum would be 800. I do not know if the Minister can give us an estimated total for this year yet, but what we do know is that Garda numbers have declined in relative terms over the past number of years, and communities have paid a price for that in terms of Garda visibility. Will the Minister ensure that when the new Garda Commissioner is in place, he or she will be provided with the resources and policy changes necessary to ensure we have the number of gardaí that are required so that the Commissioner's term can be a success?
Sentiment score: 0.18
118. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the total amount that was spent on IPAS accommodation in 2024; the projected spend on IPAS accommodation in 2025; the plans he has to initiate a value for money review into contracts for the provision of IPAS accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24688/25]
Sentiment score: 0.24
The Minister of State knows there has been massive profiteering in the provision of accommodation for those seeking asylum. People have become millionaires overnight providing what is sometimes unsuitable accommodation in what I would call a deeply flawed system, while many communities have lost vital local amenities, including hotels. Will the Minister of State outline the total amount of public money that was spent on IPAS accommodation in 2024, what the projected spend is for this year, and what plans he has to initiate a value for money review into the contracts for the provision of IPAS accommodation?
Sentiment score: 0.05
I have been raising the issue of profiteering within the IPAS system since I was an MEP almost a decade ago. I raised it as a member of the Committee of Public Accounts. The Minister of State said we spent €1 billion on IPAS accommodation last year. What he did not say was that most of that money was paid to private operations. He did not answer the question as to whether he agreed there was a need for a value for money audit and full scrutiny of those IPAS contracts. There are serious questions. Do we know, for example, how many providers that are making millions of euro actually acquired the properties being used at a discount through NAMA? Do we know how many newly established companies that have no track record secured these types of contract? How do we have a situation where companies have just completely repurposed overnight? We have had a small café becoming one of the largest financial beneficiaries of IPAS contracts. Do we know how many companies, benefiting to the tune of millions from what is a flawed system, are located or owned by corporations outside of the State? These are serious questions, and when talking about €1 billion of public money, the public has a right to answers. The Minister of State has not given clarification as to whether a review of the public expenditure accounts will be carried out. Will he do so?
Sentiment score: 0.06
I have to dispute virtually every single thing the Minister of State has just said. I know this area has just moved into his Department. The State has paid out billions of euro with virtually no transparency. There have been increasing reports of companies with no track record at all being awarded contracts to the tunes of millions of euro. A recent report concerned a company that had been awarded a contract to provide 277 beds for IPAS applicants at Dundrum, County Tipperary. The company, which is named Utmasta Limited and was set up three months ago with one director who is based in Majorca, is set to be paid millions of euro of Irish taxpayers' money. Does that make sense to the Minister of State? Has that contract been reviewed to ascertain how this could come about? To give some reassurance, can the Minister of State point to any instance where an IPAS contract has been withdrawn or cancelled as a result of any of the checks and balances that he has outlined here today?
Sentiment score: -0.03
Have any contracts been cancelled?
Sentiment score: -0.25
Have any been cancelled? Will the Minister of State look into the case I asked about?
Sentiment score: -0.12