This morning.
The Oireachtas Justice Committee will today examine the Garda Síochána Powers Bill.
At the bill’s publication last Summer, the government stated:
‘In line with a recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, the Bill will provide a clear and transparent statutory basis for the existing police powers of search, arrest and detention, supported by statutory codes of practice.
It will also have a strong focus on human rights. This includes both the rights of suspected or accused persons, as well as the human rights of all members of society to live free from violence, abuse, crime and fear.’
Via RTÉ News:
Chairperson of the Policing Authority Bob Collins says the bill is “a once in a generation opportunity” to review garda powers.
But he warns against several measures it contains, including allowing senior gardaí to “issue a search warrant in urgent circumstances” – something he says only the courts should be allowed to do.
The authority also warns against increasing powers of arrest without a warrant, saying the provision is “excessive” and “radical”.
Meanwhile…
…the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) calls for “more robust safeguards to protect … fundamental rights” in the legislation.
The council objects to provisions which would allow a suspect to be questioned before getting legal advice, and would also restrict access to a lawyer during questioning.
It also calls for the removal of a measure allowing detention periods beyond 24 hours.
And the council also opposes a measure allowing gardaí to decide on the admissibility of evidence in limited circumstances.
It says this power “should remain firmly with the Courts”.
The ICCL strongly recommends the removal of the power to compel a password when executing a search warrant.
Policing Authority concerned over bill extending garda powers (RTE)
It will also have a strong focus on human rights. This includes both the rights of suspected or accused persons, as well as the human rights of all members of society to live free from violence, abuse, crime and fear.’
Does that include ‘ the human rights of all members of society to live free from violence, abuse, crime and fear’ from the gardai and our government aswell…
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/seven-gardai-convicted-of-crimes-during-the-pandemic-one-for-sexual-assault-41128599.html
Is this positive news? That the gardai aren’t above the law?
Or negative? that the Gardai are breaking the law?
A bad day for civil rights
Mind you anyone done for a traffic offence by dash cam footage sent in to a Garda station
This happened to me in Bandon and I know everyone thinks or claims they did not commit an offence
But I was done for pulling out to a main road without due care a second charge was failing to stop at a stop sign
When I looked at this annominous footage
2 cars were behind me as I waited to pull out and the footage was from a speeding driver
I have to apply to court to be allowed to get a copy of footage which involves hundreds of euro to get it anaylised by a road safety expert and a solicitor to apply for it through the courts
The other option is pay €160 and three penalty points
So guess what I paid up and got on with my life
We live in the times of the stazi and finally as far as I am concerned I doubt I will ever support the gardai as I regard them as contemptible
So be aware you are being watched by big brother
Did you stop at the stop sign?
I did and on the footage two cars wait behind me
I actually agree with David
Wouldnt trust them as far as I could kick them… and this “allowing gardaí to decide on the admissibility of evidence”…are they for real, an organization that has “lost” evidence in the past, madness
or indeed, manufactured it.
“Chairperson of the Policing Authority Bob Collins says the bill is “a once in a generation opportunity” to review garda powers.”
FFS, what a joke.
Bill is unconstitutional and frankly dead in the water
The problem is incompetence of gardai
If they cannot do the job sack them
You cannot water down peoples rights to aid the gardai
If this happens if you even drop a hanky on the ground you could face the special criminal courts
If you demonstrate you could be a subversive
I have lost total confidence in them
+1
+V
only thing is this Government have the votes
plus a half dozen to spare
So don’t be betting on this being a dead duck
Jesus that’s appalling.
Is it at all worth pointing out that this is an actual threat to our civil liberties and feedoms but that it has nothing whatsoever to do with covid (except maybe opportunistically slipping it in during an ongoing crisis)?
Does anyone have contact details for organised forms of objection? Petitions? Emal adresses of relevant individuals, that sort of thing?
It’s a waste of time
Making any complaint as all these state quangos are interlinked with the system