Carol Nolan calls for clarity on International Protection Act
Carol Nolan addressed the Tánaiste following the murder of Jamey Carney, urging that no provision of the International Protection Act should inadvertently impede An Garda Síochána from releasing information on suspects. She asked for an immediate review of legislative and operational frameworks to ensure there is no chilling effect on public safety or investigations.
Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste to ensure absolute clarity so that operational decisions by An Garda Síochána are never influenced by any perceived legal constraint. She argued that transparency around suspects who may be international protection applicants is essential where public safety or investigation needs require reporting or identification.
Nolan joined other members in expressing sympathy to the family of Jamey Carney and spoke of the horror and sadness felt in the house. She noted that there is a significant active Garda investigation under way, with pan-jurisdiction elements, and that the immediate priority must remain the criminal investigation.
On the broader point Nolan said she would follow the advice of An Garda Síochána but pressed the case for a review of relevant legislative and operational frameworks if the Gardaí believe it would assist their work. The government response was to confirm it would take any Garda recommendation for review seriously in the interest of public safety and effective investigations.
Immediate demand for clarity
Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste to ensure absolute clarity so that operational decisions by An Garda Síochána are never influenced by any perceived legal constraint. She argued that transparency around suspects who may be international protection applicants is essential where public safety or investigation needs require reporting or identification.
Condolences and law enforcement action
Nolan joined other members in expressing sympathy to the family of Jamey Carney and spoke of the horror and sadness felt in the house. She noted that there is a significant active Garda investigation under way, with pan-jurisdiction elements, and that the immediate priority must remain the criminal investigation.
Call for a targeted review
On the broader point Nolan said she would follow the advice of An Garda Síochána but pressed the case for a review of relevant legislative and operational frameworks if the Gardaí believe it would assist their work. The government response was to confirm it would take any Garda recommendation for review seriously in the interest of public safety and effective investigations.
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Transcript
Tánaiste, I know you will share my profound horror at the recent brutal murder of Jamie Carney, the absconding of her so-called partner to Jordan and the wider pattern of escalating violence against women which was raised here earlier. Will the Tánaiste also agree with me however that no aspect or provision of the International Protection Act should ever inadvertently give cover to, hamper, An Garda Síochána in the effective discharge of their duties in terms of releasing information on those suspected of such crimes, regardless of not, regardless or not of whether they are international protection applicants. Tánaiste, will you accept that absolute clarity is required so that operational decisions by An Garda Síochána are never influenced by any perceived legal constraint and if you will therefore commit to a review of the relevant legislative and operational frameworks to ensure that regardless of current statutory provisions no chilling effect is being caused or being created that might discourage or inhibit the reporting or public identification of suspects who are also international protection applicants where such reporting is necessary for public safety or indeed for investigation purposes. Thank you for raising the issue and of course I absolutely want to join with her and all members of this house in extending our absolute sympathy to the family of Jamie Carney and our absolute repulsion, horror and deep sadness at what has occurred and this government through our law enforcement authorities through An Garda Síochána will go to the ends of the earth to ensure that justice is served. There is already a very significant active Garda investigation underway as you're aware and indeed with pan-jurisdiction elements too as you'd expect. On the broader point, I obviously would follow the advice and the views of An Garda Síochána in relation to that. The immediate priority is obviously the ongoing criminal investigation but if there is a moment of reflection or review that the Gardaí believe would assist them and from a public safety point of view of course the government would take that most seriously.