Results 4,181-4,200 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: It will be important to engage in further discussion on how best to give effect to the principles underlying the Bill and in this regard I was particularly struck by the contribution of Senator Ó Donnghaile. There are issues we need to consider before deciding that this is the final article. I refer in particular to issues regarding the sentencing provisions which, in my view, require...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I would like, for the benefit of the House, to make it clear that I am available to take the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017 if the Seanad deems it fit to do so now.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that An Garda Síochána initiated a review of homicide classifications, initially for the period 2013-2015 but later extending the review to cover the period 2003-2017. An Garda Síochána is currently working, in conjunction with the CSO and the Policing Authority, to resolve this issue. This is obviously a time consuming and complex process but it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Preparations (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, he is working closely with all Ministers and Departments, including my Department, to address in a joined up manner, the many challenges Brexit will present. In keeping with Government policy, there are no plans to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Postal Codes (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I want to thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am assured that An Garda Síochána, and other emergency services, consider the use of Eircodes to be of vital assistance in locating the position of emergency callers, particularly in rural areas where non unique addresses can be a significant issue. Eircodes can assist on a practical level with preventing crime. An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána including personnel matters. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources. The Deputy will be aware An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána including personnel matters. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 30 April 2019, the total Garda strength was approximately 14,000. As of the same date, there were approximately 2,650 Garda Staff employed by An Garda Síochána undertaking a range...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 62 together. As the Deputy is aware, the manner in which the resources of the Garda Síochána are deployed is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I, as Minister, have no direct role in this regard. However, I can assure the Deputy that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner and his management team are responsible for the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, and I have no role in such matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is not proposed to establish a specialist or dedicated transport policing unit of An Garda Síochána to police the rail network and that effective...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. The Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 includes the development of new Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. Very significant capital investment is also being made in Garda ICT, the Garda fleet and the Garda estate - in total, the Garda capital allocation has increased from €61 million to €92 million in 2019, which represents a 50%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that investing in the capacity of An Garda Síochána to tackle criminals and enforce the law effectively is a key objective of the Government's response to tackling crime. The Government has dedicated very significant resources to support An Garda Síochána in tackling the activities of criminal gangs, including mobile criminal gangs, that seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that sickness absences are recorded on the Sickness Management Absence System under the following categories: - Ordinary illness - Occupational injury/illness arising from duty - Critical illness I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I intend to publish proposals in 2019 for a new approach to handling family law cases in Ireland at District, Circuit and High Court levels. A Family Court Bill will be introduced to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structures. These courts will have new procedures aimed at less adversarial resolution of disputes and will have appropriate facilities and case...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There has been an unprecedented level of investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years. An allocation of €1.76 billion has been made to An Garda Síochána for 2019 and very significant capital investment is also being made, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021; and investment of €46 million in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cyberbullying Issues (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Hotline.ie is operated by the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland. It is the national reporting service for illegal online content. It deals primarily with child sexual abuse material as defined in the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 as amended by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and its takedown in line with the provisions of EU Directive 2011/93 on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Controls (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, who operate the front line Immigration Service at Dublin Airport, that over 90% of all passengers are processed through immigration control in a matter of minutes. This percentage figure is significantly higher for Irish passengers and passengers of other EU nationalities. This data is provided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: In relation to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, Part 4 of the Act provides for two new offences of paying for sexual activity with a prostitute and paying for sexual activity with a trafficked person. The Act also removes those who offer their services as a prostitute from the existing offences of soliciting for the purpose of prostitution. A fundamental focus in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that...