Results 6,321-6,340 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Senator McDowell has jumped through hoops here for the past hour and eventually he comes up with the profound statement that he does not think the members of the Government are idiots.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: On the basis that the amendments are withdrawn, no.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I listened closely to what the Senator said. Having regard to the fact that she is withdrawing the amendment, I would be happy to engage further but I would prefer a situation in which the Government is free to exercise its constitutional prerogative on the issue. A Government will receive names in a certain order and I think this will result in an appropriate level of conversation and...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Amendments Nos. 86aand 86bare twins. I am not satisfied, nor have I been convinced, that the deletion of section 40(3) improves the situation in any way. I remind Senators that the subsection was included by way of ministerial amendment on Report Stage in the Dáil. It was brought forward to reflect a measure of concern on the matter of the constitutional function, as has been...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: -----notwithstanding a very large degree of repetition not only this evening but over the past 74 or 75 hours of this debate. I do not want to minimise any of these concerns. They are, in short, the constraints on what an Attorney General might say or do and the concerns about what the Government may be told or knows, or is not told, in certain circumstances, or what it may not know, given...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Let me be clear. I rose earlier in response to the Leas-Chathaoirleach's invitation in order to be helpful. What has happened now is that Senator McDowell has gone far beyond what I said. I recognised that there are concerns and listened to what Senators outlined as their concerns. I am reflecting on these. I have not stated that there is a problem. I have not stated that I share...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I will grant one point to Senator McDowell. This is the first occasion upon which I have acknowledged the existence of the concerns which he has repeatedly conveyed on the role, function and status of the Attorney General. I have listened over months to his concerns. I acknowledge that and I am reflecting in order to see if I can in some way move matters forward with a view towards...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The table, provided by An Garda Síochána, outlines by incident-type, different incidents involving on-duty Garda vehicles in respect of each year during the period 2011 to 2018. The table includes information on ramming incidents and malicious damage, as well as accidents, and serves to illustrate the dangers facing members of An Garda Síochána while using vehicles to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, there has been unprecedented investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years, in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement and provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. The resources provided by Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will understand, prior to making an appointment to the position of recruit prison officer, the Irish Prison Service is obliged to make such inquires as are deemed necessary to determine the suitability of candidates. Until all stages of the recruitment process have been fully completed, a final determination as to the success of any candidate cannot be made, nor can it be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inspector of Prisons (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I understand that the Inspector of Prisons is currently considering the establishment of an advisory group, but that this has not been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an appeal was received by the Visa Office in Dublin on 12 December 2018.  The Appeals Officer has requested additional information and is waiting for a reply. All documentation submitted with the original application and any additional information submitted will be fully considered. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insurance Fraud (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the Courts Service has advised that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: 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. It is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available taking account of those...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Data (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239, 240 and 250 together. The Irish Refugee Protection Programme Humanitarian Admission Programme (IHAP), which I announced in May 2018, provides a new humanitarian pathway for eligible family members coming from the world’s top ten major source countries of refugees based on the UNHCR Annual Global Trends Report. The IHAP is part of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The matter raised by the Deputy is the subject of a recommendation made by the Cost of Insurance Working Group in its Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance published in January 2018. As the Deputy will be aware, the Cost of Insurance Working Group, chaired by Minister of State Michael D'Arcy TD, brings together the relevant Departments and Offices...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Building Programme (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that as a result of a tender competition for a substantial development at Limerick prison a preferred bidder has been identified.  It is anticipated that the Irish Prison Service will be in a position to issue a Letter of Acceptance in the very near future.  Capital payments will be released following certification of the work by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: 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. I am informed by the Commissioner that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Data (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The principal manner by which those who have been granted refugee status by the State can seek family reunification is provided for in the International Protection Act 2015.  Specifically, sections 56 and 57 provides for reunification where the family member is as defined in section 56(9) of that Act.  In addition, earlier this year I announced a new scheme for family reunification...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Expenditure (22 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that, at present, the Courts Service has a capital buildings...