Results 20,381-20,400 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: That would have been illegal. It would have been a criminal act for me to try to influence the legal strategy of An Garda Síochána. What I did do was to act on behalf of whistleblowers continuously, as did this Government and the previous one. I acted by setting up the tribunal. I acted by referring how An Garda Síochána was dealing with whistleblowers to the...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am not sticking to any script.

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me say one thing to the Deputy. My party has always believed in due process and I have always believed in due process. She can speak for her own party in regard to how it handles issues that arise but I can speak for my party, and I have always followed the principle of natural justice and due process. When the issue emerged in regard to Maurice McCabe and his treatment with An...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me put on the record of the House, finally, that with regard to the actual - if we call it that - legal strategy, it is yet to be determined what precisely that was. What that email had was an indication of counsel objecting at a particular point in a commission of investigation. What the Charleton tribunal is doing is examining the whole scenario-----

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is examining the whole scenario and, of course, in due process, what that legal strategy was will fully emerge. That is a task of the Charleton tribunal, which was set up, and we are not in a position to determine that here today or, indeed, on any other day because the Charleton tribunal is the place where all of this information is going to emerge in its full complexity and where...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Deputy Harty for those questions. I was taking questions earlier in regard to jobs growth and one of the key points, of course, is that the majority of the jobs that are now being created are in regional areas. The mid-west is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. We had the jobs announcement which I attended in Limerick a couple of weeks ago, where Regeneron announced...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Aviation policy will of course be impacted by the national planning framework and the regional plans. In every contact that I have had with foreign multinationals, I have spoken of the importance of companies taking the opportunity to locate in regional areas. We have seen major successes in the Shannon area as regards aviation, particularly in terms of leasing. The Action Plan for Jobs,...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Deputy Healy. I am aware of the work done by Arthritis Ireland - I have taken a special interest in that - and iCan. The aim of the presentation that the latter made this week was to increase awareness of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, JIA, and to highlight the need for additional services. This is a common disease of childhood. It is estimated that there are more than 1,000...

Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The need for another rheumatologist in Crumlin is acknowledged. The development of the new children's hospital and urgent care centres also provide us with an opportunity to progress the integration of the three hospitals and plan for the kind of provision which the Deputy said is needed. I repeat that is an area of significant demand. There are waiting lists, but every effort is being made...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, will visit the area – in fact, he may already be there. He has been actively working with the relevant local authorities and I have no doubt that, as we have responded very quickly in recent times when there has been flooding, there will be a speedy response. It is a...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The then Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, made a commitment in 2013 to the Magdalen women to introduce a scheme for those who were admitted to and worked in Magdalen institutions. The scheme applied to 12 named institutions. To date, €25.7 million has been paid to 684 women under the scheme, which is still open. I understand that the Department of Justice and Equality co-operated fully...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The matter is going to Cabinet very shortly. The line Minister can address the Deputy's point on consultation.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree with Deputy Smith that another SAVI report would be very important. We need up-to-date macro information on sexual and domestic violence in this country. The Taoiseach does not need convincing. This matter was discussed at a Cabinet sub-committee last week. The initial scoping work has begun to determine how precisely it will be carried out.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade can answer.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I seem to remember that the Deputy welcomed the proposal that the agency should be put on a statutory footing with commissioners in charge of it.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thought I read that she had. It must have been misreported. The Government plans to establish the ODCE on a statutory footing, with commissioners as opposed to the current model whereby it is part of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. I am not in a position to publish the ODCE report because I have strong legal advice that it is not within my power under the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management, CFRAM, plans will be published shortly but the Deputy is correct. Given what we have seen in the past day or so we absolutely must keep this issue and how we respond to it under review. We saw a very good response from the agencies with Storm Ophelia but the Deputy is correct and we must stay targeted on this. If we can...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ticket Touting (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: My predecessor as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D., published a consultation paper on the resale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events on 20 January 2017 along with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the then Minister for Tourism and Sport. The 24 responses to the consultation were published on the Department's website on...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In advance of the UK Referendum, my Department conducted a contingency risk assessment of the potential impacts of Brexit across policy areas of the Department. We have refined our analysis post-referendum and have been working with Agencies to put in place actions to mitigate risks and maximize opportunities. In this regard, my Department is conducting a number of research projects to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (23 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department, its Offices and the Agencies under its remit, are committed to the success of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy that was launched this year and the implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with Disabilities. Officials of my Department are members of the Steering Groups overseeing the implementation of both of these Strategies.  A...