Results 6,561-6,580 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation if satisfied certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As some of the matters raised by the Deputy have been brought before the Law Society and a case is going before the Office of the Independent Adjudicator under the relevant complaints procedures of the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2013, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details of the specific case involved. The matters raised have also been responded to in separate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 654, 698, 704 and 705 together. The Deputies will appreciate that I have not yet had an opportunity to fully review this matter. Following the publication of the report of the Justice Committee in June last year, the committee was requested to clarify and elaborate some of its recommendations for a new approach to prostitution legislation. The relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a statement was taken from the person referred to, a full investigation was carried out by An Garda Síochána into the incident, and that this is reflected in Garda records. If there are outstanding issues of concern, I will raise the matter with the Garda authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that vetting procedures in this country are in place to protect children and vulnerable adults. As such they demand rigorous procedures to ensure their integrity and to maintain the highest level of confidence by the public and organisations availing of them. Any vetting process will take a certain minimum amount of time to complete. In that regard, I am informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 657 and 700 together. I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family concerned for the tragic loss of life in the case referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have a role in the investigation of criminal cases or the conduct of inquests. However, the Deputy may be aware that the Garda investigation into the death of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and I am informed that while works have recently been carried out to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including Community Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government decided on 13 May 2014 to have an independent expert review of the performance, management and administration of the Department of Justice and Equality carried out and completed before the Summer Recess. In view of the urgency of this timeline, I will appoint a high calibre review panel, along the lines of that appointed for the Wright review of the Department of Finance in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Legislation (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 662 to 665, inclusive, together. The Gambling Control Bill, (the General Scheme of which is available on my Department's website) makes provision for the licensing of "moderate" sized casinos in Ireland for the first time. The legislation will, when enacted, establish a single licensing authority for gambling, namely the Minister for Justice and Equality. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Legislation (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Gambling Control Bill, the General Scheme of which was approved by Government in July 2013, will update all existing laws on the regulation of betting and gaming (other than the National Lottery). The Bill will confer responsibility for all regulatory matters on the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Minister's functions will include licensing, inspections and prosecutions and they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy's Question is in respect of the operation of the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007, which provide for the appointment of an independent Confidential Recipient to whom members of the Force, and civilian support staff, can report, in confidence, instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the fact that there are aspects of the economic crisis that are having an impact on the availability of training contracts and apprenticeships for those seeking to qualify as solicitors. I am also aware that there has been a reduction in the number of practising solicitors, of whom over 1,000 are reported to remain unemployed, and this has been accompanied by some decline in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ground Rents Payments (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 introduced a prohibition on the creation of new leases reserving ground rents on dwellings. As regards existing ground rents, Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No.2) Act 1978 contains a statutory scheme whereby a person may, at reasonable cost, acquire the fee simple in his or her dwelling. To...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Television Licence Fee Collection (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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. In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the table below shows the number of persons convicted for non payment of a TV...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Accommodation (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of refurbishment and replacement of Garda accommodation is based on accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Funding for such works is met by the Office of Public Works. In that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Funding (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 672 to 674, inclusive, together. I can inform the Deputy that under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is entirely independent in the matter of individual applications that fall to be considered under the Scheme. The Tribunal's budget for 2014 is €4.231 m....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 to 677, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to previous replies to him in respect of PQs 16310, 16311 and 16312. As I indicated previously to the Deputy the amendment of the Vetting Act will be done via the Spent Convictions Bill. I expect to be in a position to commence the provisions of the 2012 Act in the autumn of 2014. The National Vetting Bureau...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy has been advised in reply to his previous questions, following an investigation of the incident referred to, a person was arrested, charged with assault and convicted following a plea of guilty. The court ordered compensation to be paid to the injured party, and I am advised this was done. As the Deputy is aware, the courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law,...