Results 6,681-6,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is intended that the first intake of new Garda trainees who have successfully completed all stages of the recruitment process will enter the Garda College in July of this year. They will participate in the new training programme over the remainder of 2014 and it is expected that they will attest in early 2015. At that stage they will be assigned to Garda stations throughout the country...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: A recruitment campaign for new recruits to An Garda Síochána is currently underway, the first since 2009. It is intended that the first intake of new Garda trainees who have successfully completed all stages of the recruitment process will enter the Garda College in July of this year. They will participate in the new training programme over the remainder of 2014 and it is expected...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, an interdepartmental process is underway to examine how these complex and tragic circumstances can be best addressed, beginning by gathering information from all relevant Departments. My Department is participating in this process but as it did not have a role in relation to the inspection of institutions of this nature, or in monitoring levels of infant...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senator Zappone for introducing this important legislation and Senator Bacik for seconding it. I was glad to avail of the opportunity to meet with Senator Zappone, along with my departmental officials, to discuss the details of the Bill. I congratulate her on drafting this legislation and pay tribute to the advocates she mentioned who work in this area and supported her in this,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the person whose details were supplied has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such cases for so long as they are in the protection process.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the person concerned arrived in the State on 1 September 2005, and applied for asylum on the same date at the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. This application was refused, and the person concerned was informed of this refusal by letter dated 31 May 2007. The person concerned also made an application for Subsidiary Protection under the European Communities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be 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 to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and have been informed that following a review...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that correspondence is due to issue to the person in question in the coming days in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to the issues arising with respect to the Tuam Home. I understand that Gardaí have been in contact with the Coroner as part of their preliminary examinations of this matter.Although the functions referred to by the Deputy relate to the independent role of the coroner under the Coroners Act 1962, my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that significant progress has been made on the implementation of the Magdalen Scheme. Within my own Department, a unit of 9 officials is working full time on engaging with the women and processing applications. To date, 346 women have been paid their lump sums at a cost of €12.4m. In addition to the lump sum payment each woman is entitled to a top up...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Judge Quirke recommended that "As an integral part of the ex gratia Scheme a card entitling its holder to health services equivalent to those provided to the holder of a HAA card should be given to each of the women who were admitted to and worked in a designated Magdalen laundry." Appendix G of Judge Quirke's report contains information extracted from the Guide to Community Services...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have been advised that while, as the Deputy indicates, Article 40.1 of the Constitution states that all citizens shall be treated equally, the institution of Marriage referred to in Article 41 of the Constitution has been interpreted by the courts as confined to unions between persons of the opposite sex. As recommended by the Constitutional Convention in its report to the Oireachtas of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senators for their support for the Bill. As I said on Second Stage, it is excellent that we are at this point in respect of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill. We have to ensure the legislation is on the Statute Book. There is an EU directive, the terms of which we have to meet by 1 December. I am aware this amendment was tabled on Committee and...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: This amendment addresses the transfer of DNA samples or profiles to other states. I understand that the amendment seeks to ensure there are appropriate safeguards with regard to such transfers. I assure the Senator that insofar as the amendment purports to address mutual assistance such safeguards do exist and in fact go further than what has been proposed. In regard to subsection (1), I...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is landmark legislation and I wish to take the opportunity to thank Senators for their support for it. I also pay tribute to everybody who has been involved in the development of the legislation over a long period, including the Law Reform Commission which did a report on this matter. In addition, the previous Government published a Bill. In particular, I pay tribute to my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (12 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 178 together. As the Deputy is aware, in light of public safety concerns highlighted by An Garda Síochána and difficulties in the interpretation of the legislation expressed by members of the judiciary, my Department is currently examining key policy, legislative, administrative and other issues relating to firearms licensing in conjunction...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (12 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to immigration reform as provided for under the Programme for Government and under the Government Legislation Programme. Since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have been considering the many and varied issues that have arisen, and continue to arise, in relation to this key area of statutory reform. Quite...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration and Naturalisation Service Delays (12 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) provides registration functions for all Non-EEA persons who intend to reside in the State for longer than 90 days. These functions are provided from the Burgh Quay offices in respect of the Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Determination Procedure for Statelessness (12 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the interests of accuracy I want to correct any erroneous impression that might be arrived at from the Deputy's question that some 50 organisations have come together to highlight the lack of a statelessness determination process in Ireland. The European Network on Statelessness is a voluntary civil society coalition that campaigns on this issue and it has called for "All European states...