Results 6,861-6,880 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I stated in response to Deputy Higgins, I am, of course, deeply concerned at the distressing circumstances surrounding the operation of Mother and Baby Homes. As I have advised, last week the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced the Government's intention to establish a Commission of Investigation to examine these complex issues. An interdepartmental group has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The House will not need reminding of the consequences of gun crime, and will join with me, I am sure, in expressing our collective outrage at the appalling recent incident which resulted in a child being shot. Our sympathy is with this young boy and his family, and as I outlined to the House last week, An Garda Síochána is determined to bring to justice those involved. I can also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities Regulation (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In order to provide for the better regulation of the charitable sector, the Government is now proceeding with the implementation of the 2009 Charities Act. Under this legislation, an independent regulatory agency for the charitable sector is being established. The Charities Regulatory Authority will have extensive functions in the registration, monitoring and oversight of the charity sector....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel 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. However I have been informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Significant protest activity over a number of years has occurred in the North Mayo area connected with the development of a very important natural resource. This has necessitated the temporary redeployment of large numbers of Gardaí, including specially trained personnel, from throughout the Western Region into the Belmullet District. The reality is that substantial Garda resources...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year my predecessor as Minister for Justice and Equality received a petition on behalf of the person in question, as well as further correspondence from their legal representative. On foot of this, a report was sought from the Garda authorities with respect to the issues of concern raised. The Deputy will also be aware of course that this tragic case...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I outlined in my earlier response to Deputy Collins, I recently discussed the challenges presented by this type of crime, and particularly its association with organised crime, with the Acting Commissioner, who outlined the substantial efforts being made by An Garda Síochána to identify and target those involved. In relation to the statistics requested by the Deputy, as he...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. As at 8 June 2014 there were 4,353 persons availing of direct provision accommodation in 34 accommodation centres across 16 counties. 1,109 (25%) made their initial asylum application up to 2...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, the Government published the draft General Scheme of the Children and Family Relationships Bill on 30 January 2014 and forwarded the Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality requesting that the Committee undertake a public consultation on the Scheme. The advice of the Ombudsman for Children was also sought on the proposals. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Responsibility for determining the terms of reference for mother and baby home Commission of Investigation fall primarily within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. My Department has input into the process through the Inter Departmental Committee established by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. It is my understanding that Bethany Home will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The bombing at Omagh in August 1998 was a contemptible act of terrorism that stands out in the minds of all right-thinking people as among the worst atrocities ever committed on this island. Those who carried it out displayed contempt for life itself and inflicted unutterable grief on those whose lives were brutalised by their actions. My predecessor met with members of the Omagh Support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Provision (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The average number of prisoners in custody in Ireland has risen in recent years from 3,321 during 2007 to 4,318 during 2012, an increase of over 30%. The total number of committals to prison has also risen sharply during the same period from 11,934 in 2007 to 17,026 in 2012, an increase of over 43%. 2013 saw the first significant decrease in prison numbers since 2007. There were 15,735...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Legislation (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, an outline implementation plan, with costings, is being prepared by An Garda Síochána in respect of the substantial technical and administrative arrangements required to effectively implement the section in question. This plan is being prepared in conjunction with the work of a subgroup of the Criminal Justice (Fixed Charge Processing System) Working...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that the Minister for Justice and Equality has no role under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 in relation to the issuing of guidelines or other communications to local authorities or any other bodies in respect of data protection. No such guidelines or communications have been issued by me nor, as far as I am aware, any of my predecessors. The Office of Data Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: At the outset, can I say that the matter of issuing a Deportation Order only arises where the person concerned is illegally present in the State including circumstances where they have not abided by their visa conditions or where they are in the State illegally and have left without notifying the relevant authorities. There are a range of circumstances where this latter situation can arise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following the enactment of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, which put civil partnership on a statutory footing, civil partners have enjoyed the same entitlements as married couples in a range of areas such as taxation and pensions. However, the legal advice received during the enactment of this legislation pointed to the constitutional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since taking office as Minister for Justice and Equality I have spoken by telephone with my counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister of Justice David Ford MLA. I will meet with Minister Ford later this week in the framework of the regular meetings under the Intergovernmental Agreement on co-operation in criminal justice matters. This will afford us an opportunity to discuss the broad range...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Direct provision provides for full board accommodation supports while a final decision is awaited by a person on their protection or any related leave to remain application. As at 8 June 2014,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides to those in custody a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. which have the dual purpose of providing prisoners with purposeful activity while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (24 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware from my response to his parliamentary question today (26750/14) that the complex issues raised by the person concerned and her legal representative about this distressing and tragic case, including the request for a public inquiry, are currently under consideration.