Results 7,021-7,040 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Expenditure (1 Jul 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: Direct Provision System (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum / 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 and supports in 34 accommodation centres across 16 counties. Policy in relation to access to higher...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The direct provision system is managed by the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, of my Department. Its function is to provide accommodation and related services to those who have sought international protection and who have no means of supporting themselves otherwise. As at 8 June 2014, there were 4,353 persons availing of direct provision accommodation and supports in 34 accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Consultation Seminar on Justice Reform at Farmleigh followed on from the public consultation process undertaken by the Government in May in relation to the establishment of an Independent Policing Authority. In that context many of the participants comprised persons or representatives of organisations from whom submissions were received during the consultation process. In the course...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Numbers (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Around 10,300 applications by Chinese nationals for Irish short-stay and long-stay visas were received worldwide in 2013. Of these, 79% of applications were made in China, the vast majority of which were decided on in the Visa Office in Beijing, 12% in the UK and 9% throughout the rest of the world. Of applications by Chinese nationals decided in 2013, around 9,800 were granted and about...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 to 416, inclusive, together. Visa applications for Chinese nationals living in China are handled by the dedicated Irish Visa Office in Beijing, which is a sub-office of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department.This office handles all aspects of visa applications, including appeals, locally. Over 50% of visit visas worldwide,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (1 Jul 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. The Donaghmede area is policed by Coolock Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (1 Jul 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 policing needs. In that context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that sufficient vehicles are available to the Garda Armed Response Unit to meet operational requirements.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As at 31 May 2014, the number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at first instance in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) was 358, whereas some 828 cases are currently awaiting a decision at appeal stage in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT).

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are 68 persons being supervised by the Probation Service under the conditions of a Post Release Supervision Order as provided for in Part 5 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. A regional breakdown of this number is illustrated in the following table. Region Number Dublin 38 North West 09 Midlands/South East 08 South West 13 The number of persons currently in breach of conditions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 to 426, inclusive, together. The Sex Offenders Act 2001 contains a comprehensive series of provisions aimed at protecting children and other persons. Part 2 of the Act makes persons convicted of a range of sexual offences subject to notification requirements. The provisions of the Act also extend to any offenders convicted abroad of the same range of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Telecommunications Infrastructure (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the allegations to which the Deputy refers. In general terms, the unlawful interception of telecommunications messages is an offence in Irish law in accordance with the provisions of section 98 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, as amended. In the event that a person has evidence that their telecommunications messages have been unlawfully intercepted they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I met with the Acting Commissioner recently to discuss this serious matter. As the Deputy may be aware, the Acting Commissioner has recently initiated a comprehensive review and strategic realignment of Garda capacity to deal with complex and emerging crime of this nature, which is very welcome. In addition, she is also examining a number of other more immediate steps which can be taken to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The latest available figures indicate that at the end of January 2014 there were just over 1,270 persons in the direct provision system with subsidiary protection decisions pending and 400 persons with leave to remain decisions pending. These statistics do not tell the full story because of the complex nature of our protection system. For example, in relation to families, the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Upward Only Rent Reviews (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It will be recalled that the Government made the difficult decision in December 2011 not to proceed with the commitment in the Programme for Government to abolish upward only rent reviews in so called "legacy leases", i.e., those entered into before 28 February 2010. There was a substantial concern that any legislative scheme involving interference in the contractual relationships of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: With regard to the provision of health services, Judge Quirke in his report on the Magdalen laundries, had recommended that legislation be introduced to give the women the same entitlement as those under the Hepatitis C scheme. This is to be implemented by the Department of Health but my Department will introduce the necessary legislative provisions. I can confirm for the Deputy that, on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: With regard to the provision of health services, Judge Quirke in his report on the Magdalen laundries, had recommended that legislation be introduced to give the women the same entitlement as those under the Hepatitis C scheme. This is to be implemented by the Department of Health but my Department will introduce the necessary legislative provisions. I can confirm for the Deputy that, on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that following the Government decision to implement the scheme recommended by Judge Quirke, my Department established a dedicated unit of 9 officers whose sole task is to assist in the implementation of the Scheme. My officials in the Restorative Implementation Unit are available to assist applicants with any queries they have in relation to the Scheme in a helpful...