Results 7,081-7,100 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 803 to 805, inclusive, 807 and 808 together. The British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding drawn up between my Department and the UK Home Office. Its purpose is two fold – firstly, to make it easier for short stay travellers, including those coming for tourism and business, to visit both Ireland and the UK (and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that, following consultation with all bodies under the aegis of my department, no former TDs have been appointed to State boards under my remit by the Public Appointments Service.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are ongoing contacts between my Department and the Garda authorities in relation to the matters in question, so as to ensure that the Department is updated on any significant developments. I am advised that relevant liaison is maintained by Gardaí with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Deputy will appreciate that investigations of the matters in question...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Irish Prison Service Protected Disclosures Policy was approved on 31 March 2015. The policy outlines that a worker can make a protected disclosure directly to the Head of Internal Audit in the Department of Justice and Equality. The Irish Prison Service Policy is due for review this year and all aspects of the policy will be considered in the light of learnings over the past two years.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned by the Deputy made an application to INIS, in June 2016, for permission to remain in the State as the spouse of an Irish National. I understand that this application is currently being processed and a request for documentation was issued to the person concerned in early June...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the current processing time in the Visa Office in Dublin for a visa application to join an Irish spouse is a little under five months. Applications processed in the seven Visa Offices abroad generally have a shorter processing time. The Policy Document on Family Reunification first published in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the average processing time for a Without Condition As To Time endorsement, also known as Stamp 5, is 3 - 6 months depending on the individual circumstances of each application. Applicants who believe that they meet the qualification criteria, including those seeking a renewal, are advised to apply...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the matter referred to by the Deputy relates to the circumstances surrounding the release of a prisoner from Mountjoy female Prison in May 2010 and subsequent internal operational inquiry. By way of clarification, I wish to point out that this inquiry was not a disciplinary investigation into the actions of any individual officer including the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are 5 retired members of An Garda Síochána who are currently contracted to work in the organisation with the titles of: Archivist (1); Armourer (1); ISO Quality Manager (1); and Temporary Senior Administrative Assistant (2). The associated Annual Gross Salary Cost is €249,718.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Work on the preparation of a draft General Scheme of a Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill is at an advanced stage in my Department. The key purpose of the legislation is to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to the Legal Aid Board and to give effect to Government Programme commitments in respect of criminal legal aid, including introducing a more rigorous and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Administration (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy may be aware, on 22 March 2017 the Tánaiste and then Minister for Justice and Equality announced that a Group, to be chaired by the President of the High Court Mr. Justice Peter Kelly, would be set up to review and reform the administration of civil justice in the State. The aim of the review is to examine the current administration of civil justice in the State with a view...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff Data (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The most recent available figure for the number of civilians working in An Garda Síochána is for 30 April 2017, at which point there were 2,098 civilian staff members working throughout the organisation carrying out senior management, administrative and technical roles. As part of its Five Year Reform and High-level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána, the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 819, 826 and 874 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the recruitment and training of the Garda Reserve is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is working closely with the Office of Public Works (OPW) on this matter and communal catering facilities will be introduced at the centre in question as soon as possible. The Programme for Partnership Government outlines the government's commitment to reforming the system, with particular focus on families and children....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are two accommodation centres being used by my Department for the accommodation of persons in the protection process which can be classified as "self-catering". Persons accommodated in these centres are provided with accommodation for themselves and, if appropriate, their families. They are paid a higher rate of payment by the Department of Social Protection than persons in other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Data (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: A significant amount of the statistical data requested by the Deputy was provided in response to Parliamentary Questions 677 and 678 dated 6th June 2012. A copy of that reply is reproduced below. It would take a disproportionate amount of staff resource time to extract the breakdown of nationalities by year as requested by the Deputy. However, I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Data (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Student Probationary Extension Scheme was one of a number of transitional measures included in the package of student immigration reforms which were introduced from January 2011. The Scheme allowed qualifying persons (i.e. those who had a valid student permission to be in Ireland and who had begun their educational course prior to 1 January 2005) to apply for a more permanent immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Conventions (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This Government is totally committed to tackling domestic violence, as am I as Minister for Justice and Equality. The Programme for Government commits to full implementation of the Istanbul Convention. This Convention is a significant legal instrument in tackling violence against women and domestic violence. Many of the actions required by provisions in the Istanbul Convention are being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (20 Jun 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to inform Deputy that the average age of persons committed to prison in 2016 for a life sentence of imprisonment starting in 2016 is 29 years. The average age of prisoners serving a life sentence released into the community in 2016 on licence under the supervision of the Probation Service is 54.5 years. The IPS works in close partnership with the Probation Service and An Garda...