Results 7,281-7,300 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electronic Tagging (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The current electronic monitoring contract, which was effective from 1 March 2013, has been extended until July 2014. Expenditure from the start of the contract to the end of May 2014 is €29,000 approximately (excluding VAT) which covers the costs for 10 live units and monitoring. There are currently 2 offenders on conditional release with an electronic tag. As the Deputy is aware, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Garda Commissioner for information on this case and I will write to the Deputy when it comes to hand. I understand, however, that in accordance with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, protocols and procedures are in place between An Garda Síochána and Tusla (The Child and Family Agency) with respect to liaison and sharing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important to point out that no person is compelled to reside in asylum seeker accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA). Such accommodation is made available to persons who claim not to have the means to source their own private accommodation and so as to ensure that such persons do not become homeless. This position applies to the third country national...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: During the period in question my Department, and agencies funded from my Department, had the following expenditure on Public Relations firms: 2013 € 2014 € Department 3,275 1,374 Agencies: Insolvency Services Ireland 40,832 15,909 It is my Department's policy to use in house resources as much as possible and to restrict the use of external groups to a minimum

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under current legislation applications for international protection in Ireland are dealt with in a sequential manner. An application is first examined in order to determine if the applicant is eligible for refugee status. If the applicant is found not to be a refugee then a follow-on application can be made to determine if the person is eligible for subsidiary protection.By contrast, under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that all members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with the investigation of criminal activity. Investigations and complaints are normally investigated in the Garda District where the report was received and/ or an investigation commences. Members of An Garda Síochána who are investigating child pornography can avail of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that recruitment to An Garda Síochána is in accordance with the Public Service Management (Recruitment Appointment) Act 2004. The Public Appointments Service was established under that Act as a central recruitment agency and the Public Appointments Service undertook the initial stages of the recruitment process for Garda Trainee. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has applied for a right of residency in the State, accompanied by a right to work, based on their parentage of an Irish born minor citizen child, and based also on the principles of the Zambrano Judgment. The person concerned has not, to date, provided all of the documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 established the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to, among other matters, receive complaints from members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána. The Ombudsman Commission is independent in the exercise of its functions and I am not in a position, therefore, to comment on individual complaints which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Security Checks (15 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The company contacted my Department prior to publication and was requested not to disclose certain statistical information in its report. This was done for sound reasons of public policy related to national security and the investigation of serious crimes which may be hindered by the publication of such information. Particular concerns arise in Ireland given the small size of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 17 February 2014. Following full consideration, the Visa Officer decided to refuse to grant the visa on 11 April 2014. The reason for refusal was that a declaration of Eligibility and Suitability from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel and vehicles, 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. I have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel and vehicles, 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. I have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: An application was received, by the Restorative Justice Implementation Unit, in respect of this individual. Her claim has been processed, however, payment is delayed as I understand there are issues with regard to capacity. Judge Quirke recommended that legislation was required where an applicant is found to lack capacity but has not been made a ward of court or where there is no enduring...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residential Property Prices Register (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Residential Property Price Register, available at www.propertypriceregister.ie, is produced by the Property Services Regulatory Authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 86 of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The Register contains information on residential properties purchased in Ireland since 1 January 2010, as declared to the Revenue Commissioners for stamp...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that fees charged in the courts are set by means of Statutory Instrument. Court fees orders are made by myself as the Minister for Justice and Equality with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. During 2013, the Courts Service carried out a comprehensive review of court fees. Court fees in connection with bankruptcy proceedings are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have no immediate plans to remove upfront fees in relation to personal insolvency arrangements. However, both my Department and the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) have given a commitment that the effectiveness of the personal insolvency legislation will be kept under review, this includes the fees associated with the arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Application Numbers (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Garda Vetting applications received and average processing times in 2012, 2013 and 2014 (to end June) are as follows: 2012 2013 2014 to end June Applications Received 276,519 346,936 159,231 Average Processing Time 6 weeks 9 weeks 4 weeksGarda Vetting applications are processed on a first come, first served basis in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are currently two vacancies on the High Court and no vacancies in the Circuit Court or the District Court. The two High Court vacancies will be filled as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Applications (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Responsibility for processing all Subsidiary Protection applications was transferred from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) under the European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013 (SI No. 426 of 2013) in November, 2013. A panel of legally qualified persons was recruited to assist the ORAC...