Results 7,401-7,420 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice Working Group (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Criminal Justice (Fixed Charge Processing System) Work Group was established in March 2014 to take forward the recommendations in the Garda Inspectorate report on the operation of the system. I, along with my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, received the Group's first progress report in July. The report sets out substantial progress...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Assistance Treaties (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The bilateral treaty between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United States of America on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters signed on 18 January 2001 has been given effect in the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008. A copy of the treaty is contained in Schedule 14 of the Act. The question of seeking assistance in a particular case is one for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (17 Sep 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.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the application has entered the final stage of processing and I intend to grant citizenship. The person concerned has been invited to attend the next citizenship ceremony on 22nd September 2014, at which he will make a declaration of fidelity to the Irish Nation and loyalty to the State and receive his certificate of naturalisation. Queries in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (17 Sep 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: Non-EEA Student Registrations (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that reliable statistics for the information sought by the Deputy are available from the year 2009. The table below sets out the number of non-EEA national students registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau as at March in each of the years in question. Year New Registration Registration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2012 the then Garda Commissioner, with the approval of the Minister, closed 39 Garda stations, many of which had not been opened for several years and most of which were closed for the most part of the day. In 2013, 100 Garda stations were closed. There are still 564 Garda stations in the State. The tables below set out all of the closed stations, both rural and urban.2012 Region...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (17 Sep 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: Criminal Prosecutions Data (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 558 and 559 together. The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case. A panel consisting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Garda authorities for a report in relation to the issue of forecourt drive offs as described by the Deputy and I will contact him directly when this report is to hand. More generally, there is a range of strong legislative provisions available to an An Garda Síochána to combat anti-social behaviour and crimes against retailers. I am advised that Gardaí...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cycling Policy (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that I have no direct role in roads policing which is principally an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and will be aware that I previously brought his concerns surrounding cycling on footpaths at this location to the attention of the Garda authorities. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda Management is aware that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the application has entered the final stage of processing and I intend to grant citizenship. A letter issued to the person referred to by the Deputy asking him to submit the prescribed fee and other documents, which have been received. The person concerned will be invited to attend the next available citizenship ceremony at which he will make a declaration of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Employment Equality Acts prohibit direct or indirect discrimination on a range of grounds, including family status and disability. A person who considers that they have been discriminated against can bring a claim before the Equality Tribunal and can seek advice and assistance from the Equality Authority in relation to the taking of such a claim.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Syrian Humanitarian Admission Programme (SHAP), which was introduced following an approach by members of the Syrian community in Ireland, is intended to offer temporary Irish residence - rather than refugee status - to vulnerable persons present in Syria, or who have fled from Syria to surrounding countries since the outbreak of the conflict in March 2011, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Graffiti Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the areas referred to are within the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North Garda Division. These areas are patrolled regularly by uniform and plain clothes units, including the Community Policing Unit. I am further informed that graffiti may be regarded as criminal damage and is dealt with by An Garda Síochána under the provisions of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the number of staff of my Department who retired, left or otherwise departed between 1 July 2013 and 31 December 2013 was 15.82 full time equivalents. The expected annual savings in a full year would be approximately €880,000 if none of these posts were filled. The number of staff who have left and at this time are expected to leave in 2014 is 47.24 full time...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of new staff employed in my Department between 1 July 2013 and 31 December 2013 was 1.8 full time equivalents and the expected annual cost in the first full year of their employment would be €107,000 approximately. The number of new staff employed to date in 2014 is 7.5 full time equivalents and the expected annual cost will be approximately €286,000 in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (17 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is to hand.