Results 7,621-7,640 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: That was not in the terms of reference. Deputy Collins will appreciate how it would be giving a very wide remit to counsel. Essentially, this is an opportunity to go through the detailed information on cases and we have asked everyone to submit material in writing. In many cases there is a considerable amount of correspondence. If there is nothing in writing I call on Deputy Collins to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It would not be appropriate for me to put on the floor of the Dáil the particular names of individual cases that have been referred. However, there has been correspondence with every case. There has also been correspondence to Deputy Collins or whichever Deputy raised cases. This has indicated to Deputies and Senators if their case has been referred to the review mechanism. Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I appreciate Deputy Mac Lochlainn has an interest in this area. The Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants who come to Ireland in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. The policy has been of long standing and has had various twists and turns in terms of trying to accommodate the people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Some 51,000 people have been accommodated in the centres over a period. There are issues that can be further addressed. We want to ensure the system is as humane as possible. Unlike many other countries we do not detain people here. We make this accommodation available while they are going through the legal system and process. Deputy Mac Lochlainn is right in that we want to give the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I caution against unrealistic expectations. As various people have said recently, this is a Europe-wide problem in terms of the demands in Europe, particularly in southern Europe, and the number of refugees as a result of unrest internationally. It is a complex issue that is placing huge demands on countries throughout Europe. I have made it clear that we will do whatever we can to improve...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: This relates to the scheme that has been put in place by the Government for women who were in the Magdalen laundries. Decisions have been made on 80% of the applications so far. A total of 770 applications have been received and 442 applicants have received their lump sum payment to date, at a cost of €16 million. The sum allocated for the scheme is €34 million. The majority...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the first instance, the processing of all applications starts on the premise that the testimony of the applicant is correct. That is the basic approach. We then try to verify it. I accept the point that it is not the women's fault if the records are incomplete. A variety of other mechanisms are being used. If the applicant disagrees with the officials, a number of inquiries are made....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have been having detailed discussions with the Department of Health on finalising the legislation, particularly the issue of access to health services for women who are living in the United States, for example. We will have a mechanism to deal with that. It is likely to be through buying an insurance premium for the women, but the final details are being worked out with the Department of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision Data (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can certainly provide the Deputy with the background information, if he has not received it already. I have the numbers but time does not permit giving the details for each place. I can give the Deputy an idea of the scale of the numbers of people living in different centres. It ranges from 31 in some centres to 81 and hundreds in others. The maximum number is 245 in Kinsale. I do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision Data (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The immediate answer to the Deputy's question is that none of the Governments which preceded this one reformed the application process. The waiting times relating to that process must be reduced and brought into line with those which obtain in every other EU member state. Previous Ministers for Justice and Equality decided to introduce large-scale immigration Bills and did not focus on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision Data (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy referred to a protest organised by Doras Luimní. I hope NGOs are not organising protests outside direct provision centres. I would be very concerned with regard to the impact of this on both the children and families of the protesters.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Direct Provision Data (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is one thing to draw attention to the problem. I again call on people not to protest in a way that makes it impossible to run the centres, to have them cleaned and to have food delivered to them. I am concerned with regard to what is happening. Changes can be made without the need for such protest action. Accommodation centres are subject to inspection on three occasions each year -...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Inspectorate's report is excellent and it clearly charts the way forward for the short, medium and long term. I am aware of the concerns that were raised recently with regard to the operation of the penalty points system in the context of a protected disclosure made to the acting Garda Commissioner. As the Deputy is aware, such disclosures are the subject of examination by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The answer to the last question is "Yes". I attended a meeting of that group with the former Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, when he was working on these issues. At that meeting, all of the groups mentioned by the Deputy were represented. The meeting was helpful in terms of monitoring the progress of the recommendations and moving forward with them. In regard...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There has been significant public comment and discussion on this issue. The public wants to see a fair and just system enacted with no favouritism or inappropriate behaviour from gardaí. I agree with the Deputy on this. Any fair minded person who is aware of the changes that have taken place will accept the new system is a vast improvement and more robust. If further information on...

Other Questions: Prison Discipline (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: No level of prison violence or assault is acceptable and every effort is made by prison staff and management to limit the scope for acts of violence. There were 141 incidents of violence in Mountjoy Prison in 2013. In 2012, the number was 111 and in 2011 the number was 177. Of the 141 incidents in 2013, some 107 constituted prisoner assaults on prisoners and 34 were prisoner assaults on...

Other Questions: Prison Discipline (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Huge efforts are being made to ensure our prisons conform to the highest national and international standards in terms of physical accommodation and the regimes offered to prisoners in care. Many prisons have needed refurbishment and a capital programme is under way. In regard to the work done with prisoners and efforts to deal with violence in prisons, this is a challenging task. I was...

Other Questions: Prison Discipline (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree that there is a need for a debate. Perhaps we could start it here by discussing the recently published report on the penal policy review, which took over two years to produce and which I put into the public arena last week. There are 43 recommendations in the review document and I would like further discussion on them. My position is that serious and serial offenders should be in...

Other Questions: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I know the Deputy has an interest in this area and he has been tracking it in a variety of ways through parliamentary questions in recent times. He is familiar with the fact that there is a wide range of rehabilitative programmes, including educational and vocational training programmes, available in prisons. The records I have currently do not allow us to differentiate between first-time...

Other Questions: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: When one speaks about first-time offenders, one should note that many of them, particularly those in prison for not paying fines, go to prison for a very short period. This factor must be built into the question asked. Many prisoners go to prison for a very short period, perhaps 24 or 48 hours, for not paying a fine, and this is why we have stopped using imprisonment as a means of dealing...