Results 7,661-7,680 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that Ireland already has an extensive legislative framework prohibiting the trafficking of persons for the purposes of exploitation (including sexual exploitation) with stringent penalties. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 prohibits trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Any person found guilty of such an offence shall be liable to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Health Services Access (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Health Service Executive has appointed a four person Inquiry Team to establish all the factual circumstances in relation to the case of Ms. Y and the chain of communication between different service providers. The inquiry team seeks to establish the full facts surrounding the matter including the sequence of events and the care given to the woman involved. It...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The recommendations contained in the Report on the Recognition of Traveller Ethnicity by the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality form part of the ongoing consideration of this issue which is underway in my Department. My Department has been engaged in consultation with all Government Departments in relation to the issue of the recognition of Travellers as an Ethnic Group and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Dealing (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do appreciate the issue of concern which the Deputy has raised. I am aware that the practice of illegal street selling of prescription medicines, including benzodiazepines, has been acknowledged as a problem in the Dublin city centre area. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda personnel and Garda operations in tackling such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 37 (1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998 provides for circumstances where a religious, educational or medical institution which is under the direction or control of a body established for religious purposes or whose objectives include the provision of services in an environment which promotes certain religious values shall not be taken to discriminate against a person if more...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Standard (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that as of Friday 19 September 2014, there was a total of 20 women in custody in Limerick Prison. The bed capacity as recommended by the Inspector of Prisons is 24. The Deputy will be aware that the primary role of the Irish Prison Service is the provision of safe and secure custody for prisoners. The Deputy will also be aware that the Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The General Scheme of the Children and Family Relationships Bill has now been finalised, taking account, inter alia, of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. It is intended that drafting should begin shortly, following Cabinet approval of the draft Scheme. I am working towards a deadline of December for publication of the Bill and for its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of resources and the direction and control of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 - 2007 and I have no direct function in such matters. Where appropriate, An Garda Síochána attend the scene of incidents where protests, including industrial relations disputes,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights Committees (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I headed the delegation representing Ireland at the UN Human Rights Committee dialogue on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which took place in Geneva on 14 and 15 July, 2014. At that time, I was unaware of any aspect of what is now known as the Miss Y case. As the Deputy is aware, the Health Service Executive has appointed a four person Inquiry Team to establish all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department advises me that two applications for temporary travel documents were received during 2012 to facilitate travel for the purpose of termination of pregnancy. Both applications were granted. No applications for temporary travel documents were received during 2011, 2013 and 2014 to facilitate travel for the purpose...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Bench Warrants (24 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: Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform has met on four occasions since its establishment and I have attended the three meetings of the Cabinet Committee that have taken place since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 9(4)(b) of the Refugee Act 1996 provides that applicants for international protection shall not seek or enter employment or carry on any business, trade or profession during the period before the final determination of their application. The Deputy may be aware of the Government commitment to establish an independent Working Group to report to Government on improvements with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including assigning members to Drugs Units, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Mediation Bill, which is currently being drafted, will promote mediation as a viable, effective and efficient alternative to court proceedings, thereby reducing legal costs and speeding up the resolution of disputes. It will introduce an obligation on solicitors and barristers to advise any person wishing to commence court proceedings to consider mediation as a means of resolving the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penalty Points System (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Inspectorate Report, entitled The Fixed Charge Processing System: A 21st Century Strategywas published on 12 March, 2014 and represented a major review of the operation of the fixed charge processing system including with respect to the enforcement of penalty point offences. The recommendations from that review are currently being taken forward by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 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. Currently, just over...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 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. Currently, 4,330...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am examining the recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Justice Defence and Equality, the advices of the Attorney General and the views of the Minister for Health regarding a new approach to prostitution legislation. As you will be aware, prostitution raises a wide spectrum of issues. When I have had the opportunity to complete consideration of the issues, proposals will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the Syrian Humanitarian Admissions Programme applications are currently being examined and that decisions will issue in the near future.