Results 7,681-7,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy may be aware that the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill is currently with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel awaiting formal legal drafting. As per the Government's Autumn 2014 Legislative Programme, published in the last few days, the Gambling Control Bill is scheduled for publication in mid 2015. It would be my intention to bring the Bill before the Oireachtas...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Visa applications from Russian nationals living in the Russian Federation are lodged at the Irish Embassy in Moscow and processed by the dedicated Irish Visa Office in Moscow, a sub-office of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department. This Office handles all aspects of the visa process for persons applying from that jurisdiction, including appeals. It is open to a...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of accommodation for court sittings. However, in order to be of assistance I have had enquiries made and have been informed that the Courts Service has been reviewing all aspects of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that on the 31 August 2014 there were 3,792 prisoners in custody across the prison system. Of this 3,286 or almost 87% were Irish. The second largest nationality group was Polish which accounted for 81 or 2.14% of the number in custody. A full breakdown of the nationalities, taken from the most recent snapshot of the prison population conducted on 31st August 2014,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that major capital projects being progressed under the auspices of my Department include: Agency Description Status Irish Prison Service Cork Prison Work Ongoing Irish Prison Service Wheatfield Prison Work Training Work Ongoing Irish Prison Service Mountjoy D Wing refurbishment Work Ongoing Irish Prison Service Mountjoy D Wing Workshops Tender Evaluation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The budget allocation, including supplementary estimate adjustments as appropriate, for the operation of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) including wages and salaries and running costs was €52.5m, €43.5m, €49.5m and €47.5m respectively for the years 2011 to 2014. The staffing levels of INIS which forms part of the Department of Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Expenditure (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, there are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Legal Costs (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Asylum related legal costs incurred by my Department arise from the provision of legal services by the Refugee Legal Service to asylum seekers and judicial review proceedings taken against the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) which are determined by the courts in favour of applicants or settled by the State. Costs in these respects...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Direct Provision system is managed by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. For the most part, this represents a cashless system with the State assuming responsibility for providing suitable accommodation for asylum seekers on a full board basis. RIA currently provides full board accommodation and ancillary services to just over 4,300 persons in 34 centres across...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Officials in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant an application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Records Data (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that all criminal records available to the Data Protection Processing Unit can be found within the Unit with the exception of historical records that may be in existence but have not been made available by other prosecuting agencies and or the Court Service or criminal records imposed externally to Ireland. An Garda Síochána are capable of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for disciplinary issues in the force and I have no direct function in the matter raised. It is also the case, as I understand it, that the matter is currently the subject of legal proceedings and it would not be appropriate to comment on it.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Remit (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The objectives, functions and powers of the Ombudsman Commission are governed by the 2005 Act. The Act also provides that the management and control generally of the officers, administration and business of the Ombudsman Commission is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides to those in custody a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services which have the dual purpose of providing prisoners with purposeful activity while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead law...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that the number of prisoners granted early release prior to March 2012 is not readily available. However, I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service introduced a new Prisoner Information Management System (PIMS) on 03 March, 2012 and it is therefore possible to provide the information requested...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that on the 31 August 2014 there were 3,792 prisoners in custody across the prison system. Of this 530 or almost 14% were serving sentences for drugs related offences. A full breakdown of the offences, taken from the most recent snapshot of the prison population conducted on 31st August 2014, is set out in the following table. The figures include the length of the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that it is not possible to give figures as to the number of prisoners currently serving sentences arising from organised criminal gang activity. Membership/allegiance to criminal gangs fluctuates on a continuous basis with some persons breaking links and others becoming affiliated. The emergence in recent years of criminal gangs has had significant implications...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Prison Service publishes on its website (www.irishprisons.ie) prisoner population figures for all institutions on a daily basis. I wish to advise the Deputy that on Monday 22 September, 2014, there were five 17 year old prisoners detained on remand at St Patrick's Institution. In line with recommendations of the Inspector of Prisons to effect changes in regime and culture and to...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I presume the Deputy is referring to the system whereby members of An Garda Síochána can report instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 provided for the appointment of an independent Confidential Recipient to whom...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The operation and deployment of Garda resources, including equipment, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In that regard I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are continually looking to ensure that the latest information, communications and forensic technologies are sourced and deployed to achieve their strategic objectives as set out the Policing Plan for 2014, which includes...