Results 7,761-7,780 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (30 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: Data Protection Commissioner Appointment (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following an open public competition managed by the Public Appointments Service I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Government has appointed Ms Helen Dixon as the Data Protection Commissioner with effect from 10 September 2014. My Department is in the process of finalising the necessary associated administrative arrangements to give effect to the Government's Decision.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (30 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. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational circumstances and the availability of resources. In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that an additional 16 new marked motorcycles have been allocated to the Garda Traffic Corps. I am also informed that the Garda Traffic Corps has a current...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority Remit (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in Ireland. The Authority has adopted a phased approach to the licensing of the sector and currently licenses in the region of 960 contractors and 28,000 individuals in a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy. The Deputy will be aware that An Garda Síochána pursue a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and six ordinary members. As the Deputy may be aware, a press release issued on 9 April, 2014 seeking expressions of interest from suitably-qualified persons who wish to be considered for appointment as members of the Tribunal. The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest was 29...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Report Stage of the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, which commenced in the Dáil on 11th July 2014, will resume in the coming weeks. The Government's proposed amendments will be made available in advance for consideration. It remains the intention that the Bill be enacted by the end of this year and that the new Legal Services Regulatory Authority come into operation early in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that in every instance where an application for subsidiary protection is lodged, this application must be concluded by way of a formal ministerial decision letter. Such decision letters are issued, on my behalf, by the INIS Ministerial Decisions Unit. This position will apply regardless of whether an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise that the information requested is currently being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions; this includes the provision of services to and the management of the resources of the Dublin District Family Law Court in Dolphin House. The position is that the Courts Service...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Dublin visa office on 16th September 2014. The application is currently being examined and a decision will be issued shortly. As advised on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (www.inis.gov.ie) it is recommended that visa applicants apply for their visas eight weeks before the intended date of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (30 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, 4,326...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. The application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that this application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. It is recognised that all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can assure the Deputy that I am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner in relation to a wide range of crime and policing concerns, including knife and other violent crime. A comprehensive and robust legal framework is in place with respect to knife crime including heavy penalties for breaches of the laws concerned. In recent years the maximum penalty for possessing a knife in a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Refurbishment (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda stations is based on accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. In that context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (30 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: Asylum Applications (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of asylum applications received in each of the last five years was 2,689 in 2009, 1,939 in 2010, 1,290 in 2011, 956 in 2012, and 946 in 2013. These figures are publically available on the website of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, www.orac.ie. To end of August 2014, a total of 854 applications have been made. There has been a 40% increase in asylum...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (30 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Guardians ad Litem should have Garda clearance in view of the sensitive role that they undertake with children. My Department is currently working with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and with the Courts Service to ensure that all Guardians ad Litem have up-to-date Garda clearance. Separately, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is preparing proposals for consideration...