Results 7,901-7,920 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (14 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy is set out below in so far as it is available. However, I wish to advise the Deputy that it is not feasible to provide all the information sought by him in relation to appointments since March 2011 to State Boards under my remit. In relation to the public advertising of vacancies and the credentials of those appointed, the Deputy will be aware that there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Rehiring (14 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that there has been no recruitment, either permanent or temporary, into my Department of individuals on public or civil service pensions for the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. A limited number of former public or civil servants are re-engaged from time to time on a short term basis because of their knowledge and expertise in a particular area, for example to...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The budget announced yesterday marks a significant step forward for Ireland. It is a budget that is fair, progressive - as just outlined by the Minister of State - responsible and forward-looking. It is fair in respect of the 80,000 people taken out of the USC net and it provides for thousands of much-needed social housing units to be built over coming years. It supports families in which...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Absolutely. Many thousands of people have applied to join the Garda and it is great to see that despite the difficulties faced by the force, there is such interest in becoming part of An Garda Síochána.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: People are motivated to be part of the force. There is an allocation of a further €10 million to support the purchase and fit-out of over 400 new vehicles. That is a key priority, as we need a modern and efficient Garda fleet for both urban and rural policing. I want to see a particular focus on the provision of marked Garda vehicles so as to provide for enhanced visibility of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the installation of water meters is governed by the Water Services Act, 2007 to 2013. An Garda Síochána has no role in the installation of these meters under the 2007 to 2013 Act. Where complaints are made regarding criminal activity or a breach of the peace and to comply with its statutory function under section 7 of the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Remuneration (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that no such payments have been made to any staff in my Department during the years in question. The Performance-related Awards Scheme, which applied to staff at Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary and equivalent grades in the Civil and Public Service, was abolished in 2009.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In that context I am informed by the Garda authorities that neither GMC Sierra nor Uisce Éireann are contributing financially towards the costs incurred by An Garda Síochána policing protests in respect of the installation of water meters. The Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (15 Oct 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.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to be in the Chamber to present the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014, the primary purpose of which is to amend the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008. The Act gives effect to 12 international agreements that establish the existing legislative framework for the provision of mutual legal assistance. The Bill is necessary in order to give...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all of the Senators who made contributions to this Bill here today for the thoughtful nature of them. Everybody recognised the importance of these directives in tackling crime. Certainly, the question of borders does not apply to a lot of crime, as Senator Brennan stated. So much crime is now cross-border and international, and needs to be dealt with by international mechanisms. We...

Seanad: Joint Policing Committees: Motion (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Senators for their contributions to the debate today and Senator Martin Conway and the Fine Gael group for tabling this motion. I will also refer to some of the points made in the amendments. I will revert to Senator Bradford in regard to the Garda Reserve individually and to members who have raised individual points to which I am not in a position to respond at this point in...

Topical Issue Debate: Anti-Social Behaviour (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am grateful to the Deputy for raising this important matter for debate. I am, of course, very much aware of the concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre and the potential impact for all who live in, work in and visit our capital city. Of course we want our capital city and its thoroughfares to be safe and secure places for the residents of Dublin and our visitors....

Topical Issue Debate: Anti-Social Behaviour (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take note of the Deputy's comments. The context for finding solutions must encompass a co-ordinated approach from State agencies involved in social housing, health and drug treatment services, as well as through partnership with business, community and voluntary groups. I support the multi-agency approach to tackling this issue. I agree with the Deputy that we must ensure the city...

Topical Issue Debate: Anti-Social Behaviour (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: We can examine that.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permit Criteria (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In order to monitor a situation where people have had Work Permits but then find themselves undocumented, such persons must make themselves known to the bodies concerned. An administrative scheme was introduced in 2009 by my Department to address the problem of those who found themselves undocumented through no particular fault of their own. This scheme ran for 3 months and those concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including personnel, 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 asked the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the person has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications until such time as they have fully completed the protection process and, where applicable, any related court proceedings have been finalised. The question of leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds, where persons fail to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person concerned arrived in the State on 1 May, 2008 and made an application for asylum on 7 May, 2008. The Refugee Applications Commissioner refused a declaration of refugee status by letter dated 7 November, 2008. This decision was subsequently upheld by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and this was notified to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned by the Deputy has Stamp 4 residency valid up to 29 April 2015. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This...