Results 7,941-7,960 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government underlines the need for close engagement between An Garda Síochána and local communities. This is an essential feature of the strong community policing ethos which has long been central to policing in this jurisdiction. The Deputy will be aware that as part of the overall strategy to oppose criminality, the Garda authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As outlined in my response to the Deputy on 13 July 2017, I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that the Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP), incorporates a range of initiatives to enable An Garda Síochána to meet present and future challenges. The Programme has been formed based on recommendations made in 44 reports, both internal and external, developed over...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter. This includes responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda Stations, taking into account crime trends and policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has been implementing a comprehensive Programme for Change in response to the recommendations set out in the Review Group report. The programme, which mirrors many of the actions set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan, covers areas such as culture; leadership and structure; audit and risk management; corporate functions and IT systems; and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The information requested is being compiled and verified in my Department. I will forward my response to the Deputy directly in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Boards (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that the policy issues raised by the establishment of a statutory Parole Board are being considered by my Department in the context of the Government's response to the Parole Bill 2016, a Private Members' Bill initiated by Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. As the Deputy will be aware, that Bill recently completed Committee Stage in this House.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel and Garda station opening hours, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Constitutional Amendments (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, a referendum would be required to amend the relevant provisions of the Constitution. Articles 12.8, 31.4 and 34.5.1° of the Constitution respectively prescribe the wording of a declaration to be made by a person taking up office as President, as a member of the Council of State, and as a judge. The prescribed wording contains religious references: in each...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Section 32 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the Minister may authorise a Deputy Garda Commissioner, or in the absence of a Deputy Commissioner, an Assistant Commissioner, to perform the functions of the Garda Commissioner during any absence, incapacity or suspension from duty of the Commissioner, or during any vacancy in the office of Commissioner. "Absence" includes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Administrative Costs (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and control of the Garda Síochána. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Data (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The position in relation to applications made under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the number of legal aid certificates issued under the Criminal Legal Aid Act 1962 is set out below. It should be noted that the number of applications made under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the number of certificates issued under the Criminal Legal Aid Act 1962 does not equate to the number of persons...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Data (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Legal aid services are funded by my Department under both the Civil and Criminal Legal Aid schemes. Civil Legal Aid The Legal Aid Board, established under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, provides civil legal aid and advice to persons of limited means who cannot afford to pay a solicitor privately.The Legal Aid Board operates 31 full-time law centres and a number of part-time law centres in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, 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, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the Courts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoners Treatment (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that decisions relating to the handcuffing of prisoners, both male and female, are made in accordance with the Irish Prison Service Escorting of Prisoners Policy which includes the operational and security requirements of the escort. In accordance with the Irish Prison Service Escorting of Prisoners Policy, female prisoners in the norm are not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013. The Public Appointments Service (PAS), on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda Trainees and I, as Minister, have no direct involvement in the matter. I have, however, been informed that PAS,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Seizures (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can advise that all members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with enforcing drug-related legislation. The Divisional Drug Unit based at Galway Garda Station has undertaken a number of significant and successful initiatives to monitor and counteract the sale, supply and distribution of drugs, including heroin. These include an intelligence-led initiative to monitor heroin use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 587 and 588 together. Section 11 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 provides that either parent of a child, whether or not he or she is also a guardian of the child, may apply to court for a direction regarding the custody of a child or the right of access to the child. As the Deputy will know, the 1964 Act was modernised extensively, with a wide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There was a gross underspend in my Departments Vote of €11.1 million at the end of June 2017 relating to a number of areas, including payroll due to the filling of certain posts taking longer than anticipated. Expenditure across the overall Justice Vote Group, consisting of eight Votes, will continue to be carefully monitored and managed for the remainder of the year with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Controls (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to reply to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 30 May last and Parliamentary Question No. 706 of 20 June 2017 which sets out the position on the matter. A copy is reproduced below for reference. I am informed that the queues to which the Deputy refers do not arise as a result of the operation of immigration controls at Dublin Airport but are rather a consequence of other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (26 Jul 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use...