Results 8,161-8,180 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ministerial Meetings (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: He has taken issue with the fact that I have commented on the very disturbing issues surrounding the case of Maíria Cahill. He has attempted to argue that because matters related to the case are subject to investigation by the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and because the Director of Public Prosecutions has ordered a review of the prosecution aspects of the case, Members of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy knows, the statutory functions of An Garda Síochána include the preservation of peace and public order, the protection of life and property, and vindication of the human rights of individuals. Accordingly, gardaí have attended routinely at water meter installations where this has been necessary for the performance of these functions. This, regrettably, has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let us be clear, Deputy. Some of the behaviour that is taking place during the protests around water meter installation involves - and has involved, as the Deputy knows - breaking windscreens, slashing tyres and throwing bricks at gardaí.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: On Saturday, children and other young people were placed in a dangerous situation. If people are throwing themselves at Garda cars or other vehicles, clearly the gardaí have to protect them. There is a long tradition of peaceful protest in this country. The Garda Síochána has a responsibility to monitor and help ensure the protests take place. Tens of thousands of people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy seems to be making a defence of serious public disorder. She asked me what I expect people to do. I expect Deputy Coppinger and other Deputies to use democratic means to discuss the range of issues they are concerned about. I expect democratic peaceful protest and debate in the House. I expect the use of democratic means to deal with the issues, as opposed to throwing bricks,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As opposed to throwing eggs and other missiles, sticks and cigarette lighters, and as opposed to damaging Garda vehicles and sitting down in front of cars that were trying to leave and making it difficult for people to use public roads. That is what I expect - democratic means, rather than the means I listed. I ask Deputies Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy to support a democratic way of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bench Warrants (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that, at the end of the second quarter of this year, there were in the order of 113,500 outstanding warrants on PULSE. This figure had reduced from a level of approximately 122,000 at the start of the year. I am further advised that an inspector in each Garda district in the Dublin metropolitan region and in each division outside the region is tasked with managing the execution...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bench Warrants (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The problems relating to the enforcement of warrants are longstanding, as the Deputy would recognise. Records demonstrate that the number of warrants outstanding in May 2008, for example, when the Deputy's party was in government, was 117,756, or higher than now. That does not mean I accept the current position or that it should be allowed to stand. There is no question that action is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bench Warrants (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have just received a report from the Garda Inspectorate and I thank the three people involved in producing it, led by Mr. Robert Olson, chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate. The report contains 500 recommendations and it suggests I establish a number of groups in the Department and the criminal justice system. The report suggests the establishment of an overarching criminal justice...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last week I published the report of the Garda Inspectorate and welcomed its analysis as providing the foundation stone for the future development of a 21st century policing service for Ireland. The report acknowledges the dedication and commitment of members of An Garda Síochána and notes that many of the issues raised have been identified in other police forces. The report makes...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is clear that during the years of the so-called Celtic tiger the investment in resources, for example, to deal with technology and vehicles issues, was not as it should have been. This is absolutely clear when we read the report on the issue of technology within An Garda Síochána. Some 1,000 gardaí were interviewed and met in focus groups for the Garda Inspectorate's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I just want to make the point that we have invested €27.5 million in new Garda vehicles. It will make a substantial difference nationally, including in urban areas.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Inspectorate Reports (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The report sets out a comprehensive analysis and is tough and challenging, not least in its detail given the 500 recommendations. I have to agree with the Deputy there. It represents an important roadmap for developments in An Garda Síochána to make it absolutely fit for purpose. Ours is a reforming Government and establishing the new policing authority which will be responsible...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception and Integration Agency, or 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 his or her protection or related leave to remain application. Approximately,...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not agree with the Deputy's analysis that improvements cannot be made. The working group, which includes representatives of non-governmental organisations that have contact with the women, men and children living in direct provision centres, will make recommendations. Unlike other countries, Ireland does not detain asylum seekers. I am not condoning detention but pointing out that it...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is anticipating the outcome of the inquiry regarding the young women she mentioned. As she knows, an inquiry is under way and I am sure all of the facts and details of the case will come out. My Department is extremely sensitive to women who find themselves in that situation. There are procedures in place for how these requests are handled in my Department; requests are dealt...

Other Questions: Residential Institutions (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have discussed this issue before. My Department and the women working to provide the service have taken every care to ensure all of the women applying for compensation have been dealt with carefully and as well as possible. I want to make a number of points. The Government made its decision, based on the recommendations of Mr. Justice Quirke, to establish an ex gratiascheme for the...

Other Questions: Residential Institutions (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I accept the point that there are women who fall outside a particular scheme. However, there was a nine year period during which women could have applied for redress. I understand that, for various reasons, this might have been difficult for some of them. While it is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills to consider late applicants to the scheme, under which the women referred...

Other Questions: Residential Institutions (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very happy to make the interview process public and will send the Deputy details on it. The process is intended to help the women involved. We recognise that for many of them, recollecting or providing evidence on the precise length of stay is difficult. We are totally open to using other sources of information and have been doing so, such as school and social welfare work records,...