Results 8,341-8,360 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last night's "Spotlight" programme.

Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: No, it is not if it occurs through an independent process.

Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Recognise change.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, one of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts, is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. In this regard, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including fully sworn members and Reserve Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In May 2013, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) made a Report to my predecessor under Section 80(5) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 following its investigation into allegations of collusion between an individual and members of the Garda Síochána. In its letter accompanying the report GSOC stated that a file relating to its public interest...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ground Rents Payments (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The general position regarding ground rents is that section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 introduced a prohibition on the creation of new leases reserving ground rents on dwellings. As regards remaining ground rents, Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978 contains a statutory scheme whereby a holder of a leasehold interest may, at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Meetings (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Management Advisory Committee (MAC) currently meets weekly and is chaired by the Acting Secretary General who is also the Director General of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS). Membership comprises the Director General of the Irish Prisons Service, the Director General of INIS, the Assistant Secretaries of the Department, the Director of the Anti-Human...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In light of public safety concernshighlighted by An Garda Síochána and difficulties in the interpretation of the legislation expressed by members of the judiciary, a joint Department of Justice and Equality/An Garda Síochána Working Group was established by my Department to review firearms licensing. The Report of this Working Group was published on 13 November and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Policing Authority (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following an open process undertaken by the Public Appointments Service seeking expressions of interest, the Government has nominated Ms Josephine Feehily as the Chairperson-designate of the forthcoming Independent Policing Authority. Ms Feehily is a woman of unimpeachable integrity and unquestioned ability who will bring a wealth of experience and competences, including in the area of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the Presidents of the courts and the presiding judge who are under the Constitution independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. There are currently seven vacancies on the Circuit Court arising from a retirement on 30 September 2014; the elevation of one judge to the Court of Appeal on 29 October...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the committee for making time available today to consider my request for Supplementary Estimates for An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service and the Courts Service. A number of factors give rise to the Supplementary Estimates which can be broadly summarised as follows: additional requirements relating to Garda and prisons payroll costs; implementation of a capital...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will I take questions one by one?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The reality is that if gardaí are called to perform duties, the cost is carried in their standard pay which is covered by this subhead. I recently answered a question on the amount of Garda time and the precise cost connected with the water meter protests. While I was informed by An Garda Síochána that it was difficult to break down the precise costs involved, as one can...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are 100 new Garda recruits who started in September. As Deputies know, it is the first recruitment since 2009. We will have another 100 recruits starting on 8 December.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, 100 recruits started in September; 100 will start in December and a further 100 will start in January, giving a total of 300.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number stands at 12,850. We will have another 100 recruits in December, bringing the total to 12,950.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, by 50, but there is always some movement as gardaí retire and new recruits come in. In the course of next year I will monitor the position. It is very hard to predict the precise numbers who will retire at any one point.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Predicting final Garda payroll costs in a given year is not precise. There are a number of variables which impact on Garda payroll costs, including the number of retirements in a particular year. The reality is that the vast bulk of Garda retirements are voluntary when members reach 50 years of age and have 30 years service and are in a position to retire on a full pension. It is difficult...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The good news is that because of the improvement in the economic climate we are in a position to recruit for the first time since 2009. I agree with what the inspectorate stated and the view of the committee that the 13,000 figure should be adhered to. That has formed the basis of my discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Commissioner has authority. She is the Accounting Officer.