Results 8,341-8,360 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissioner of Valuation (17 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his statutory functions under the Valuation Acts, 2001 to 2015. The carrying out of a valuation of a public utility undertaking (i.e. a global valuation') is the Commissioner's sole prerogative and I as Minister for Justice and Equality do not have any function in this regard. Global valuations of public utilities are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Graffiti Policy (17 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Community Graffiti Reduction Programme was introduced in February 2008 and was sponsored by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Pobal managed the programme on behalf of these Departments. The programme ceased operation in 2009, and there are...

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I might be of help to the Deputy in this case. I acknowledge receipt of his correspondence which will be replied to at the earliest opportunity. He is aware that two independent investigations are under way, one in the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. I assure him there will be no delay in having the investigations completed. I expect to receive an early report on completion...

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I assure Deputy Gerry Adams that the subject matter of his correspondence is being fully addressed.

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: On the matter of money laundering, I expect the legislation will be submitted to Government for approval in the next couple of weeks, after which it will be published at the earliest opportunity. We will seek full co-operation from Deputy Martin Kenny and his party on all aspects of terrorist financing and money laundering.

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy's question on the matter of promised legislation relates to a Bill to merge a number of agencies currently under my Department, one of which is the Valuation Office. I would expect that the drafting is at an advanced stage and hope to be in a position to have publication, having been approved by Government, by the end of the year. I would be happy to keep the Deputy informed.

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Resources (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, comprising 15,000...

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Resources (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In response to the latter point I would be very happy to speak to my Government colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, on that issue. I will revert to the Deputy in early course. I mentioned earlier the Government's plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 by 2021. That is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda...

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Deployment (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Corcoran Kennedy for raising this important matter. I assure the Deputy that I am very much aware of the impact of crime on rural communities, including the serious damage done by organised criminal gangs who target rural areas to engage in burglary and other forms of property crime. As the Deputy is aware, Operation Thor entails a broad range of activities to tackle...

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Deployment (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I mentioned earlier the overall plan on the part of the Government to increase the garda workforce to 21,000. This is complemented by a significant investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. I have secured a total budget of €1.65 billion for An Garda Síochána for next year. It should be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm for the Deputy that there are no reductions in the Garda training budget. It was noted in the published Budget Day estimate for 2018 for the Garda Vote that a proportion of the estimate for some items, including the subhead to which the Deputy refers is now reflected in a new subhead for the Garda College. This has led to the reallocation of certain costs between subheads in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pathology Service (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: All bodies which operate under the aegis of my Department agree governance and accountability arrangements with the Department, including written governance agreements, in line with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodiesand in accordance with the Department’s Corporate Governance Framework.  Such arrangements help to ensure that appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 to 123, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems Provision (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the Community-based CCTV grant-aid Scheme was launched by my Department in April 2017 to assist community groups in the establishment of CCTV systems in their local areas. A key requirement of the Scheme is that the proposal must have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner in accordance with Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas on 14th February 2017. Much of the Act was commenced on 27th March 2017 and work is ongoing to ensure that the remaining sections of the Act are commenced as soon as practicable. Due to the recent enactment of the Bill, the operational needs of adapting crime recording systems to record new crimes, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I want to assure the Deputy that I am very much aware of the impact of crime on rural communities, including the serious damage done by organised gangs who target rural areas to engage in burglary and other property-related crime. The success of the Garda measures to tackle burglary being implemented through Operation Thor is borne out by latest available CSO crime figures which show a very...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Welfare (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: A prisoner complaints system is already in place. It was introduced in November 2012 based on a model recommended by the late Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly. The system is categorised according to the nature and seriousness of the complaint. This can range from the most serious 'Category A' complaint through to a Category D complaint. A complaint in the 'A' category, such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Boards (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the Penal Policy Review Group (PPRG) was established in 2012 in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group, to conduct a wide-ranging strategic review of penal policy. The report of the PPRG titled ‘Strategic Review of Penal Policy’ dated July 2014 was published on my Department's website ().  In November 2014, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (18 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The tragic events at Omeath on 11 October 2015 caused suffering, grief and distress to the victims, their families and their friends.  Our sympathies are with them.  I recall, in particular, Garda Tony Golden, who lost his life doing his duty serving his community, and the young woman who suffered such trauma and serious injury that day. The events of that day and...