Results 8,421-8,440 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Other Questions: Prison Service Strategies (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to advise the Deputy that in the joint Probation Service-Irish Prison Service women's strategy 2014-2016, An Effective Response to Women Who Offend, published in 2014, the Irish Prison Service made a commitment to explore the development of an open centre and open conditions for women assessed as being at low risk of reoffending. This commitment was acknowledged in the report on the...

Other Questions: Prison Service Strategies (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the step-down facility is a residential unit in the community, which will be designed to provide for the basic needs of its female residents. It is supervised but not institutional and it is an option as a residence for female prisoners, mainly those in transition from custody back to the community. I agree that a prison should be a place of last resort. To...

Other Questions: Prison Service Strategies (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I do not believe the Deputy is giving this issue the focus it deserves. The proposed facility will replace the very poor services provided to a small number of women - I think the figure is less than 50 - in Limerick. I agree with the Deputy that we should continue to identify appropriate alternatives to custody. I acknowledge that legislation in this regard was passed recently. Neither I...

Other Questions: Prison Service Strategies (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Yes. That is grand.

Other Questions: Prison Service Strategies (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: It places a bigger burden on me of course.

Other Questions: Prison Service Strategies (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will accept the Chair's proposal in order to facilitate the Deputies who are present.

Other Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased that the Deputy is acknowledging my workload.

Other Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I assure him of my continued endeavours in that regard. This question relates to a new statement of strategy. The current strategy statement for the Department of Justice and Equality covers the period from 2016 to 2019. In accordance with section 4 of the Public Service Management Act 1997, the Department is preparing a new strategy statement to cover the period from 2017 to 2020. This...

Other Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the active and constructive leadership of both Ministers of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputies Finian McGrath and David Stanton, in the areas referred to by the Deputy. They undertake a huge amount of work on certain aspects of the remit of the Department. I remind Deputy O'Callaghan that I have responsibilities to the obligations and commitments in the...

Other Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In case there is any misunderstanding, the record will clearly show I said that both Ministers of State are "active and constructive", and not "active or constructive." They are both hard-working Ministers of State and I very much value their contribution to the Department and the provision of public services. We may have an opportunity to discuss the matter before the end of the year. The...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the Deputy that I have visited some centres and engaged with children in the company of their parents or guardians. While the rate of payments for children living in State-provided accommodation is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these payments have increased...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I do not accept that the services and facilities being provided by the State are horrific, as the Deputy described. I reject that. Of course I accept that the conditions are not ideal, but they are being continually enhanced and improved. I want to acknowledge the contribution of former judge, Bryan McMahon, and his comprehensive report and recommendations. He carried out consultation...

Other Questions: Data Retention (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The report of Mr. Justice Murray’s review of the law on retention of and access to communications data was received earlier this year. On receipt it was immediately forwarded to the Attorney General for consideration and advice. This was done in the context of the development of proposals to take account of changes in European law in this area. While the review was initially...

Other Questions: Data Retention (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, I have written to the justice committee in these Houses and asked it to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the communications (retention of data) Bill. I have also forwarded a copy of the Murray report to the committee and would be happy to engage with it in due course once the legislation completes Second Stage in this House and goes to...

Topical Issues: Garda Station Refurbishment (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Neville for raising this important matter, and it is not the first time he raised it in the Houses. As the Deputy is aware, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities, working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters but I acknowledge the...

Topical Issues: Garda Station Refurbishment (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy has asked that I keep a close eye on matters. I assure him that I am very keen that this project will be completed but I do not believe there is any necessity for me to keep a close eye on matters, having regard to the close eye Deputy Neville himself keeps on this and other important issues in the Limerick constituency. I agree with the Deputy on the matter of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: First of all let me say for the benefit of the Deputy that the Disclosures Tribunal was appointed following the passage of resolutions by this House and Seanad Éireann on 16 February 2017. Those resolutions require the Tribunal to report to the Clerk of Dáil Éireann with its findings and recommendations. Therefore, I do not propose to say or do anything which could be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Rights (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 19 and 20 together. Section 16(3)(b) of the International Protection Act 2015 provides that applicants for international protection shall not seek, enter or be in employment or engage for gain in any business, trade or profession during the period before the final determination of their application. The Supreme Court judgment in the case of N.V.H....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that only last week I announced the additional resource allocations for the Justice sector in Budget 2018. A total budget of €1.65 billion has been provided to An Garda Síochána in 2018, an increase of 2% on 2017. It should be noted that the Garda allocation substantially continues to benefit from the significant additional funding that was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (19 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware the statutory framework relating to young offenders and the Garda Diversion Programme is set out in the Children Act 2001. The Act essentially provides that where a young person is responsible for committing a crime s/he shall be considered for admission to the Diversion Programme. In order for a young person to be admitted to the Programme s/he must take...