Results 8,621-8,640 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the application by the prisoner (details supplied) for enhanced remission was considered under Rule 59 (2) of SI 252 of 2007 (the Prison Rules). This occurred prior to my recent amendment to the Rules. While the prisoners incentivised regime level was not taken into account, the application was considered by reference to a number of other factors including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Location of Victims' Remains (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) was established by the Irish and British Governments in 1999 to facilitate the location of the remains of a number of people who were killed and buried secretly by paramilitary organisations during the troubles. They have become known as the disappeared. The ICLVR was among the actions taken in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Promotions (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Promotion competitions within An Garda Síochána are run in strict compliance with An Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006, as amended. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that all members who apply for and are eligible for promotion are invited to take part in a competency based interview. This interview is conducted by an independent interview board...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware that an increasing number of complaints of petrol stretching have been reported to Revenue's Customs Service and An Garda Síochána during 2014. This is a matter of serious concern as petrol stretching, like all forms of fuel fraud, results in losses to the Exchequer, threatens legitimate businesses and potentially can cause significant damage to the vehicles of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The policy of my Department with regard to the provision of information in respect of individual applications for asylum or subsidiary protection and the legal basis underpinning this policy was fully explained in my letter to the Deputy dated 31 May, 2014. That letter referenced Section 19 (1) of the Refugee Act, 1996 which states that "The Commissioner, the Board, the Tribunal, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Military Aircraft Landings (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of reports going back some time that Irish airports, particularly Shannon, have been used for the unlawful inter-state transfer of detainees (‘extraordinary rendition’) by the US authorities. The Government has repeatedly made it clear that extraordinary rendition is an illegal practice which Ireland will not accept. The US authorities have provided clear and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Communications Surveillance (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Senators for raising these important issues and for the opportunity to respond to the points made. There has been much confusion around the commencement of Part 3 of the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008. The 2008 Act gives effect to the EU Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters. It applies only to mutual assistance in criminal matters and does not...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Communications Surveillance (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have made clear, this is a topic which the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has raised. I have given an indication of the general principles which would be behind such a discussion. Clearly, the Minister would be in a position to give more detail. It is important to reiterate that there is no question of any form of mass surveillance taking place in this jurisdiction. I have...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Law Reform Commission Recommendations (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar. Government policy recognises that most older people would prefer to stay at home. We seek to facilitate this through various community-based supports aimed at ensuring older people receive timely, safe and appropriate care and treatment at the lowest level of complexity. Services can be provided...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Law Reform Commission Recommendations (17 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I believe it is a very important point that Senator Burke has raised about the future needs of our elderly population and the benefits of having a legislative, statutory base to the home care provisions that are made. As he says, this was recommended by the Law Reform Commission and I have no doubt it will guide the Ministers in their approach to this area. As I said in the reply, it will...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: We put the matter to the Constitutional Convention.

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear, hear.

Opposing Domestic Violence: Statements (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the opportunity for Members to express their views on opposing domestic violence. It is poignant to think of the tragedies that have occurred in families in this country because of domestic violence. Each of us, no matter which side of the House we sit on, came to politics to right wrongs and eliminate evil. Sooner or later, each of us realised that no matter what we do some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, I am not in a position in my capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality to provide legal advice in answer to a Parliamentary Question. The general position is that conditions applicable to the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor are set out in the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011. Under section 17(3) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, it is an offence for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department's Annual Report was published in September 2014 and is available at www.justice.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing at Private Events (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 30 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides a statutory basis for the Garda Commissioner, as Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote, to charge for police services on a non-public duty basis for commercial events such as sports fixtures and concerts. In that context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the monies recouped by An Garda Síochána for policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Driver Safety (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána liaise with all relevant Government Departments on a regular basis in relation to road traffic matters, including question of public and professional driver safety. In particular, An Garda Síochána has provided advice to the Taxi Regulation Directorate of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions Data (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will be in contact with the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment, as provided by section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1990. A sentence of life imprisonment means that the prisoner is subject to that sentence for the rest of his or her life. Such a prisoner has no right to be released early at any stage. If granted temporary release, the prisoner remains subject to the life sentence and can be recalled...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Reviews (18 Dec 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I published the Report of the Penal Policy Review Group on 17 September, 2014. The Report contains 43 recommendations, some of which can be implemented in the short to medium term, while others will require a more long term approach. As an initial step, I recently obtained the agreement, in principle, of Government to proceed immediately with the implementation of a number of key...