Results 8,721-8,740 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Crime (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: May I continue uninterrupted? My target is to ensure the overall Garda workforce of 21,000 by 2021 is firmly on track. A further 800 new garda recruits will enter the Garda College next year. An extra 500 civilians will be recruited. I will be in Templemore before Christmas and I will witness the passing out of a further 200 Garda Síochána on top of the recently attested 188...

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Crime (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will ensure there is a complement of civilians recruited to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of gardaí from technical and administrative duties to front-line operational duties on the ground and on the streets, highways and byways of the country. In addition, I have plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve. I hope the Garda Reserve is...

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Crime (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new reserves expected to commence training in early 2018. Deputy Smyth raised the very important issue of the Garda fleet. I agree with her and I am very pleased to note that over the past couple of years we have managed an additional 720 new Garda vehicles, some of which are evident on the roads, highways and byways of County Cavan and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee, stipulated at €175, is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a certification fee is payable on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The standard...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Supreme Court judgment in the case of N.V.H. v. The Minister for Justice and Equality found, on 30 May last, that in an international protection system with no temporal limits as to when the application process will be concluded, an absolute prohibition on the right to work for international protection applicants is contrary to the right to seek employment under the Constitution. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Section 95 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 is one of a series of sections in Part 7 of that Act which provide for the raising of a levy to be paid by the Law Society, the Bar Council and other practising barristers. In each given year, the levy will be calculated, under the Act, by reference to the Authority's actual expenditure of the previous year with due regard also to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry Data (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Staff (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Garda Commissioner 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 trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety Data (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I would like thank the Deputy for raising the serious issue of road safety. Last year's increase in the number of road traffic fatalities (186) following a historic low of 162 in 2015 highlights the need to continue to deploy all effective measures to reduce road traffic collisions. Road safety is, of course, a shared responsibility and it is incumbent upon us all to play our part. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 is a child–centred Act which addresses the rights of children to legal security, to the care of their parents and important adults in their lives, and to equality before the law. These reforms in family law recognise the crucial role of parents and other relatives, including grandparents, in a child's life. The Children and Family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: It is open to any individual who may wish to become an Irish citizen to lodge an application for citizenship through naturalisation if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions for naturalisation as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation, as well as the relevant application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: At the outset I would clarify that it is the role of the Garda National Vetting Bureau to issue Garda vetting disclosures to relevant organisations which facilitates the relevant organisations in their assessment of the suitability of applicants for employment in certain circumstances. In accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that records at the Garda National Vetting Bureau indicate that no valid Garda vetting application has been received in respect of the person who is the subject of the Deputy's Question. In the circumstances I would advise the person concerned to contact the relevant registered organisation to ascertain the status of their vetting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (14 Nov 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 that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults and it is carried out by An Garda Síochána primarily in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016. Vetting checks are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 to 208, inclusive, together. I understand that one such meeting was held with the persons concerned, on 13 October 2014. The meeting was held in the private office of the Tánaiste and then Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald and was attended by her and the Secretary General of my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to inform that Deputy that at present, 80% of overall vetting applications are being processed by the National Vetting Bureau in five working days. This efficiency has been achieved by the deployment of the e-vetting system which facilitates the on-line processing of applications for vetting from registered organisations. Currently the overwhelming majority of the vetting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the High Court has jurisdiction in wards of court matters and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that when a person is taken into...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In response to previous questions from the Deputy regarding the Garda Commissioner's approach to the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation I have stated clearly that this was a matter solely for the Garda Commissioner and that there was no question of my Department seeking to interfere in any way with or have any say in determining the approach of the Garda Commissioner to the Commission of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Severe Weather Events Response (14 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the relatives of those who lost their lives on 16 October last. The arrangements made in relation to my own Department are as follows: The National Emergency Co-Ordination Group convened on Sunday 15thOctober and was attended, as is usual, by a member of my Department’s senior management. Following the Group's initial meeting, it was...