Results 8,781-8,800 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: International Terrorism (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do have the power to withdraw citizenship. As the Deputy will be aware, there is a very particular procedure laid out in that regard. The issue of evidence in relation to people who travel and the purposes for which they travel is a complex one. Many people have asked if, for example, people could be prevented from travelling. The majority of those travelling to Syria from Ireland and...

Other Questions: International Terrorism (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The key point in response to the Deputy's question - I have checked this out - is that it is important to follow the money, as CAB has effectively done. The legislation in place in relation to money laundering and the type of activity outlined by the Deputy would allow us to do what he suggests. If there is evidence of that type of activity, that legislation will be used. As I said, one...

Other Questions: Crime Prevention (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Deputy Griffin for tabling this question. Like the Deputy, I consider the deliberate ramming of Garda vehicles to be a very serious matter and can assure him that the safety of gardaí and the general public is of paramount importance. I can also assure the Deputy that all incidents of this nature are subject to full investigation by An Garda Síochána. It is a...

Other Questions: Crime Prevention (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I acknowledge the Deputy's interest in specific legislation relating to this issue which he has sent to my Department and which we are examining. He refers to the further use of mandatory prison sentences. I refer to the Law Reform Commission report on sentencing and its views on the existing presumptive mandatory minimum sentence provision for various offences. The recent report on penal...

Other Questions: Crime Prevention (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Thanks to the improved economic situation there has been an increase in the justice budget for the first time in a number of years. Three hundred gardaí have been recruited and the next group will go to Templemore in the next two weeks. There has been increased investment in Garda vehicles by this Government of up to €27 million over the past number of years. I believe these...

Other Questions: Garda Strength (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of my priorities is to maintain and enhance the capacity of An Garda Síochána to protect the public, and in particular to prevent and detect crime. It is true that Garda strength has been affected by retirements and that is why I was pleased to be able to secure approval from this Government for the resumption of Garda recruitment. One hundred new recruits entered training at...

Other Questions: Garda Strength (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: At present, a total of 301 gardaí serve in the Kildare area. The Deputy outlined very clearly that one of the increasing issues with regard to crime in this country is that mobile gangs use very good transport links to facilitate crime by moving in and out of an area quickly, committing a series of crimes there. The Garda is very aware of this issue and is working to address it. A...

Other Questions: Garda Strength (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The key point I make with regard to the issues raised by the Deputies is that clearly the economic situation we inherited had an impact in that gardaí were not recruited. This is the bottom line. The situations outlined by the Deputies were a direct result of the economic situation in which the country found itself. Due to the actions of the Government we are in a far better economic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the draft Order proposing the establishment of a Commission of Investigation which I published on 19 December 2014, and which includes the terms of reference for the Commission. This Commission of Investigation arises on foot of the recommendations of Mr Seán Guerin, SC, in his report of 6 May 2014 to An Taoiseach, based on his examination of how allegations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I first of all wish to assure the Deputy that there are currently no queues and all applicants for services at the public offices on Burgh Quay are dealt with on the same day. I have already provided the Deputy with a comprehensive response to a similar question on 11th December last. The public offices in Burgh Quay service two separate functions – one dealing with non-EEA...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Tackling burglary is a joint priority for both myself and the Garda Commissioner, and I assure the Deputy that I am in ongoing contact with the Commissioner with a view to ensuring that there is an effective policing response in place, and that Garda operations take account of evolving trends and patterns in burglary offences. An Garda Síochána pursue a range of strategies to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014, which amongst other proposals, creates two new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services. My primary concern, in introducing these provisions, is to vindicate the human rights of those trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Over 80% of women trafficked...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Inspectorate Reports (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will no doubt recall, I requested the Garda Inspectorate to consider the issues identified in the report by Seán Guerin SC relating to Garda practices and procedures which come within the Inspectorate's remit. The Inspectorate included this work in its report on Crime Investigation which was published on 11 November 2014. That report deals with the issues identified by Mr...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the Commission of Investigation being established on foot of the recommendations of Mr Seán Guerin, SC, in his report of 6 May 2014 on how allegations made by Sergeant Maurice McCabe concerning certain cases connected to the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division were handled. I published the draft Order proposing the establishment of this Commission of Investigation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice Inspectorate (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am of course familiar with the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality concerning the establishment of a Criminal Justice Inspectorate similar to the Criminal Justice Inspection in Northern Ireland. The Committee's recommendation was made in the context of its review of the operation of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The Deputy will be aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of my priorities is to maintain and enhance the capacity of An Garda Síochána to protect the public, and in particular to prevent and detect crime. It is true that Garda strength has been affected by retirements, and that is why I was very pleased to be able to secure approval for the resumption of Garda recruitment. As the Deputy will be aware, 100 new recruits entered...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The principal objective of the proposed International Protection Bill will be the introduction of a single procedure for the examination of applications for international protection in Ireland. This arises from the commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 to legislate to reduce the length of time an asylum applicant spends in the direct provision system through the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Accommodation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is based on requirements which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for capital expenditure in this area. In that regard,I am informed by the OPW that the acquisition of a site for development of a new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Staff (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Mr Simon O'Brien, the Chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, has recently indicated that he intends to resign his position, with effect from 30 January 2015, to take up a position in the UK. Mr O'Brien has made an important contribution to his role as the Chair of GSOC as well as his previous role as Deputy to the Chief Inspector in the Garda Inspectorate, and I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is worth recalling that the Deputy's Question arises in the context of recent allegations of the rape and sexual abuse of a young woman in Northern Ireland, and her subsequent mistreatment at the hands of members of Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA. I have met with the woman in question and I should say I admire her bravery in telling her story publicly. It is a pity that those who...