Results 9,041-9,060 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities Regulation (3 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of its work in further developing the public Register of Charities that was published by the Charities Regulatory Authority on 16 October 2014, the Authority is currently inviting registered charities to supply it with additional information, some of which is for inclusion on the public Register of Charities, in accordance with the terms of the 2009 Charities Act. Certain of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (3 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. Processing of the application is well advanced and the case will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights Issues (3 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 16 Days Campaign is an international campaign that started in 1991. The Campaign runs from 25th November, UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10th December, Human Rights Day. On the first day of the campaign last year the Taoiseach and I issued a joint statement to underline the seriousness with which this issue is taken by Government. After condemning...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (3 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the first step that anyone should take in relation to concerns about anti-social behaviour is to contact their local Gardai. In this regard, An Garda Síochána continue to implement a range of strategies based on existing legislation and enhancing partnerships with local communities in County Louth and elsewhere. A range of strong legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (3 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Judge Quirke recommended that the women receive medical services equivalent to those provided by the holder of a HAA card and he also advised that “not all of the services described in the Guide may be directly relevant to the Magdalen women and any comparable Guide for the Magdalen women would require suitable adaptation. Judge Quirke also recommended that legislation was required to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (3 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am of course aware of the tragic cases referred to by the Deputy. While the circumstances of particular cases will vary there are a range of legislative provisions, including provisions for a range of court orders, which may be applicable in the sorts of cases referred to by the Deputy. These include provisions under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 which provides for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licence Applications (3 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that while I have overall responsibility for the licensing laws in my capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in, or comment on, a particular licensing case. The general position is that section 6 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 introduced a statutory requirement which prevents the Revenue Commissioners from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fuel Quality (3 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda authorities that no reports of complaints regarding the quality of petrol and diesel have been received by An Garda Síochána in the past twelve months in County Louth and that portion of East Meath that is in the Louth constituency.

Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions to the debate on the Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014, and for the broad support that has been expressed for the technical but important changes it will effect. Taking up some of the points that Deputy Murphy and others have made, last year the Government committed to reviewing both the implementation of the Central Bank mortgage...

Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Referral to Select Committee (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality pursuant to 82A(3)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business and paragraph (8) of the Orders of Reference of Select Committees.

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, for taking amendment No. 1. Acceptance of amendment No. 2 would mean the Garda Commissioner would become accountable to GSOC in respect of policing matters. This is the same recommendation that was made by the joint committee before I published the legislative proposals to establish a police authority. As the new legislation to establish...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 10 of the Bill amends section 106. I was just referencing it.

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to establishing a new police authority and to its being an independent body and having a strong oversight and supervisory role over the Garda Síochána. By any standard, it is a radical change in the accountability of the Garda Síochána. Deputy Wallace referred to a buffer. It is a new independent authority with strong powers to do its business...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The intention of the Deputy’s amendment is that GSOC and the Garda Inspectorate should have the capacity to recruit independent investigators. This amendment in some ways is based on a misunderstanding. GSOC already can recruit independent investigators while the inspectorate does not investigate individual cases. I have had no request from the inspectorate to recruit independent...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will get some information for the Deputies who have been making contributions on the current timeframes, because it is important that this information is in the public arena. They have improved considerably in recent times. To reiterate, GSOC does have the ability to decide on how the cases are handled, depending on the type of case it is, the seriousness and the level of supervision. I...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The impact of the amendments would be to remove from the Minister for Justice and Equality the function under section 96 of the Garda Síochána Act of determining whether certain information or material could be made available to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission where it has been claimed that matters of national security are involved. Having considered the...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I believe change is underway and there are many signs of change in regard to what the Deputy calls de-politicisation, whether in regard to the issue of the independent people who are now involved in the promotions issue, for example, the setting up of the Garda authority and the many other changes that are underway. I would make the point that we are dealing here with how to strengthen...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 21 January 2015. In my reply I outlined the position that the primary consideration in any vetting process is to ensuring the safety of children and vulnerable adults. There is no arrangement in place whereby vetting reports are valid for fixed periods of time. Full vetting checks are conducted by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Inquiry (4 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 300 of 27 January 2015 on this matter. The position is unchanged.I met with family members of the victim in the case to which the Deputy refers and their legal representative to hear directly from them of their concerns surrounding the case and their call for an inquiry. The Deputy will be aware that this tragic case of murder was one which was...