Results 9,161-9,180 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Haddington Road Agreement Review (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The review under the Haddington Road Agreement will make recommendations on the use by An Garda Síochána of the resources available to it, with the objective of achieving and maintaining the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness in its operations and administration. The review encompasses all aspects of the operation and administration of An Garda Síochána. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The visa appeal referred to by the Deputy was submitted to the Irish Visa Office, Abu Dhabi on 29 December 2014. I have been advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that the appeal is currently being examined by the Appeals Officer and a decision is expected shortly. Queries in relation to general matters may be made directly to INIS by email using...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of an application having been received for residency in the State arising from marriage to an Irish citizen in respect of the person concerned. It is open to the person concerned to make a written application to the Spouse of Irish National Unit, Residence Division, INIS, 13-14...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A foreign national who is married to, or is the civil partner of, an Irish citizen for at least three years may apply for naturalisation under section 15A of the Irish Naturalisation and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, where the applicant has been continuously resident in the island of Ireland for the year immediately prior to the date of his or her application and has in addition been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will shortly be meeting with representatives of AdVIC, Advocates for Victims of Homicide, to hear from them first hand about their proposals for policy change. In relation to the items listed in the Deputy's question I reply under the following headings. 1. A state appointed victim liaison officer for families of homicide victims I am not satisfied that the operation of a separate scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ensuring the safety of children and vulnerable adults is the primary consideration in any vetting process and accordingly such vetting processes demand rigorous procedures to ensure their integrity and to maintain the highest level of confidence by the public and organisations availing of the service. There is no arrangement in place whereby vetting reports are valid for fixed periods of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of accommodation for court sittings. However, in order to be of assistance I have had enquiries made and have been informed that during 2014, the Courts Service commenced a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence. In this regard, I intend to bring the General Scheme of a consolidated bill on domestic violence to Government early this year with a view to enactment later this year. My Department has received a number of proposals in relation to the reform of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Guardian Status (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are two mechanisms under the current law through which a non-marital father can become a guardian of his children. If the mother agrees, the parents can jointly make a statutory declaration appointing the father as a guardian; alternatively, the father may apply to court to be appointed a guardian under Section 6A of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964. The vast majority of such court...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Spent Convictions Legislation (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 370 together. The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill has passed Committee Stage in the Dáil, having passed all stages in the Seanad. However, before the Bill could be taken at Report Stage, a 2013 UK Court of Appeal judgment necessitated a review of the disclosure provisions in both the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (10 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Judge Quirke's recommendation on the issue of advocacy will be implemented. However, Judge Quirke makes a very clear distinction between what is required for most women and what is required for those lacking full mental capacity including those women that are in institutional settings. I can advise the Deputy that women who were in the Magdalen laundries are already covered under section...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is my intention that this form of gambling will be covered by the Gambling Control Bill, once enacted. The General Scheme of the Bill, published in July 2013, and available on my Department's website, has virtual gambling within its scope. It is not possible to indicate at this point when the Bill will be published. My colleague the Minister for Finance has primary responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Betting Legislation (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: General provisions relating to the control and regulation of bookmaking and betting are set out in the Betting Act 1931, as amended. This legislation prohibits a person from carrying on business or acting as a bookmaker without a licence issued by the Revenue Commissioners. Applicants for such licences must submit a certificate of personal fitness issued by a Superintendent of the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Legislation (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government approved the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill in July 2013. This Bill will, upon enactment, replace all extant laws on gambling (with the exception of that governing the National Lottery). The Scheme is with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel awaiting formal drafting, and is available on my Department's website. As per the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 98 to 107, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel and vehicles, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Committals (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of committals for each year since 2010 solely for non-payment of fines is set out in the table below. Figures are taken from the Annual Reports of the Irish Prison Service. In the case of 2014, these figures are provisional pending the publication of the 2014 Annual Report. Year Committals for non-payment of fines 2014 8,965 2013 8,121 2012 8,304 2011 7,514 2010 6,683 I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Committals (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of female committals for each year since 2010 is set out in the table below. Figures are taken from the Annual Reports of the Irish Prison Service. In the case of 2014, these figures are provisional pending the publication of the 2014 Annual Report. Year Female Committals % of Total Committals 2014 3,093 19% 2013 2,727 17% 2012 2,560 15% 2011 2,238 13% 2010 2,024 12%

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that they are currently in correspondence with the person mentioned. Following the introduction of the Reactivation Work Permit Scheme where a person who previously held an Employment Permit may be eligible for a Work Permit, an application form for this scheme issued to this person on 03 February 2015....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence. In this regard, I intend to bring the General Scheme of a consolidated bill on domestic violence to Government early this year with a view to enactment later in the year. My Department has received a number of proposals in relation to the reform of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions Data (11 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware from my response to Parliamentary Question No. 350 yesterday, I have sought the detailed views of An Garda Síochána in relation to the matter raised and I will be in contact directly when information is available.