Results 9,241-9,260 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the time available it has not been possible to obtain the information sought by the Deputy. The information has been sought from the Garda Síochána and a reply will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Mediation Bill is being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. However, the Government has a demanding schedule of urgent legislation at present and for that reason it is not possible to give a specific date for publication of the Bill at this stage. However, it is my intention to proceed quickly with enactment of the Bill following publication later this year.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Status (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Only Irish citizens are entitled to an Irish passport. Foreign nationals living in the State may apply for citizenship through naturalisation if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Referendum Campaigns (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government agreed last September to hold a referendum on removing the offence of blasphemy contained in Article 40.6.1.1 of the Constitution, in response to the 6th Report of the Convention on the Constitution. The Government's response was presented in the Dáil on 2nd October 2014. The work necessary to prepare a Referendum Bill and a Bill to amend...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Same-sex Marriage (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the preparation of the legislation that will pave the way for the forthcoming referendum on marriage equality. The Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015 was published on 21 January of this year. The aim is that the Second Stage debate on the Bill will be held in this House shortly. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Report (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries - The McAleese Report - was published on the 5th February 2013 and gave a fully comprehensive answer to the question posed by its terms of reference. The Report, a detailed, carefully researched document running to over 1,000 pages, has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together. The Office for Internet Safety, which is an executive office in my Department, was established in September 2007. There are currently 3 staff assigned to the Office whose roles relate to the provision of advice to the parents of young people on internet safety, the channelling of EU funding to partner bodies and the coordination of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that Garda Recruits entering the Garda College, Templemore, complete a BA in Applied Policing. The issue of Online Bullying and Social Media issues are included in the programme and also form part of An Garda Síochána Continuous Professional Development training. Also on Phase II of the BA, a two day “Children First”...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that I have no role in relation to the conduct of individual inquests. The legislation governing coroner matters is the Coroners Act, 1962. Under this legislation, a coroner is a statutory officer exercising quasi-judicial functions in relation to which he or she is independent. The conduct of the inquest is solely a matter for the coroner. As regards the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Law Reform Commission (LRC) has restated the Firearms Acts and this “administrative consolidation” is available on the LRC website. The restatement is dated 31 October 2012 and it contains all amendments to the Firearms Acts. In light of public safety concerns highlighted by An Garda Síochána, a joint Department of Justice and Equality/An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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 ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Complaints Procedures (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The independent review panel, to which the Deputy refers, has been examining 315 cases. This is a significant number of cases, and somewhat higher than originally estimated, but I think it was important to refer to the Panel all of the allegations that have been made to me as Minister or to the Taoiseach, whether they came direct from complainants or through public representatives or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that since 2010, An Garda Síochána has contracted a service provider 'GoSafe' to operate safety cameras on its behalf. This service encompasses both speed detection and speed survey sessions. In that regard, GoSafe conducts regular speed surveys at locations identified by An Garda Síochána as having the greatest propensity for speed related...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to the matter and will write to the Deputy as soon as I have further information.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the particular case to which he refers is amongst those being considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, with a view to determining to what extent and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Signage (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to the matter and will write to the Deputy as soon as I have further information.

Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I dealt with this in detail on the previous Stage when I explained why I could not accept the amendments. I will take up Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's suggestion that we produce an information booklet for the women outlining their entitlements under the Act. It is a good idea and it would be helpful. My Department and the Department of Health will ensure it happens. We are in daily contact...

Order of Business (18 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is working its way through the backlog.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (18 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that I, together with my colleague the Minister for Health, have decided jointly to review, in the context of the forthcoming Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, matters relating to structural separation of alcohol products from other products in mixed trading premises, including appropriate future enforcement mechanisms.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Provision (18 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that in March 2014, the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service published a joint strategy on female offenders entitled "An Effective Response to Women Who Offend". The Strategy sets out how the two Services will work together and contains a commitment to explore the development of an open centre/open conditions for women prisoners assessed as at low...