Results 9,341-9,360 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Promotions (19 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Divisional Headquarters (19 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda authorities that a new Garda Division of Kilkenny/Carlow was established in 2008 with Kilkenny designated as the Divisional HQ Station. Kilkenny Garda Station has been upgraded and extended to meet the requirements of a Divisional HQ Station and to provide for the office of the Assistant Commissioner, South Eastern Region. In that context, I am advised that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (19 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 122 and 125 together. I should say initially that my Department is not aware of any reliable basis for the figure quoted in the Deputy's question as representing the number of illegal firearms here. In light of public safety concerns highlighted by An Garda Síochána, a joint Department of Justice and Equality/An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parking Regulations (19 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be appreciate it is not within my remit to provide legal advice or to interpret the law. If, however, the Deputy has specific instances of concern, I will have inquiries made regarding the particular circumstances in question.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (19 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do of course share the Deputy's concern about gun and other violent crime, and deplore the brutal shooting he refers to. He will appreciate, however, that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on any specific crimes which are currently under Garda investigation. It is unfortunately the case that gun crime has for some time been an inherent part of organised criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (19 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the proposed demonstration to which the Deputy refers. I am informed by the Garda authorities that they have met with organisers of the demonstration and they remain in ongoing discussions. It is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána to put in place appropriate and proportionate operational plans for parades and similar events in the public arena, taking account of...

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Today, I am introducing the landmark Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015 to the House which, when enacted, will be a watershed in the development of family law. I thank the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, its Chairman, Deputy David Stanton, and the members of the Opposition involved, for undertaking pre-legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Data (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 to 318, inclusive, together. Prior to the introduction of a new computerised visa system by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department in 2008 and rolled out to Irish Missions and Visa Office worldwide throughout 2008 and 2009, only limited statistical information was recorded, often manually, at individual offices....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Certificates (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 set out the prescribed fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation. An application fee of €175 is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a fee is payable by applicants on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, 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 been informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fuel Laundering (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide the data sought in the time available for reply. However, I have requested the Garda authorities to provide the requested information and I will arrange for all available information to be forwarded to the Deputy upon receipt.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy of the number of rifles, shotguns and handguns reported stolen in the past five years. The table beneath refers to each year from 2010 to 2014 and is provided from Garda PULSE records. Firearms stolen 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total Handgun 9 12 16 12 8 57 (incl. 40 air pistols) Rifle 49 79 76 65 48 317 Shotgun 184 216 166 174 113 853 Other 119 93 84 102 85 483...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: All Gardaí have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of criminal activity whether it be in the area of burglary, drug offences or otherwise. Specifically in relation to drugs, I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to pro-actively and resolutely tackle all forms of drug crime in this jurisdiction. The Garda National Drugs Unit, works closely with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 to 327, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the national response to the problem of drug misuse is set out in the National Drugs Strategy for the period 2009-2016. The Strategy adopts a comprehensive and pillar based approach to the problem, across the five pillars of drug supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I fully support the important role of the Garda Reserve in the delivery of the policing service. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that she is currently finalising arrangements to extend the powers and functions of Reserve members with a view to implementation at an early date.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Nationalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the current permission of the persons referred to by the Deputy expires on 31 March 2015 and INIS will write to them in the near future to progress their application. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions Data (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 331 together. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide such relevant information as may be available...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that no vehicles were withdrawn from the Technical Bureau in the years 2012 and 2013. Four vehicles were...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (24 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The correspondence referred to by the Deputy is currently the subject of examination in my Department and a response thereto will issue in due course. I wish also to inform the Deputy that the submission of other, related, reports concerning this matter, which were compiled by another researcher associated with the Stardust Victims' Committee, is the subject of ongoing communications with...