Results 9,641-9,660 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 to 273, inclusive, 277, 281 to 286, inclusive, 302, 303, 308 and 309 together. During the course of the debate in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice & Equality, and last week in the Seanad and the Dáil I outlined the proposal and rationale for opting into the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive under the terms of Protocol 21,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 to 276, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the International Protection Act 2015 was commenced on 31 December 2016.  Every effort is being made to process applications efficiently and in a timely manner, in the context of implementing new processes and procedures and dealing with the transitional arrangements under the new Act. Added...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: On 3 October 2017 the Government approved my proposals for a new Communications (Retention of Data) Bill to replace the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011.  In accordance with procedures in place, I wrote to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality on 3 October 2017 to ask it to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Eligibility (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As I advised the Deputy in my response to his recent Parliamentary Question number 130 of 18 January, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. The Act provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for naturalisation if he is satisfied that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: If an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State, for confidentiality reasons it is not the practice to comment on such applications and the applicant or their designated legal advisor should contact the International Protection Office directly either by email toinfo@ipo.gov.ie, by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Graduate Support Schemes (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, announced changes to the Third Level Graduate Programme in May 2017. This is an immigration programme aimed at facilitating high-performing non-EEA graduates to remain and work in Ireland after their graduation from an Irish Higher Education Institute.   The Graduate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person in question made an application for family reunification under the provisions of the Refugee Act 1996 in February 2016. The case has been finalised and a decision letter issued to the applicant on 4 August 2017. It is open to Irish citizens and those outside...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: In May 2017, my Department completed the initial consultation phase with stakeholders on the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture. Since then, my Department has participated in the round table discussion and launch of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission's research into how OPCAT can be implemented in Ireland.  Having now considered this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 30 November 2017, there were 58 positive roadside drug tests conducted since the commencement of the legislation in April 2017. I have requested an update to end December 2017 from An Garda Síochána and will be in contact with the Deputy directly once it is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug and Alcohol Testing (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: While the enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, I have requested information from the Garda authorities in relation to the number of mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoints in 2017 and I will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 30 November 2017, there were 58 positive roadside drug tests conducted since the commencement of the legislation in April 2017. I have requested an update to end December 2017, broken down by county, from An Garda Síochána and will be in contact with the Deputy directly once it is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: While the enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, I have requested information from the Garda authorities in relation to the number of mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoints by county in 2017 and I will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the following table details the number of positive roadside drug tests conducted each month since the commencement of the legislation in April 2017 to 30 November 2017.  Number of number of positive roadside drug tests conducted each month in 2017 since the commencement of the legislation in April 2017 to 30 November 2017* Month Amount April...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug and Alcohol Testing (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the legislation governing the conduct of preliminary road side drug tests is the Road Traffic Act 2016, which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Shane Ross, T.D..  I have been advised that the following drugs are provided for under this legislation:  THC (Cannabis), Cocaine, Opiates and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: In late 2016, the Department of Justice and Equality launched a consultation process and invited submissions from interested parties on the “digital age of consent” to apply in this jurisdiction under Article 8 of the General Data Protection Regulation.  The Government Data Forum, which brings together legal and data protection experts, business representatives from SMEs...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Administration (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has advised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy may be aware, Operation Thistle was set up in February 2016 to target the activities of organised criminals in the DMR South Central Division. Operation Thistle utilises a multifaceted approach in targeting individuals associated with organised crime.  The operation is supported by national units as required. With regard to the specific information sought by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including  personnel matters. I am informed by the Commissioner that the number of members of An Garda Síochána who were absent from duty due to illness for a period greater...