Results 10,261-10,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware I met with family members of the victim to whom the Deputy refers in his question and their legal representative to hear their concerns about aspects of the Garda investigation into the murder of their loved one and their call for an inquiry. The case in question was among those inquired into by the late Mr. Justice Henry Barron. I had a review of material...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Mediation Service (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 to 362, inclusive, and 367 together. I wish to advise the Deputies that the Family Mediation Service falls under the auspices of the Legal Aid Board which is independent in the exercise of its functions, in accordance with Section 3 (3) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995. Furthermore, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I am not responsible or accountable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 392 together. The troubles on this island exacted a tragic human cost in terms of the lives lost and the very many people injured and families bereaved by the many acts of violence over the course of what was a dark period in the history of this island. The human suffering inflicted by the many acts of violence, such as the bombings in Dublin in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The General Scheme includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. When enacted, the Bill will facilitate full compliance with the criminal law provisions of a number of EU, UN and Council of Europe legal instruments....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the application has entered the final stage of processing and I intend to grant citizenship. The person concerned will be invited in due course to attend the next citizenship ceremony at which he will make a declaration of fidelity to the Irish Nation and loyalty to the State and receive his certificate of naturalisation. Queries in relation to the status...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The aim in relation to language schools is to put in place an appropriate immigration regime to deal with applications from non-EEA students seeking permission to come to Ireland for the purpose of attending English language programmes. In that regard I, along with my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills, published a policy document in September 2014 for the operation of such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Judgments (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, under the Constitution the courts are independent in their operation. It would be inappropriate for me as Minister to comment in any way on the outcome of court proceedings. Accordingly, I do not propose to comment on the particular case raised by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that a Deportation Order requires a person to remove themselves from the State and it is only where they fail to do so that the State is forced to remove them and enforce the rule of law. The process leading to deportation is extensive with many avenues of appeal, including judicial review in the High Court, open to persons subject to Deportation Orders. In...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Data (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) does not provide for the granting of permission to remain. However, following a comprehensive and detailed examination of representations submitted for consideration under Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) a decision is made as to whether or not to make a Deportation Order in each case. If a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 374 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (15 Apr 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. The Deputy will be aware that all Gardaí...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (15 Apr 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 received the information from the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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 the available statistics directly to the Deputy. In this regard it should be noted that the CSO is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Guardian Status (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 is a child-centred Act aimed at children living in diverse family types. This legislation enables a non-marital father for the first time automatically to become a guardian of his child if he has lived with the child's mother for 12 months, including at least 3 months with mother and child following the child's birth. Recognising the need to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy, that of the 15 prisoners who were still at large when I replied to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 2 April 2015, one of these is now back in custody since 3 April 2015. It should be emphasised that all but 14 of the 293 prisoners who absconded from prison in the period 1 January 2010 to 31 March 2015 are now back in custody or have been released having served...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales Legislation (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that conditions applicable to the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor are set out in the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011. Under section 17(3) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, it is an offence for a licensee, with intent to evade the conditions of the licence, to take intoxicating liquor from the licensed premises for the purpose of its being sold on the account or for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 to 382, inclusive, together. I can assure the Deputy that, while I have no direct role in Garda strategies to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport services in Dublin, I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner about all aspects of policing and community safety. The specific deployment of policing resources is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Powers of Attorney (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Powers of Attorney Act 1996 an adult who has capacity may appoint an attorney under an enduring power of attorney to make decisions on his or her behalf in circumstances where the person loses capacity. The adult may give the attorney the authority to make personal welfare decisions which include decisions as to who the person may or may not see. If a carer has not been appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 to 390, inclusive, together. The Legal Aid Board provides legal aid for representation before the courts for certain civil matters which would include repossession proceedings. Each application is subject to a financial eligibility test where an applicant must have a disposable income, after certain allowances, of less than €18,000 and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (15 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy's question effectively seeks legal advice in relation to the issue and execution of a search warrant. As the Deputy is aware, I as Minister for Justice and Equality have no role in the issue or execution of search warrants. Accordingly, I am not in a position to comment on the matter raised by the Deputy. I might mention, nevertheless, that it is of course open to a member of...