Results 10,341-10,360 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are currently 318 complaints being considered by the mechanism established by the Government 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. The volume and complexity of cases has led to the review taking longer than...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Cannabis is a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs legislation. Decisions regarding the levels of control which should apply to a particular substance under the legislation are, in the first instance, a matter for the Minister for Health. Such decisions take into account the potential for abuse and the extent to which the particular substance is or can be legitimately used for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Upward Only Rent Reviews (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will recall that the Government made the difficult decision in December 2011 not to proceed with the commitment in the Programme for Government to abolish upward only rent reviews in so called "legacy leases", i.e., those entered into before 28 February 2010.There was a substantial concern that any legislative scheme involving interference in the contractual relationships of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that they are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternal Deaths (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Currently, under the Coroners Act 1962any death which is sudden, unexpected, unexplained, or not due to natural causes must be reported to the Coroner. Categories of death which must specifically be reported include deaths: - resulting directly or indirectly from any surgical or medical treatment or procedure, - where there is any allegation of medical negligence, misconduct or malpractice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that I have no role in relation to the bringing of prosecutions and that it would not be appropriate for me to offer advice or interpretation of the law in relation to any particular case. I am, however, informed by the Garda authorities that Section 5 to 8 of the Road Traffic Act 2014, provides a default speed limit for all public roads, including a built-up area...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy has been provided by the Irish Prison Service and is set out in the following table: Prison November December January February March Bed Capacity Bed Capacity Institution per Inspector of Prisons Mountjoy (Male) 540 533 532 551 548 554 554 Mountjoy (Female) 116 102 99 110 115 105 105 Training Unit 85 89 91 91 92 96 96 St. Patrick's 8 5 5 4 10...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is as set out in the following table: Prison 2012 2013 2014 Arbour Hill 0 0 0 Castlerea Prison 5 6 11 Cloverhill Prison 0 3 0 Cork Prison 29 19 41 Dochas Centre 12 21 14 Limerick Prison 22 39 35 Loughan House 27 79 92 Midlands Prison 29 33 33 Mountjoy Prison 40 36 23...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is as set out in the following table: Total Releases on to the Community Support Scheme Prison 2013 2014 Mountjoy Prison 38 110 Dochas Centre 18 39 West Dublin Campus (Wheatfield Place of Detention and Cloverhill Prison 0 62 Cork Prison 55 115 Limerick Prison 0 23 Total 111 349The Deputy should note...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Strategies (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware the Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015 includes a commitment that the Irish Prison Service will, in conjunction with other key stakeholders, devise specific strategies for younger prisoners, women, older prisoners, sex offenders, protection prisoners, violent offenders and those suffering from mental illness. Work on the development and implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the specific information requested as the Integrated Sentence Management System (ISMS) does not retain information in the format requested. However, a snapshot taken from the Integrated Sentence Management System (ISMS) on 20 April 2015 records 2,997 active ISM cases at varying stages of the process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service has a commitment in its current Strategy (2012 - 2015) to develop a Dignity at Work Charter. I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that significant staff consultation took place through the holding of 19 focus groups across the Prison Estate. Resulting from these consultations five behaviours were identified by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs in Prisons (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are currently Drug Free Unit's operational in 7 closed prisons: Mountjoy (Male), Dochas Centre, Cloverhill, Limerick, Cork, and Castlerea Prison and Wheatfield Place of Detention. There is an aggregate total of 560 spaces in these unit's, which currently house 486 prisoners with 74 spaces available. The majority of Units operate at or close to their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Health (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, under Strategic Action 3: gave a commitment to provide equivalence of care to all prisoners in custody, and to develop audit tools to measure such equivalence. I am advised that the Irish Prison Service has recently carried out an audit of healthcare standards in a number of prison institutions,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Security (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that as part of the response to the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Death of Gary Douche (McMorrow Report) the Irish Prison Service Security Compliance Group was tasked with developing the Irish Prison Service "Cell Sharing Risk Assessment Policy". The policy is currently at draft stage and close to completion. Once the policy is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November 2014, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The Bill will introduce new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services which are directed at the demand side of prostitution with a view to tackling the exploitation, including trafficking in persons, associated with prostitution. The General Scheme also contains wide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Pensions Data (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Retired staff members of my Department and the bodies under its aegis are mainly in receipt of pensions from the Superannuation and Retired Allowances Vote (Vote 12) of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Payments to retired members of An Garda Síochána are made from the Garda Síochána Vote (Vote 20). Pension payments to the dependents of retired members...

Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have no further comments. I understand the discussion on this amendment has concluded.

Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My colleague adequately went over the ground in terms of the approach we are taking. Clearly the independent referral bar remains. I outlined very clearly how I believe the interests and rights of consumers are being protected. I have also taken a view on multidisciplinary partnerships and the need for research and further understanding of the impact on the market and a referral back to...

Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Deputy Murphy for these amendments, which helpfully point to the fact that the professional indemnity insurance provisions in section 37 very much remain a work in progress. While the initial approach to professional indemnity insurance under the Bill was to replicate the relevant provisions of the Solicitors Act and apply them across the board to all legal practitioners, be they...