Results 10,441-10,460 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (28 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: Garda Remuneration (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The new Public Service Sick Leave Scheme was introduced from 31 March 2014. The Public Service Management (Sick Leave)Regulations 2014, made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, set out the terms of the new Public Service Sick Scheme. The rationale for the new scheme is to increase productivity, and lower the cost of sick leave by reducing the periods during which paid sick...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that a vetting application in respect of the person referred to has been received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit. However, on processing the application it was established that it was necessary to conduct further enquiries. Once completed the application will be returned to the registered organisation concerned. In general, Garda Vetting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The contents of what is commonly known as “the book of evidence” are set out in section 4B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967. It lists a series of documents to be served on an accused person and furnished to the court. It is therefore a statutory set of documents. The book will contain the charges preferred against the accused, a list of proposed prosecution witnesses,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together. The Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 creates offences of incitement to hatred on account of race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. Essentially, it is an offence to use words or behave in a manner which is threatening, abusive or insulting and are intended, or, having regard to all the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. This is a complex piece of legislation which addresses a number of sensitive issues such as those 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application for the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed and that the Family Reunification Unit recently issued correspondence requesting more information. On receipt of all the information requested the application for family reunification will be finalised. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Standards (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the following is a breakdown of claims relating specifically to the practice of slopping out received by the State in each of the years 2010 to 2015 (up to and including 31st March 2015). These figures include claims that are at pre-litigation and litigation stage. Year Claims received Claims resolved* 2010 0 0 2011 458 1 2012 18 389 2013 3...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy's request has been forwarded to the relevant Garda Office and I am informed that the information is currently being collated. In relation to school inspections, I am informed that such inspections may be carried out by Gardaí outside of the centralised Garda National Immigration Bureau. I expect the information requested to be available shortly at which time I will forward...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Government approved on 12 March 2013 the drafting by the Department of Health of the General Scheme and Heads of provisions to legislate for advance healthcare directives and for these provisions to be incorporated into the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity)Bill at Dáil Committee Stage. Given the intersection between the aims of the capacity legislation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Communications (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that on 19 April, 2015, a Garda from Pearse Street Garda station participated in a photo-call with a retired Supreme Court Judge at the front of Pearse Street Garda Station to highlight the fact that people should register to vote for the upcoming referenda. While the event was held in good faith to promote the fact that people can register at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Dealing (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities on the matter raised by the Deputy and I will be in contact again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (28 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers. I am informed that the incident in question refers to an occasion on which a PSNI vehicle inadvertently entered the State and then left the State again shortly afterwards. In such circumstances the relevant authorities here are notified and obviously while such incidents are not desirable, it was not considered that any further action...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last Thursday, I attended at the Garda College in Templemore on a sunny and very happy day for all those in attendance. It was a day of hope because last Thursday was the day on which 99 recruits attested as new members of An Garda Síochána with full policing powers. They are now being dispatched to communities nationwide. These 99 were the first new gardaí to attest in over...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----that led us into the situation where the Government had to rescue the economy because those 99 were the first new gardaí to attest in over five years. No organisation can expect to flourish if it is not recruiting and bringing in new people. Policing is, of course, ultimately about people. The most important resource which An Garda Síochána has at its disposal is its...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: We will not let it close again to new recruits.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I note that 300 recruits have already started their training while 250 more will enter the Garda College over the coming months. That is 550 in total, which is right. The country needs to see those new recruits being brought in. I promised seamless ongoing recruitment and that is what I am delivering. Our communities need to see more gardaí providing a visible, responsive presence...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: What has happened now is that the Government has started to make that investment. We have set up a working group to outline the overall strategic needs of An Garda Síochána in relation to ICT. It is really important to have that plan in place. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, and I will shortly announce a new multi-annual capital investment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Any instance of an assault against a child, including where that child might be particularly vulnerable, is a cause of great concern. In that regard I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána places an emphasis on tackling crimes against children as well as proactive cooperation with all relevant Departments, organisations and agencies to improve the safety of children....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (29 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Children Act 2001 sets out the framework under which the youth justice system deals with all youth crime. The youth justice system should be considered in its entirety, from the Garda Diversion Programme through to the Children Courts and the Children Detention Schools. It is not a simple question of choice between diversion, community sanctions and detention. The principles of the...