Results 10,481-10,500 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 to 470, inclusive, together. I want to assure the Deputy that I, Minister Flanagan and our officials take the safety and wellbeing of all international protection applicants and the community in which they reside extremely seriously. That has always been our priority. I do appreciate that the circumstances in which the Skellig Accommodation Centre was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that the issue of providing liaison support for residents in the accommodation location referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the Department of Health. They have advised that the issue will be raised with the HSE and that they will revert to the Deputy in due course.  However, it is important to note that services for international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I am pleased to have this opportunity to provide the Deputy with an update on the full range of measures that we, the HSE and centre management are taking to support residents and staff in Direct Provision accommodation  at this time.  We are doing everything that we can to protect the health and welfare of our residents and centre staff as well as that of the wider...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I am pleased to have this opportunity to provide you with an update on the full range of measures that we, the HSE and centre management are taking to support residents and staff in Direct Provision accommodation  at this time.  We are doing everything that we can to protect the health and welfare of our residents and centre staff as well as that of the wider community. We are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together. I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is doing everything it can to protect the health and welfare of residents and staff in our accommodation centres, as well as that of the wider community. My Department is working closely with the HSE in doing so, and while the HSE advice has evolved over time, we have been assured by both it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that all accommodation centres under contract to my Department are subject to three unannounced inspections per annum: twice by officials from the Immigration Service of the Department and once by an independent company (QTS Limited).  As a result of the health and safety restrictions around COVID-19, it is not appropriate for inspections to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is doing everything it can to protect the health and welfare of residents and staff in our accommodation centres, as well as that of the wider community. My Department is working closely with the HSE in doing so, and while the HSE advice has evolved over time, we have been assured by both it and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer that our...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National LGBTI+ Strategy (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: On 9 October 2019, I announced that additional funding for LGBTI+ initiatives of €0.7m over the 2019 provision had been made available in Budget 2020 to support implementation of the LGBTI+ Strategy in 2020. A Committee is being appointed to oversee the implementation of the Strategy and details of its membership will soon be announced. In line with the commitments in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for all maintenance and improvement works in the seven State-owned accommodation centres for persons seeking International Protection. Independent living has been introduced in one of these centres, in Athlone, which has a capacity of 300 persons. My Department has been in discussions with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 to 307, inclusive, 309 to 311, inclusive, 314 to 316, inclusive, 332 and 357 together. I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that I have introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Licence Applications (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 provides for the regulation of gaming and lottery activity either under permit from An Garda Síochána or under licence from the District Court. The occasions of gaming and lottery activities which require a permit from An Garda Síochána are set out in sections 6, 7 and 27. Licences to operate lotteries are granted by the District Court....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: I want to assure the Deputy that I, Minister Flanagan and our officials take the safety and wellbeing of all international protection applicants and the community in which they reside extremely seriously. That has always been our priority. I do appreciate that the circumstances in which the Skellig Accommodation Centre was opened did not allow for full engagement with local...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will appreciate, medical information such as testing, test results and the release of data relating to same, are matters for the HSE in a public health context. However, I can confirm that testing of residents and staff has already been completed in Cahersiveen by HSE Public Health. An Outbreak Control Team, convened and led by the HSE with representatives of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: I want to assure the Deputy that I, Minister Flanagan and our officials take the safety and wellbeing of all international protection applicants and the community in which they reside extremely seriously. That has always been our priority. I do appreciate that the circumstances in which the Skellig Accommodation Centre was opened did not allow for full engagement with local...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, Minister Flanagan and I launched Ireland’s National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021 on 28 November last. The Strategy contains over 100 actions that are aimed at promoting inclusion, protecting rights and improving the quality of life and wellbeing of LGBTI+ people. It reflects the commitment in the Programme for Government to create an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that the Community Response Forums are administered by the Local Authorities which are under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Therefore, it is not possible for my Department to provide the information requested. The Community Call initiative is a coming together of national government, local government and the community and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Carer's Leave (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: Section 6 of the Carer's Leave Act 2001 provides that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to take up to 104 weeks of carer's leave. Any such amendments would likely require primary legislation. I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that I have introduced in recent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 to 328, inclusive, 330, 337, 342 to 344, inclusive, 357 and 406 together. As the law now stands, a mother is entitled to this leave irrespective of the duration of her current employment. The mother can take maternity leave from casual or part-time employment. She can take up to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, and up to a further 16 weeks of unpaid...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that there are no plans currently to open an accommodation centre for international protection applicants at the location supplied by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 355 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the maintenance of all health and safety requirements is, in the first instance, a matter for the service provider who manages the day-to-day running of the centre. Such matters are subject to the normal inspection regimes by the respective authorities, such as the fire authority and the health and safety...