Results 10,521-10,540 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Numbers (7 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed that as of 30 April 2015 the college referred to by the Deputy had 364 non-EEA students registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau as pursuing an English language course of studies.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (7 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is obliged to deal in confidence with requests for mutual legal assistance in criminal investigations. However, given that reference has been made in a court in Northern Ireland to the making of a request for assistance in this instance, I can confirm that a request has been received and that it is being dealt with, in accordance with legal requirements, as expeditiously as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (7 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that it is the policy of An Garda Síochána to deploy personnel to establish a highly visible and accessible service to communities to tackle crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. Community policing is a central feature and core value of policing policy and current policing strategies are predicated on the prevention of crime, public order...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (7 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that I have no direct role in operational road traffic enforcement which is principally a matter for An Garda Síochána. I can, however, assure the Deputy that one of An Garda Síochána's strategic objectives is to provide a safe environment for all road users, including pedestrians, and I have brought the Deputy's particular concerns regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (7 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct categories: Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems. A community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005. This scheme provided financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff Increment Payments (7 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not possible to disaggregate the cost of increments from the overall pay bill. However, I can inform the Deputy that the number of increments awarded to staff of my Department is set out hereunder: Year Number of staff in receipt of an increment 2008 1523 2009 1597 2010 1335 2011 1191 2012 1069 2013 913 2014 655 2015 (to date) 191 As the Deputy will be aware, increments are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Insofar as the report of the Moriarty Tribunal made recommendations concerning the future operation of tribunals of inquiry, many of these recommendations are anticipated by the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005 which awaits Report Stage debate in the Dáil. Other recommendations are the subject of consultation with the Attorney General and other relevant Departments. I am informed by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy was refused entry to the State in accordance with Section 4(3)(k) of the Immigration Act, 2004 which provides that an Immigration Officer may refuse a person permission to enter the State where he or she is satisfied that there is reason to believe that the non-national intends to enter the State for purposes other than those expressed by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Before the Bill could be enacted, a 2013 UK Court of Appeal judgment necessitated a review of the disclosure provisions in both the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the Spent Convictions Bill. That review has been completed and amendments to the Vetting Act and consequential amendments to the Spent Convictions Bill are currently being drafted. I intend...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (12 May 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 been informed by the Garda Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 391 together. I am, of course, aware of the issues referred to concerning threats made against members of the Garda Síochána, which I utterly condemn. As the Deputy is aware, it would not be appropriate for me to detail the operational measures that the Garda authorities have taken or would take generally in the these situations....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Registration Authority (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the commentary to which the Deputy refers concerning the deployment of Garda resources to police certain protests against the installation of water meters. I share the recently expressed views of the Garda representative bodies about the unfortunate necessity to have to divert Garda resources to police water meter protests when those resources could be used for other policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is an in-car camera system installed in selected Garda vehicles and used to read vehicle registration plates and to check them against various databases. It is employed by An Garda Síochána to support a wide range of roads and other policing functions, including detection of stolen and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Independent Working Group to report to Government on what improvements should be made to the protection process, including Direct Provision and supports for asylum seekers, was set up in October 2014. The Working Group is chaired by former High Court Judge, Dr. Bryan McMahon and its membership is drawn from a range of interests in the international protection area including, UNHCR, non...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November, I published the General Scheme of a Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill which includes two new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services. The first is a general offence of purchasing sexual services which carries a penalty of a fine of up to €500 for a first offence and fines of up to €1000 for a second or subsequent offence. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Staff (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Mr Simon O'Brien resigned from his position as Chairperson of GSOC on 30 January 2015. With regard to the vacancy that arose on foot of Mr O’Brien’s resignation, I should first of all say that the 2005 Act provides for a situation where a member of GSOC has resigned his or her position, and permits GSOC to act notwithstanding the vacancy. The appointment of members of GSOC...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the person whose details were supplied has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications for so long as they remain in the protection process.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The Bill will provide for new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services. It also 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (12 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I indicated in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 23 April 2015, "[...] section 1 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 provides for the commencement of different Parts of the Act by different Ministers, because the Act addresses policy responsibilities of several different Ministers. My Department is working on an implementation plan for those areas which I will...