Results 10,681-10,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, I have undertaken to consider the issue of Community Courts in Ireland. It will be important to learn from international experience, and I have asked my Department to evaluate how the Community Court model will work in the Irish context, drawing from best practice, with a view to setting up a Community Court on a pilot basis in the Dublin city centre area. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I maintain regular contact with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, to address matters of shared interest and to enhance cooperation on all policing and criminal justice matters on this island. Cross border criminality is one of several issues which we discussed at our trilateral meeting in February which was also attended by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Remit (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 came into operation on 15 July 2014 as part of this Government's comprehensive approach to enhance the protection available to whistle blowers, including Garda whistleblowers. Section 19 of the Act inserted a new provision into the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) to be a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda College (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The positions referred to are that of cleaners in the Garda College who are to be recruited on fixed term contracts. I am advised that An Garda Síochána as an employer will ensure that it is not in breach of its obligations under the minimum wage requirements in respect of any contract of employment offered to persons appointed under the terms of this competition for the position of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the mechanism established 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, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case. A panel consisting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The bombing at Omagh in August 1998 stands out in the minds of all right-thinking people as being among the worst atrocities ever committed on this island. The people who carried it out displayed nothing but contempt for life itself and inflicted unutterable grief on those whose lives were shattered by the bomb. While considerable efforts were made, North and South, to bring those...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of 54 Deportation Orders in respect of minors were signed during the period referred to by the Deputy. The top five nationalities were Nigeria, China , DR Congo, Mauritius and Malawi. In all cases, the minors were accompanied in the State by a parent or parents, in respect of whom Deportation Orders were also signed. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (26 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: Community Courts (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, I have undertaken to consider the issue of Community Courts in Ireland and I have taken note of the recommendations set out in the National Crime Council's report "Problem Solving Justice - The Case for Community Courts in Ireland"published in 2007. It will be important to learn from international experience, and I have asked my Department to evaluate how the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the mechanism established 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, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case. A panel consisting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Holiday Visa Applications (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department is constantly seeking ways in which the visa system may be developed to facilitate legitimate travel to the State for the purpose of tourism and business. In doing so, officials in INIS maintain regular close contact with relevant Government Departments and agencies. It is, however, important to emphasise, at the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (26 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: Northern Ireland Issues (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda Authorities 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. The Garda authorities were informed of this incident by the PSNI who set out the circumstances in which it occurred. As I stated to the Deputy previously, such incidents are not desirable,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Debt Collection (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Responsibility for the licensing of the financial activity of debt collectors does not come within the area of responsibility of my Department. However, I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to my proposal, approved by Government on 6 May 2015, for the drafting of the Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill which will provide for the introduction of additional measures for the enforcement of civil...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the Government has sent the LE Eithne to the region to engage in search and rescue, by agreement with the Italian authorities. This is a significant contribution given the size of Ireland's fleet limited and it reflects the Government's desire to assist where it can in this crisis. I would refer the Deputy to my more detailed response to Parliamentary Question No...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is my intention is to seek Government approval for Ireland to sign the Istanbul Convention in the coming months. This is a matter of priority for me. My Department has been working with other Government Departments and agencies to establish precisely the actions which would need to be taken in order to ratify and implement the Istanbul Convention. The advice of the Attorney General...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department continues to invest heavily in Garda Youth Diversion Projects. My Department through the work of the Irish Youth Justice Service has committed to strengthening the evidence to support policies and services and to further develop targeted interventions to divert young people from the criminal justice system. The set of actions by which we intend to do so, is detailed in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Internationalisation Register (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by my officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the college referred to by the Deputy has ceased operations and, in consequence, INIS has instructed that the college be removed from the Internationalisation Register. It should be noted that prior to its closure the college in question had been under investigation by the immigration authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested information on the matter raised by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will contact the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Education (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 521 together. Based on proposals I brought forward in tandem with my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills the Government has approved the implementation of a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education, in response to concerning practices within certain parts of the sector and a number of English...