Results 10,701-10,720 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As regards the legislative elements of the mortgage arrears package which fall under my responsibility, I can confirm to the Deputy that amendments to the Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014 are currently being drafted by my Department, in cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General and Parliamentary Counsel, to give early legislative effect to the measures announced last week.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that prior to the Government announcement on 13 May 2015, my Department had met with and/or received submissions from the following organisations regarding the review of the personal insolvency legislation and related elements of the mortgage arrears package: - Association of Personal Insolvency Practitioners - Banking and Payment Federation Ireland - Courts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Consultancy Contracts (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department and I have held detailed consultations with stakeholders and experts over the past months in the context of the review of personal insolvency legislation and of the development of those elements of the recently announced mortgage arrears package for which I am responsible. The Department has also consulted in detail with the Office of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill is awaiting report stage in the Dáil. However, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, the eligibility criteria for entering a personal insolvency arrangement are the same for public office holders and Gardaí as they are for any other citizen. I can confirm that I do not propose to change that position.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a total of 125 Deportation Orders have been enforced during the period from April 2014 to end of April 2015. The top five nationalities are China 35, Nigeria 30, Malaysia 10, Somalia 5, Brazil 5, South Africa 5. In order to provide a more complete picture of the situation regarding the expulsion of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of 5 Deportation Orders in respect of minors were effected from the beginning of April, 2014 until the end of April 2015. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department does not issue Deportation Orders to unaccompanied minors. In enforcing the law in respect of deportations, Ireland is no different to other countries who also remove individuals who have...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together. Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 (Dublin III Regulation) establishes the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member Stats by a third-country national or a stateless...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that there are no immediate plans to recruit additional prison officers. However the situation is kept under review. The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with Government Decision S180/20/10/0964C of 3 February and 24 March 2009 on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers, more generally...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As I mentioned in my previous reply to which the Deputy refers, it is proposed that a review of the position generally in relation to search warrants, including any legislative change that may be required, will be carried out within my Department following an anticipated report from the Law Reform Commission. I understand that the Commission's report is expected to be finalised and published...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 484 together. The Deputy will be aware that the legislative basis for the carrying out of covert surveillance in this State is the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009. From the outset I should clarify that, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no role in authorising surveillance under the provisions of the Criminal Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Numbers (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: All persons admitted to Ireland for permanent resettlement are granted programme refugee status on arrival, in the normal course programme refugees are accommodated by the Reception and Integration Agency for a period to facilitate a language training and orientation programme and while accommodation is sourced in local communities.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The General Scheme includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. In addition, the Bill will provide for new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services. The first is a general offence of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant a certificate of naturalisation, provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One such condition is that the applicant must have had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of application and, during...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy will appreciate, as well as being a significant event for the recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Bill is scheduled for Dáil Committee Stage on 17 June with a view to enactment later this year. It is proposed to establish an Office of Public Guardian within the Courts Service, replacing the Office of Wards of Court with regard to adult wards. It will draw on staffing and non-pay resources of the Courts Service. Initial budgetary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: To date no proposals have been agreed to change the process by which retired members of An Garda Síochána are paid their pension from the current method of payment in advance. I can, however, state that consideration of this matter is at an exploratory stage. It should be emphasised that there is no consideration being given to changing the amount of pension payments that retired...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (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 however been informed by the Garda...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The objectives, functions and powers of GSOC are governed by the 2005 Act. Resources and funding are kept under continuing review to ensure that GSOC is enabled to continue to operate effectively and efficiently and in accordance with its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Numbers (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In terms of immediate actions the two main proposals relate to resettlement and relocation. The Commission indicated that they will be recommending an EU resettlement scheme by the end of May for 20,000 places. This number will be distributed among Member States in accordance with several clearly defined criteria (Ireland’s proposed share will be 1.36% or 272 persons). Participation...