Results 10,761-10,780 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (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...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on the 31 March 2015 the latest date for which figures are readily available was 12,734. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts, the various Garda national units and...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: All applications for refugee status are processed by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) in accordance with the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended). I am informed by the Commissioner that each application is decided on its own individual merits and the elements considered during the determination process include: the facts and circumstances of the application (including any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Bail Law (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The drafting of the General Scheme of a Bail Bill to modernise the law on bail is at a very advanced stage in my Department. I intend to bring proposals to Government on the matter in the near future. The Deputy will be aware that a decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the court, which is, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Investigation (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the deployment of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational demands. I am assured by the Garda authorities that all incidents where a person has been reported missing remain open and under investigation until such time as the person is located. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the function of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In light of public safety concerns highlighted by An Garda Síochána, a joint Department of Justice and Equality/An Garda Síochána Working Group was established by the Department of Justice and Equality to review firearms licensing. The report of this Working Group was published on 13 November 2014 and submissions on the report were sought from stakeholders and the public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the guiding principle which underpins education and work and training services in prisons is to make available, work, work-training, education and other purposeful activities to all those in custody. Training and education activities are chosen to give as much variety as possible and also to give opportunities for those in prison to acquire...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions that the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible to use the services. On...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. An applicant for legal aid must establish to the satisfaction of the court that their means are insufficient to enable them to pay for legal representation themselves. The court must also be satisfied that by reason of the "gravity of the charge" or "exceptional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On committal, all prisoners are interviewed by the Governor and are informed of the services available in the prison. At this point prisoners may be referred to services or they can self refer at a later date. Where Governors consider, on the information available, that a prisoner needs a particular intervention they will initiate a referral. Rehabilitative programmes are available in all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service have a multi-agency approach to offender management and rehabilitation from pre- to post-imprisonment in order to reduce re-offending and improve prisoner outcomes. Where the Courts have ordered the post-release supervision of offenders on completion of sentence, or in the case of life-sentenced prisoners released on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 550 together. I am aware of concerns expressed recently in relation to threats made against members of the Garda Síochána. The issue of threats against Gardaí going about their duty is not confined to these incidents of course, and is something which I utterly condemn. As the Deputy is aware, it would not be appropriate for me...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: On 13 May 2015, the European Commission, published an EU Agenda for Migration. The Agenda includes a number of proposals which will be considered by Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in June and subsequently by the European Council. Among the measures proposed is the establishment of an EU-wide resettlement scheme to offer 20,000 resettlement places. The Commission proposes that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the report of the Moriarty Tribunal made a number of recommendations which related to the responsibilities of different Government Departments. While there is ongoing contact between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the Tribunals Bill and to related legal issues and judicial developments, other Departments have responsibility...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill is awaiting Report Stage in the Dáil. Before progressing to this Stage, detailed consideration has to be given to a number of issues relating to developments in the law relevant to tribunals. I am not currently in a position to provide a clear timeframe to the Deputy for progressing the Bill: much depends on other competing legislative priorities, of which...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 to 556, inclusive, together. In 2014 there was a moratorium on recruitment and promotion in place in the civil and public service. Consequently, recruitment across the justice sector remained subject to specific sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Recruitment by way of sanctioned exception to the moratorium was therefore...

Business of Dáil: Motion (27 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let us get on with the discussion.

Business of Dáil: Motion (27 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: We are not closing it down but opening it up.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (27 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme was announced by the Government in 2011 as part of its Jobs Initiative with a view to promoting tourism from emerging markets. It was designed to allow tourism and business visitors to the UK to add on a visit to Ireland without the need for a separate Irish visa. Under the Programme certain visas issued by the authorities of the United Kingdom are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (27 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: An au pair is an individual who wishes to improve his/her knowledge of the English language by undertaking an au pair arrangement through residing with a family whilst attending English language classes. An au pair arrangement is a private, voluntary, shared understanding between the parties concerned, namely a private household or sponsor family and a private individual. An au pair is...