Results 11,121-11,140 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have sought a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the Deputy's query and will contact her again when further information is to hand. As the Deputy will be aware, it is open to any person who wishes to make a complaint in relation to Garda actions to do so to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff Numbers (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of civilians in An Garda Síochána has increased in recent years from 1,688 at the end of 2007 to approximately 2,032 (whole time equivalents) as of the 30 April 2015. Civilians are employed in a wide range of management, administrative, technical and operational duties, including Chief Administration Officer, Executive Director of Finance, Executive Director of Human...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff Numbers (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána does not maintain a central record of civilian staff who apply to transfer to another Government Department. The information requested by the Deputy can only be obtained in the format outlined by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources relative to the information sought. I am further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government Policy of direct provision until such time as their status is resolved to finality. That is to say, they remain in RIA accommodation until such time as they are either removed from the State or are granted some form of status allowing them...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including community Gardaí, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 to 162, inclusive, and 166 together. As the Deputy will be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. The Deputy will also be aware that the CSO has recently published new crime statistics up to end of the first quarter of 2015 and are best placed to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (1 Jul 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 Policing (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including community Gardaí, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and will revert to the Deputy as soon as it is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A non EEA national who is unlawfully present in the State is in breach of Section 5 (1) of the Immigration Act 2004 which provides that no non-Irish national may be in the State other than in accordance with the terms of any permission given to them by or on behalf of the Minister. Furthermore, Section 5(2) of the Act provides that a non-Irish national who is in the State in contravention of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the absence of any details of the individual concerned it is not possible to supply the Deputy with a detailed response. Any Non-EEA national present in the State is free to make a written application to the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) regarding her or his immigration status. A non EEA national who is unlawfully present in the State is in breach of Section...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The total spend for my Department on training and development for 2014 was approximately €1,143,806. This would have included expenditure such as training courses provided internally and externally, refunds of educational fees, attendance at seminars and conferences and membership of professional bodies fees. Using the 2014 figure for training spend as a baseline, the following table...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of circa €56.3m inclusive of VAT in professional fees was paid over the period from 1st June 2014 to 31st May 2015, 95% of which was incurred in the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. The annual saving to the Exchequer of a 10% reduction in professional fees at this rate, would be in the region of €5.6m inclusive of VAT.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The combined salaries of my two Special Advisors amount to €169,412 per annum. If these salaries were to be capped at the first point of the Principal Officer salary scale, €75,647, the annual savings would amount to €18,118.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the terms 'State agencies', 'State-sponsored bodies' and 'semi-State board' may include bodies with a wide range of functions, the Deputy's question has been interpreted as encompassing all bodies with the title "Board", irrespective of their functions, as well as other bodies with a governance remit whose title does not include the term “Board”. I can advise the Deputy...

Seanad: Harmful and Malicious Electronic Communications Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank and commend Senator Lorraine Higgins, and Senators Bacik and Whelan, on bringing this Bill before the Seanad. There is a strong imperative, as Senators have been saying, to ensure that our legislation is fit for purpose and keeps up with the pace in terms of the challenges of technology and new media. Indeed, there are implications for many pieces of legislation posed by the...

Seanad: Harmful and Malicious Electronic Communications Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----and there is a question of how they are kept and made available. The Internet companies are proactive in terms of safety. The vast majority of them now have safety officers, and they are conscious of this issue. They are working on it within their companies and are working with governments. At the recent meeting of the justice and home affairs Ministers, one of the agreements...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (2 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the range of my remit as Minister I receive representations, including requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and companies. While my Office does not maintain a register of all such requests for meetings or invitations received, I can advise the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (2 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in the Direct Provision system. At end May 2014 there were 4,305 persons being accommodated in the system. At end May 2015 there were 4,484 persons being accommodated. There are currently 37 accommodation centres in operation across 16 counties. Asylum seekers are not required to avail...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (2 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 to 126, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner has appointed a Detective Superintendent to conduct an in-depth review of Garda files and records in order to ascertain the facts surrounding the information referred to by the Deputy. This review is currently ongoing. I can also inform the Deputy that I meet...