Results 11,221-11,240 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a stay on certification of the referendum result by the Returning Officer pending the hearing of two appeals by individuals to the Court of Appeal in relation to the High Court's refusal of leave to petition the provisional referendum certificate. This means that the Thirty Fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill cannot be signed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I should at the outset explain that the public office in Burgh Quay services two separate functions – one dealing with non-EEA nationals seeking to register and renew their permission to be in the State, a function which is currently being carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), and a separate function dealing with applicants for re-entry visas, which is carried...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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. I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics in relation to recorded instances of threats along the lines referred to by the Deputy directly to him. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I set out previously in my answer to Question 32 of 2nd April 2015 , the European Commission has expressed a concern to the Government that Ireland's current legal services advertising regime may be in breach of Article 24 of Directive 2006/123/EC ('the Services Directive'). In general terms, while the Directive permits certain restrictions on legal services advertising that are informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was established as a statutorily independent body, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, to investigate complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. GSOC has a hugely important role in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded. In order to enable it to carry out its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The matters being raised by the Deputy have already been addressed in my Written Reply to Question No 135 of 25 June 2015 which I will, therefore, largely reiterate on this occasion. The Legal Services Regulation Bill completed its Dáil Stages on 22 April followed by the completion of Seanad Second Stage on 13 May. In this context, I would point out to the Deputy that the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Terrorism (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The attack on holiday makers at Sousse in Tunisia was a shocking event and our thoughts are with the families of the three Irish people whose lives were taken in such a senseless fashion. There were 35 other deaths in the same attack, many of them holidaymakers from Britain, and our sympathy goes to the families and friends of all the victims. The attack in Tunisia was another reminder to us...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, I recently welcomed the resumption of publication of the official Recorded Crime Statistics by the Central Statistics Office, together with the publication by the CSO of its analysis of the issues arising from the 2014 Garda Inspectorate Report on Crime Investigation. I had met with the Director General of the Central Statistics Office last November to discuss...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: While I have brought the issues referred to by the Deputy to the attention of the Garda authorities, I am sure he will appreciate that the deployment of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the first instance. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Irene is a policing plan designed to address issues such as those referred to, and that it commenced on 1 June...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of the consultation process for the on-going review of firearms licensing I have given a commitment that I would not make any decisions until I had met the key stakeholders, including the organisations who represent those who use firearms for sporting purposes. I had a useful meeting with the key stakeholders on 29 April 2015. Consideration of the issues involved, including the Sports...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It has been the long-standing desire of the Government and the Garda Authorities to co-operate to the greatest degree possible under the law with the Northern Ireland Coroner's Inquest into the horrific murders of ten innocent people at Kingsmill, Co. Armagh by the Provisional IRA in January 1976. The Garda Authorities have been engaged in an ongoing legal process to facilitate this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 sets out a scheme by which the investigation of complaints made to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) may be carried out. All allegations against Gardaí of criminal offences are directly investigated by GSOC's own investigators. With regard to allegations of breaches of discipline, these may be referred by GSOC, at its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that following Government approval today I will be bringing forward the relevant amendments to the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, by way of Report Stage amendments to the Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014, next week in the Dáil.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is familiar with the article referred to by the Deputy and its contents have been noted. The article contains a critique of the approach taken by the Commission of Investigation into the Dublin Archdiocese in selecting cases for examination as part of its investigation. The position is that the Commission carried out its functions independently, in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that all missing persons investigations remain open and active until such time as the missing person is found. As the investigation referred to is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific aspects of the investigation or information arising along the lines referred to by the Deputy.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The proceedings in which receivers take control of property are first and foremost civil proceedings to which the Gardaí are not a party, and do not have a role, unless specific actions are directed to them by the Court.There may be situations where Gardaí become aware, or are notified, that property is to be the subject of enforcement proceedings and in those circumstances it is an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that applications for compensation under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted are decided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, who are entirely independent in how they deal with individual applications under the Scheme. However, I have had enquiries made with the Tribunal on behalf of this individual and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very conscious of the deep impact the fire at the Stardust in 1981 has had on individuals and families concerned, and on the wider community. I met with the Stardust Victims and Relatives Committee last year and this meeting provided me with an opportunity to hear at first hand the ongoing concerns of the Committee in relation to this tragic event. As the Deputy will be aware, these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Garda Vetting Application form was received from the Private Security Authority in respect of the person referred to on the 03/11/2014. On processing this application it was established that it was necessary to conduct further enquiries in respect of it. Those enquiries having been completed this application was processed and returned to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (7 Jul 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 02 September 2009 and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State. The person concerned has been evading deportation since 06 October 2009 and, as such, is liable to arrest and detention for the purposes of having the...