Results 11,641-11,660 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Provision (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 to 371, inclusive, together. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that there are a number of spaces not in use across the prison estate on any given day, as a result of cells being closed for renovation and for maintenance reasons. This can change on a daily basis. I can also advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service publish the capacity of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have a requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matters referred to and I will contact the Deputy directly when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State as the Spouse of an EU National who was exercising their EU Treaty Rights in this State. This permission to remain was valid until 24th January 2012. This permission was not renewed as the person concerned failed to submit...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question 133 of 24thSeptember, 2015, which is set out below. The position remains unchanged. "If an application for asylum or subsidiary protection in the State has been received from the persons whose details were supplied, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications until they have fully completed the protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, following the refusal of their asylum claim, the person concerned proceeded to lodge an application for subsidiary protection. I am also advised that this subsidiary protection application was formally withdrawn on 28th August, 2015. The case file of the person concerned was then passed to the INIS'...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (29 Sep 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 continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. I have been informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel and vehicles, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. I have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. In that context I am informed by the Garda Authorities that following the recent provision of €700,000 for new specialist vehicles for An Garda Síochána and a subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (29 Sep 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 continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. I have been informed that, as of the 31 July 2015 the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that they are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is assumed that 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. A panel consisting of two Senior and five Junior Counsel was established for the purpose, all selected on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned was registered in the State as a Student from 11/11/2009 to 22/02/2015. As this person is from a country that is subject to an Irish visa requirement for the purposes of travelling to the State they must apply for an entry visa. Information regarding visa applications is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 23 September, I published the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, as approved by Government. The Bill provides for two new offences of purchasing sexual services, in the context of prostitution. The purpose of these offences is to target the demand for prostitution. The first is a general offence of paying to engage in sexual activity with a prostitute which carries a penalty of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to disclose details of any authorisations to intercept. The Deputy will appreciate that this practice, which has been followed by my predecessors, arises for sound security reasons. The Deputy will be aware that the legislative basis for the carrying out of covert surveillance is the Criminal Justice (Surveillance)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that my Department has been in correspondence with the person concerned, regarding the matters raised on numerous occasions. The position of my Department has been extensively outlined in this correspondence and the person concerned has been informed that no further action is to be taken in this case. However if the person concerned wishes to submit additional,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I informed the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question 597 of 2015, the issuing of notification letters to complainants commenced on 29 June. To date, notification letters have issued to 132 complainants. In all cases I have accepted the recommendation of counsel. A number of cases have resulted in recommendations for further action which I have accepted, including referral to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the queuing issues that have arisen at the Garda Síochána National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), Registration Office in Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 and my Department is working with the GNIB to alleviate the matter. The following arrangements are now in place in an effort to improve throughput and relieve the congestion in the public office that occurs at this time of the year...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention, and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access such as town centres, fall into two distinct categories: Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems. Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of An Garda Síochána's identified operational needs and priorities....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I recently announced fundamental long term reforms of firearms licensing including the establishment of a new Firearms Assessment and Appeals Authority. The primary function of the Authority will be to determine, on the basis of an objective assessment of all the issues, with safety of the public being paramount, whether particular forms of firearms may be licensed in the State, whether...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of annual policing plans, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. In this regard the Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána carried out a comprehensive review of its district and...