Results 11,661-11,680 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Migrant Integration (29 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government has established an Inter-Departmental and Inter-Agency Task Force to coordinate Ireland's response to this migrant crisis. The accommodation facilities that will be required to meet these challenges will take into account the specific location of the facility, the suitability of the accommodation, the range of services available locally and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (30 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 following...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The person in question was granted Leave to Remain in March of this year and left the centre in question on 12 July. He has not been a resident of an accommodation centre provided by the Department of Justice and Equality since that date.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of processing and the case will be re-submitted to me for decision in due course. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The person concerned lodged an application for asylum at the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on 19th November 2014. Following investigation by that office, it was established that the person concerned had been in possession of a valid visa issued by the United Kingdom authorities at the time of his asylum application in this State. Arising from their previous visa history...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that persons released early from the custody of the Irish Prison Service, including those subject to review by the Parole Board, are granted reviewable temporary release. This is where a prisoner is granted a specific period of temporary release from prison. This can be of varying intervals, for example, weekly, monthly or annually. The period of release is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: All prisoners released early on temporary release, including those who have been subject to review by the Parole Board, are granted a specific period of reviewable temporary release from prison. This can be at varying intervals, for example, weekly, monthly or annually. The period of release is reviewed when the prisoner returns to prison as part of their conditions and a decision is made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that any offender who breaches his or her conditions, including committing a criminal offence, may be arrested and returned to prison immediately by the Gardaí or may be refused another period of reviewable temporary release. If someone re-offends on temporary release, the matter of their prosecution is a matter for An Garda Síochána and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The legislative basis for making decisions on temporary release is fully set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003. I can advise the Deputy that persons released early from the custody of the Irish Prison Service, including those subject to review by the Parole Board, are granted reviewable temporary release. A...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Investigations (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that in April 2014 the Inspector of Prisons Judge Michael Reilly, was asked by the then Minister for Justice and Equality to carry out an independent investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the recording of telephone conversations between prisoners and their solicitors. The Inspector was asked to carry out his investigation pursuant to section 31 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A number of legal issues arose in drafting the provisions and my officials are working with the Office of the Attorney General to resolve these issues. These are important and necessary reforms aimed at reducing the risk of re-offending by sex offenders. Proposals in this area will be brought forward in a separate Bill as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Haddington Road Agreement Review (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Haddington Road Agreement provides for a review of An Garda Síochána with the following terms of reference: To review and make recommendations on the use by An Garda Síochána of the resources available to it, with the objective of achieving and maintaining the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its operation and administration. The review shall...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, Central Statistics Office, as the national statistics agency is responsible for the publication of the official crime statistics. The CSO resumed publication of the official Recorded Crime Statistics on 30 June, and the most recent publication was issued on 28 September. At the time the CSO resumed publication, I welcomed its report, published at the same time,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Government appointed Ms Justice Caroline Costello on 24 February 2015 as the Designated Judge pursuant to section 100 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. I am advised by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission that it has made no applications to the Circuit Court in accordance with section 96(7) of the 2005 Act. I can also confirm that I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Data (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Síochána Act 2005 established the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) to receive complaints from members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána. The Act stipulates that the Ombudsman Commission is independent in the exercise of its functions. GSOC directly investigates complaints involving...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Security (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that as highlighted by the Irish Prison Service in April 2014, a small number of prisoners whilst in custody had their legal phone calls inadvertently recorded. All necessary steps have been taken to avoid a repeat of this situation reoccurring by way of the introduction of some technical measures. This included the provision of three additional designated...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I said during the Second Stage debate, the very question raised by the Deputy was extensively discussed and extensive legal advice on it was sought. I will just go over the detail of the policy again and maybe add a little extra to what I said previously. The policy based on the new constitutional context is that civil partnership registration will cease after a reasonably short period...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to make a couple of points. I have set out the legal advice I have received in this regard. As Deputy McNamara will be well aware, the rights of cohabitants under the 2010 Act are quite limited. The Act provides only for rights of redress in the case of a relationship of dependency. When the Deputy speaks about changing civil partnership, he is really raising a separate...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue in question will be dealt with primarily in a separate Bill - the finance and succession Bill.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is about marriage so it is not specifically addressed here.