Results 11,981-12,000 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the issuing of work permits is a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Queries in relation to the Status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established for this purpose. This service...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that as Minister for Justice and Equality I have no direct role in the management of criminal investigations by An Garda Síochána. However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current position with regard to complaints received involving the National Asset Management Agency is that one case is due for trial in January 2016, two have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (20 Oct 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 the area in question is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a visa application was received in the Irish Visa Office in Abuja on 5 October, 2015 and is currently being examined. 'Join family' applications are processed in order of date received and a decision can be expected within 12 weeks, as indicated on the Visa Office's website. Queries in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Divisional Headquarters (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Work on the Galway Regional and Divisional Headquarters is due to commence shortly at a cost of €28.16 million and is expected to be completed in 2 years. The contract to construct the new Divisional & Regional HQ was awarded to JJ Rhatigan and Company (Galway) on 2 October 2015. The new station will provide the Gardaí with a wide variety of modern support facilities for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 13 May 2015, the European Commission published an EU Agenda for Migration. The Commission proposed the establishment of an EU-wide resettlement scheme to offer 20,000 resettlement places by the end of 2016. Under the new resettlement scheme, specific numbers would be allocated to all Member States, calculated on the basis of a distribution key based on GDP, size of population, unemployment...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It gives me huge pleasure to introduce the Marriage Bill 2015 into the Seanad. The Bill gives effect to the constitutional amendment, approved by the people on 22 May 2015, that, "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex." Eleanor Roosevelt famously wrote that a person's philosophy is best expressed by the choices he or she makes....

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all Senators for their contributions, which have been quite extraordinary, very moving and most enjoyable to listen to. I want to thank the Senators for their very generous comments in regard to my own role but, of course, as we have listened to the debate, more and more names have been put on the floor of the House. Of course, there are names we have not yet put on the floor of the...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It impacts on a much wider group but I will go into the detail of that at the next Stage. I am just addressing it in a preliminary way at this point.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The points made by Senator Rónán Mullen are incorrect. Religious solemnisers have only ever been permitted to solemnise in accordance with their own ceremonies and I addressed his points in my speech. What we are doing will not require any change to any form of ceremony currently approved. He is incorrect in his interpretation of the legislation as it is presented. The decision...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Irish Embassy in Cairo on 22 July, 2015 and subsequently referred to the Irish Visa Office in Abu Dhabi for processing. Unfortunately, the expected time frame for processing of long stay visa applications such as the application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including civilians in An Garda Síochána. I have, however, requested the specific information regarding the staffing issues mentioned by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and will, on receipt of same, write directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including civilians, in An Garda Síochána. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) provides a round- the- clock service. In order to provide this service staff are required to work various shifts and are paid a shift...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff Recruitment (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including civilians, in An Garda Síochána. I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that there are plans in place to run an internal competition for promotion to Executive Officer (EO) in An Garda Síochána as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In July, the Government approved the drafting of a Bail Bill which will strengthen the operation of the bail system and make the law as effective as possible in protecting the public against crimes committed by persons on bail. I am aware of the concerns that are arising in relation to the operation of our current bail laws and it is intended to have the new Bail Bill drafted on a priority...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Information Requests (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that up to 19 October, 2015, my Department has received 827 Freedom of Information Requests. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the breakdown as requested above, as those statistics are not readily available. To provide the figures would involve a disproportionate amount of time by the staff collating the information.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 to 86, inclusive, together. The Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process contains 173 recommendations many of which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services. The Government recommended that the report should in the first instance be the subject of a detailed discussion at the Cabinet Committee on Social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (22 Oct 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. The information regarding the number of Gardaí...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Incidence (22 Oct 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. In relation to the matters referred to, I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (22 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of an application for a right of residency in the State, accompanied by the right to work, based on parentage of an Irish citizen child in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy. I am also informed that INIS has recently developed a new application form for these types...