Results 12,261-12,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Compensation (18 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Compensation Acts 1941 and 1945 provide for compensation for malicious injury or death inflicted upon members of An Garda Síochána, while they are on duty or related to their service as such members. An application for compensation for the Garda mentioned was lodged with my Department in 2010 and a report was received from the Garda authorities in 2014. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Compensation (18 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together. Under the Compensation Acts 1941 and 1945, a member of An Garda Síochána maliciously injured on duty can make an application for compensation. It is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality to approve or refuse such applications, having regard to the circumstances of the case and the legislation. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (18 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit on 11 November 2015. This application is currently being processed and will be returned to the Authorised Signatory in the registered organisation upon its completion. In general, applications for Garda vetting are processed on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (18 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to the ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí, and to this end the first intake since 2009 of new recruits commenced training at the Garda College, Templemore, in September of last year. To date there has been five intakes of Garda trainees to the Garda College, giving a total intake of 475. A further 75 trainees will enter college by year end, bringing total...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Summits (18 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that I represented Ireland at the Valletta Summit in Malta on 11 and 12 November 2015 on behalf of An Taoiseach who was unable to attend. This important Summit brought together leaders and senior government representatives from 31 European countries and 35 African nations in an effort to strengthen cooperation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Tá curtha in iúl dom go bhforáiltear le hIonstraim Reachtúil Uimhir 398 de 2015 (Na Rialacháin fán Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 2010 (Alt 13) (An Fhoirm Fhorordaithe agus an Modh Forordaithe maidir le Ráitis), 2015), a ndearna an tAire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt í a shíniú ina dlí ar an 22 Meán...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and that I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that for security and operational reasons, it is Garda policy not to comment on the number or location of Gardaí assigned to the Emergency Response Unit.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are in place statutory prohibitions on the unlawful or unauthorised disclosure of information which apply generally to public servants as well as specific prohibitions which apply to members of An Garda Síochána. Any member of the Garda Síochána who leaks information to the media is not only contravening clear Garda policy, but is also contravening the law. It...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gender Balance (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that the breakdown by rank and gender in An Garda Síochána, on the 30 September 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the following table. Rank / Gender breakdown in An Garda Síochána Rank Male Female Gardaí 7,580 2,976 Sergeant 1,554 308 Inspector 222 28 Superintendent 148...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. In relation to the information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of Gardaí who have been supported to learn a foreign language in each of the past three years and in 2015 to date, I have requested this information from the Garda Commissioner and I will write directly to the Deputy on receipt of same. I have been informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested an update from the Garda authorities in relation to the prosecutions in question and any matters arising, and will be in direct contact once this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that nine prisoners are currently held in Portlaoise Prison on warrants awaiting trial in the Special Criminal Court. The length of time they are detained awaiting trial is outlined in the table below. Number of Prisoners Less than 12 months 1 - 2 years 2 - 3 years Greater than 3 years 09 05 04 0 0 The Deputy will be aware that the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Alert Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that for many years my Department has supported community crime prevention by provided funding for the Community Alert programme, which is operated by Muintir na Tíre in partnership with the Garda authorities, and which supports over 1,400 local groups including many Text Alert schemes. There are now in excess of 700 local Text Alert schemes operating and guidelines for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have already informed the Deputy, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has brought forward the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015. That Bill starts the process of the phased restoration of remuneration to public servants in accordance with the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. Under that Agreement, the annualised amount of the basic salary of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and that I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Garda management will continue to keep this allocation of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends, demographics and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best use is made of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Firstly, let me say how sorry I am to hear about the incident suffered by the individual referred to by the Deputy. Support for victims of crime is at the forefront of the work of my Department. I welcome the coming into force of the European Union Victims Directive on 16 November. I believe that the Directive represents a significant change in the way that victims will be dealt with as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that my Department is responsible for providing funding to the Legal Aid Board. In this regard, €32.471m in funding was provided in 2015. The Board operates 30 full-time and 12 part-time law centres across twenty six counties. In addition, the Board took on responsibility for the Family Mediation Service in November 2011, which had been under the auspices of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In my answer to the Deputy's original Question, I advised the Deputy that it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment in relation to matters which would be addressed in the context of the Commission of Investigation. As the Deputy is aware the Commission of Investigation has not concluded its work. Accordingly the position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has decided to open a public interest investigation into the incident referred to by the Deputy in accordance with section 102(4) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 established GSOC to deal with complaints concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that I signed a Commencement Order in September 2015 bringing into immediate effect the provisions of the Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2015 which did not require changes to Rules of Court. However, changes are required to the Rules of the Circuit Court and Superior Courts before the Act’s remaining provisions can come into effect. One of those...