Results 12,461-12,480 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The amendment proposes inserting an approval by the Minister into the provision allowing the new authority to set fees by regulation for the performance of its functions etc. Given that this discretion is to be exercised by the new and independent regulatory authority, I do not see a need for the amendment.

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Amendment No. 38 follows further consultations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and rightfully recognises that the independent legal services regulatory authority will not handle fees for the benefit of the Exchequer but rather in support of its own functions under the Bill. Amendment No. 180 provides for the change in the manner in which the authority will handle the...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Amendment No. 182 in the names of Senators Sean D. Barrett and Feargal Quinn.

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: No, this provision was not included in the original Bill. It was always envisaged that there would be consultation on this issue. There was a timeframe, which is what we still have. I want to give the definition of "contentious matter". It means a matter that arises in and relates to the subject matter of proceedings before any court, tribunal or other body or person before which the...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is worth making the point that the new independent legal services regulatory authority will be a great catalyst for change. As I indicated, for the first time, we will have oversight and complaints and discipline being dealt with independently as well as the establishment of the new legal partnerships. This is serious reform and further reforms will be introduced. The Bill provides for...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I make the point again that it will be a new independent body set up to provide for independent regulation. It will have a range of tasks to perform in its first year. It will have to deal with complaints and set itself up as an effective and efficient body. There is a range of tasks which we are asking it to do. I have looked at what it is feasible to do in the first period and do not...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of the other reforms in the Bill is to create a consultation on the establishment of a profession of conveyancer. The Senators made the point about the efficiencies of how that is done at present but it is another reforming part of the Bill. There is not a timeframe on this section. A report in respect of the matters referred to shall be provided to the Minister within a period...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The authority has a lay majority.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: International Terrorism (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I said in the House last week, like other open and democratic states, Ireland cannot consider itself immune from the threat posed by international terrorism. As the Deputy said, sadly, Irish people have been caught up in international terrorist attacks. The current assessment of the threat to Ireland from this source is that while an attack here is possible, it is unlikely, nor is there...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: International Terrorism (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces have long experience of dealing with dissident activity in this country and, unfortunately, continue to have to use that expertise. For decades they have had to develop a level of expertise in explosives which continue to be placed by dissidents under cars in this jurisdiction. The Deputy will have seen arrests in recent months. He will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: International Terrorism (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The figure in the public arena is that approximately 30 to 40 people are known to have travelled to an area generally described as a conflict theatre which includes Syria and Iraq. On their exact behaviour once they leave the country, it is known across Europe that many travel to Syria and Iraq by way of Turkey and other countries. As the Deputy knows, there is engagement with Turkey on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have indicated to the House previously, and am happy to confirm again today, Operation Mizen is not a surveillance programme operated by An Garda Síochána, contrary to the assertions made by the Deputy or others in commentary on water protests. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that Operation Mizen was established by An Garda Síochána as a national...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I emphasise for the Deputy that the characterisation of Operation Mizen as a surveillance operation is wrong. It was set up by the Garda to support national co-ordination of its management of water protests from a public order perspective. While there have been many lawful and peaceful protests against water charges, there have also been some very unfortunate examples of unacceptable and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda is there to keep the peace. It carries out its normal activities as An Garda Síochána in this country in order to ensure that the protests are peaceful. A total of 188 arrests have been made since November 2014 in regard to water charge protests and within that number some individuals have been the subject of arrest on multiple occasions. The majority of arrests made...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Crime Levels (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of the most significant initiatives taken is finishing the moratorium on Garda recruitment. The Deputy will have seen the advertisement this week for 600 new gardaí who will be recruited early next year. We have already received expressions of interest from thousands of people. I am looking forward to the initiative going ahead. It is very important that the moratorium on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Crime Levels (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have doubled the funding for the text alert scheme and I welcome the huge voluntary effort that is going into developing it. A figure of 14,000 should be arrived at in the lifetime of the next Government. Clearly, there is always a number of potential retirements in any given year but more people are being recruited than are retiring. When one looks at crime trends and recorded crime...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Crime Levels (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are four questions here so I will try to deal with each of them if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle allows it. In respect of Garda station closures, let me make the point that I understand the sense of security people get from having a Garda station in their area. Let us look at the crime figures. Garda analysts have done this work. A total of 41 Garda stations were closed in the west and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Independent Review Mechanism (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government decided to establish the Independent Review Mechanism, IRM, in order to bring an independent examination to bear on allegations of wrong-doing by gardaí. This initiative went far beyond anything which any previous Government has done and was a genuine effort to have an independent examination of many cases which Deputies had on their desks, were concerned about and which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Independent Review Mechanism (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do stand over this process because it is the first time any Government has taken a series of cases about which Deputies, Senators and others have concerns and brought them together. As I stated, it was never intended to be a commission of investigation. The Deputy may give the details of a particular case in the Chamber, but what the Government decided to do and what I did as Minister was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Independent Review Mechanism (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----but the person concerned is not satisfied with the outcome. Unless one were to establish an altogether separate process for each of the cases, this is an independent process and it is the first time anyone has set up such a process.