Results 12,581-12,600 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Taxi Regulations (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The regulation of the Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSV) industry, which includes taxis, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. I am informed by the Garda authorities that specific initiatives targeting the SPSV industry, including checking PSV licences and other matters relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Statutory provision in relation to young offenders is set out in the Children Act 2001 (as amended). Accordingly, where a young person under the age of 18 comes into conflict with the law, the principles of the Act apply. A key principle in the Children Act relating to young offenders is that detention should be a last resort. In support of this principle, the legislation facilitates...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Civil Debt (Procedures) Act 2015 is to be commenced in two phases. The provisions which relate to the abolition of imprisonment of debtors will be commenced once the required amendments can be made to the relevant Rules of Court, which I anticipate will be made early in 2016. The remaining provisions, concerning attachment of earnings and deductions from social welfare payments, will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Re-examination (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order signed on 8 March 2011. However, if new information or circumstances have come to light, which has a direct bearing on their case, and which have arisen since the original Deportation Order was made, there remains the option of a request...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, yesterday signed the order to commence the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015. The Act gives effect to the provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement and starts the process of the phased restoration of remuneration to public servants in accordance with the terms of that Agreement. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Terrorism (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have stated to the House previously, Ireland, in common with other democratic states, cannot consider that it is immune from the threat from international terrorism. The current assessment is that while an attack here is possible, it is unlikely and there is no specific information that an attack here is planned. The level of threat from this source is kept under constant review by An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: At the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 20 November 2015, the Council reiterated its view on the urgency and the priority in finalising agreement on the proposal for an EU Passenger Named Records (PNR) Directive before the end of 2015. In particular, the Council emphasised that the Directive should include internal EU flights in its scope, provide for a sufficiently long period during...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that my Department has been in correspondence with the person concerned. The position of my Department has been extensively outlined in this correspondence and the person concerned has been informed that no further action can be taken in this case. However if the person concerned wishes to submit additional, pertinent information, which they have not previously...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to a Parliamentary Question asked in relation to a person whose complaint has been considered by the Independent Review Mechanism. I have explained on numerous occasions that the process of the Independent Review was not a Commission of Inquiry or Investigation designed to make findings. The purpose of the review was to triage the complaints to establish whether...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the correspondence in question is receiving attention. 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 enables up to date information on such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of policing resources, including Garda transport, are an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 12 official issue mountain bikes allocated to the DMR North Division. The breakdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the Deputy's question to relate in part to the ongoing emergence of new synthetic cannabinoid type substances as witnessed here and abroad. Undoubtedly the dynamic world market in new synthetic cannabinoid type substances, the effects of the use of which are still often unknown, presents key challenges for the international and national control mechanisms. In this regard,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (1 Dec 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 continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, following my meeting with the Stardust Victims Committee last year I appointed an official in my Department to liaise with them in relation to matters about which they have expressed concern. A researcher associated with the Committee submitted material relating to these events to my Department and a meeting was held with them and another researcher associated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (1 Dec 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 the migrant crisis. My Department has received offers of accommodation and services from commercial suppliers. These offers are being assessed at the moment taking into account a range of factors. I wish to inform the Deputy that for reasons...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was approved by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 in response to the migration crisis which has developed in Southern Europe and as an act of solidarity with other Member States Under this decision, the Government confirmed that Ireland will take in up to 4,000 persons over the next two years in order to give to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that correspondence is due to issue shortly in this case. 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 enables up to date information on such cases...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, jurisdiction in Wards of Court matters is vested in the High Court. Section 4(3) of the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which are specified in section 5, and includes the management of the Courts. Court funds which are held for the benefit of Wards of Court are private funds under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will know, the Coroners Bill 2007 provides for a comprehensive reform of the Coroners Act 1962 and of the existing coroner system, including the establishment of a new Coroner Service. It incorporates many of the recommendations made by the Coroners Review Group in 2000, and by the Coroners Rules Committee in 2003, as well as a detailed review of reforms to coronial systems in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Seizures (1 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On foot of a report received from the Garda authorities in the matter I wrote directly to the Deputy on 26 November 2015 providing the data sought in Parliamentary Question of 7 October 2015.