Results 13,521-13,540 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Legal Aid (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Government has prioritised and maintained the Legal Aid Board budget in recent years, ensuring that its budget allocation increased from nearly €30.37m in 2011 to €40.796m for 2019. This represents an increase of over 34%. Ensuring that all eligible persons have access to civil legal aid and advice is a priority for the Board and the Government. Applicants for civil...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the manner in which the resources of An Garda Síochána are deployed, including Garda personnel, is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I, as Minister, have no direct role in this regard. However, to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána regarding any additional measures...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the recently published Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report recommends that policing must be information-led and that data should be seen as a strategic asset and a key factor in determining policing decisions. My Department is currently analysing the Report and my officials are currently engaging in consultations with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: All residents of state accommodation centres who are granted status are eligible to access mainstream housing supports and services on the same basis as Irish nationals/European Economic Area Nationals. Residents with status are provided with details on how to access information in respect of applying for social housing and how to access Housing Assistance Payments, finance, healthcare,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 50 together. The Deputy will appreciate that the manner in which any Garda operation is conducted is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I, as Minister, have no role in this regard. Similarly, the deployment of all Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for An Garda Síochána. With regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Legislation (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the supply of mechanically propelled vehicles to persons under the ages of 16 and 17 (depending on the vehicle) constitute offences in accordance with section 30 of the Road Traffic Act 2004. My Department has consulted with a considerable number of Government Departments and public bodies over the past number of months to identify a number of relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 60 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, certain matters related to the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Shane O'Farrell were the subject of an investigation conducted by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The report published by GSOC of its investigation found that there was no conduct by any member of the Gardaí which would constitute an offence. However, there was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commission on the Future of Policing Reports (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware the Commission on the Future of Policing published its report on 18 September. The report contains a wide range of recommendations which comprehensively address all the themes set out in the Commission's terms of reference. The Report makes many innovative proposals aimed at strengthening our national security arrangements; empowering the Garda Commissioner to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems Provision (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting investment in CCTV systems. In pursuance of this commitment, a grant-aid scheme was launched by my Department in 2017 to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas. It is intended that the scheme will run for 3 years with funding of some €1 million...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the House is aware, certain matters related to the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Shane O'Farrell were the subject of an investigation conducted by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The report published by GSOC on the outcome of its investigation found that there was no conduct by any member of the Gardaí which would constitute an offence. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: This Government is committed to preventing and addressing sexual violence in Ireland. It is extremely important to me but, more importantly, to victims of this violence that policy must be effective, driven by accurate, up to date, reliable data. Knowledge and information are essential to making effective policies to prevent and combat sexual violence. The Sexual Abuse and Violence in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As outlined in my reply of 2nd October 2018 to a similar question (Ref 39752/18), the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act was enacted on 22 February 2017. Part 4 of the Act, which was commenced on 27 March 2017, provides for two new offences of purchasing sexual services in the context of prostitution. The purpose of these offences is to target the demand for prostitution. The part of the Act...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Procedures (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: In accordance with section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the direction and control of the Garda Síochána. In exercising this function, I understand that the Garda Commissioner continues to ensure that relevant policing developments in other jurisdictions are reviewed on an on-going basis so that international best practice can...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insurance Fraud (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Cost of Insurance Working Group proposed exploring the possibility that a specific unit, funded by the insurance industry, be established within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) to tackle insurance fraud. I understand that the GNECB has engaged with Insurance Ireland in relation to this matter and submitted a mechanism for establishing an insurance fraud unit to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the expert Scoping Group has completed a draft report considering the availability of data and making recommendations on a study to identify the prevalence of sexual abuse and violence in Ireland and emerging trends. A further piece of technical work is now being completed so that proposals can be brought to Cabinet in the coming weeks. As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and as such is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources at his disposal. Those resources have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2018 of more than €1.6 billion. I am pleased to confirm that €1.76 billion has been allocated to the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Orders (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy may be aware, Sheriffs (or County Registrars acting as Sheriffs) are responsible to the Court for the enforcement of Court Orders, including Court Orders for repossessions. The law and procedures governing the execution of Court Orders is contained in the Enforcement of Court Orders Acts, 1926 to 1940 and the Rules of Court made thereunder. Sheriffs (or County Registrars...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (17 Oct 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that there has been very significant investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. €1.65 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2018 and I am pleased to confirm also that €1.76 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019. This is an increase of over 6% over the initial allocation for 2018. In terms of capital...