Results 13,761-13,780 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 28 of the Garda Síochána Act provides that the Garda Commissioner may enter into agreements with police services or law enforcement agencies outside the State, with the prior consent of the Government. These agreements may provide for co-operation between the parties, the exchange of information or such matters as the Commissioner thinks fit. My officials are pursuing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 114 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 357 and 358 of 6 April 2016 setting out the position. Reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 357 and 358 of 6 April 2016. The Deputy is referring to OPCAT or Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The current prisoner complaints system was introduced in the Irish Prison Service in November 2012 based on a model recommended by the Inspector of Prisons who has independent oversight of the process. It was introduced in acknowledgment that prisoners must have access to a credible and robust system that deals with genuine complaints in an open, transparent, and independent way. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda authorities that Operation Butler is an ongoing, intelligence-led Garda investigation concerning the importation and sale of stolen vehicles from the UK, primarily vans and commercial vehicles. The operation has involved coordinated searches in the Districts of Granard, Longford, Cavan and Tallaght. To date, 20 stolen vans/commercial vehicles and 1 stolen motor home...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Properties Data (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that it has not been possible to provide the information requested in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of providing for an offence of membership of a criminal gang, in a manner similar to the approach taken in the Offences Against the State Acts with regard to membership of a proscribed organisation, has arisen from time to time. In this regard, it is important to understand the issues which arise in seeking to simply outlaw membership of a criminal gang in such a manner....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted in certain circumstances for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Under the 1962 Act, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. An applicant must establish to the satisfaction of the court that their means are insufficient to enable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application in respect of the person referred to has been received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit. On processing the application the Garda Central Vetting Unit established that it was necessary to conduct further enquiries with external agencies which are still ongoing. Enquiries with external agencies are conducted for a multiplicity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate the deployment of the Garda personnel and resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The balance between armed and unarmed members of the organisation, is of course, kept under review in the light of emerging challenges. In this regard, at the request of the Commissioner earlier this year, the Government moved decisively to strengthen the resources...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the time available it has not been possible to obtain the information sought by the Deputy. I have sought a report from the Garda authorities and a reply will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the person referred to by the Deputy will be eighteen years of age next July it will be open to her to apply for a certificate of naturalisation using the Form 8 application, which is the appropriate application form for a certificate of naturalisation by a person of full age. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant an application for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Killings (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, the Taoiseach and I met recently with senior Garda management in relation to these serious matters, and were briefed on the significant progress being made in investigations into recent organised crime related murders in the Dublin region. The Deputy will appreciate that as these appalling crimes are the subject of ongoing Garda investigations it would not be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda Stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. During 2011 and 2012, An Garda Síochána completed a comprehensive review of its district and station network. The objective of this review was to identify opportunities to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Registration (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy...

Crime: Statements (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I very much welcome the opportunity this debate provides to discuss the measures we have taken to tackle crime in all its forms and to consider how to improve our strategies to protect and support communities throughout the country. Crime creates victims, and even for someone who is not the victim, crime can be disturbing. It can be frightening when a house on one's road is burgled or a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and I am informed that after the completion of the seven...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers contains a total of 173 recommendations, many of which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services. The recommendations were taken forward by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. To date some 90 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Applications (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The International Protection Act was signed into law on 30th December 2015. It provides for a single application procedure which will streamline and significantly speed up the processing of protection applications in Ireland. The commencement of the Act involves significant preparation work across a wide range of activities and the provision of staff resources for processing cases on...