Results 13,921-13,940 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Accommodation (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has the primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 includes the development of a new Garda station at the District Headquarters of Bailieboro, Co Cavan. I am happy to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 150 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keeps 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Reform (17 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 any 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 his or her means are insufficient...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Operation Thor commenced in November 2015 and since then we have seen very positive trends in the level of burglary crime. In fact, the most recent CSO Recorded Crime Statistics, which are the full year figures for 2015, show that during the last three months of 2015 the number of burglaries reduced by 26.2% compared to the same period in 2014. Operation Thor was developed after I initiated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the primary purpose of the Garda employment vetting service is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Accordingly, the vetting process demands rigorous procedures to safeguard its integrity and to maintain the highest level of confidence by the public and organisations availing of the service. I am informed by the Garda authorities that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Paternity Leave (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As announced in Budget 2016, the outgoing Government approved the introduction of two weeks of paternity leave and the associated social welfare paternity benefit as from September 2016. The Government has approved the General Scheme of a Bill to give effect to this decision and the Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I expect to be in a position to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application was received by the Visa Office in Dublin on the 23/03/2016. The application was refused on the 06/05/2016. A letter outlining the reasons for refusal will issue to the applicant in the coming days. It is, of course, open to the applicant to appeal the decision within 2 months of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Awards (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, which has responsibility for the administration of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted, is independent in the matter of individual applications under the Scheme. However, to be of assistance to the Deputy I have had enquiries made with the Tribunal. Tribunal members, who are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that plans for a recruitment competition for the position of Recruit Prison Officer are currently underway having regard to factors such as the level of retirements from the Irish Prison Service this year and in the coming years. Necessary arrangements being put in place include tendering for a provider to deliver the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority Administration (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of my Department and I have no involvement in its day to day operations. I can however inform the Deputy that any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to making sure the necessary resources are made available to the Criminal Assets Bureau from within the available public finances. In this regard the resources of the Bureau are, and will continue to be, kept under ongoing review by both the Criminal Assets Bureau and my Department. The work of the Criminal Assets Bureau is highly effective. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Foreshore Issues (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that I am advised by Ordnance Survey Ireland that the cartographic representation of the relevant townlands (originally referred to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 14 April 2016) has been re-delineated under the Boundary Survey Acts, 1854, 1857 and 1859 in consultation with the Chief Boundary Surveyor (Commissioner of Valuation), who has primary responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Drafting of the Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill is at an advanced stage. It is hoped that the all outstanding matters can be resolved soon and that the Bill can be submitted for Government approval and publication during the current Dáil term.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill completed all stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas on 3rd February 2016. The Act which provides that a range of minor offences will become spent after seven years was commenced in full on 29th April 2016. In accordance with the provisions of the Act the following convictions which are more than 7 years old are now...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The protection of members of society from domestic violence, sexual violence and exploitation are primary concerns for me and my Department. The Istanbul Convention is a significant legal instrument in the fight against domestic and sexual violence. Ireland is fully supportive of the aims and terms of the Convention and the Deputy will be aware that Ireland signed the Convention on 5...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 121, 162 and 163 together. On 23 September 2015, I published the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, as approved by Government. The Bill includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation including through more effective targeting of acts of child sexual grooming. When enacted, the Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. I appreciate the concerns which can arise in relation to the impact of various types of anti-social behaviour on householders and local communities. However, I trust the Deputy will appreciate that the investigation of possible criminal offences in any particular case is a matter for An Garda Síochána, and I do not have a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Brighter Evenings Bill 2012, a Private Members Bill sponsored by Deputy Thomas Broughan, had two general aims concerning: - the preparation and publishing of a report on the costs and benefits of advancing clocks by one hour (thus allowing for brighter evenings and bringing Ireland into Central European Time); and - allowing for a three year trial period when clocks would be advanced by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers was processed by the Garda Central Vetting Unit and returned to the relevant registered organisation on 10 May 2016. In the circumstances the applicant is advised to contact the registered organisation to ascertain the current position.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: All refugees, whether resident in temporary accommodation in Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres or in their own homes, are free to practise their religion or to engage with their religious organisations. Whether a person is resident in their own private home, or in a residential centre, it is up to each individual to decide with whom they wish to engage and on the level and extent...