Results 14,081-14,100 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Properties (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that there is one such vacant property in respect of my Department's Vote. However, I am unable to comment any further in respect of this matter, as the lease agreement is currently the subject of legal proceedings.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 11 May, I was delighted to lead the Irish delegation at our Cycle 2 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) interactive dialogue in Geneva. We consider the UPR process, by which the international community holds each UN Member State to account in relation to its individual human rights record, as a real and practical expression of the fact that human rights are not solely of domestic concern, but...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing, with a view to establishing whether the conditions for naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence are satisfied and will be submitted to me for decision as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law by the President on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been commenced. New administrative processes and support measures, including the setting up of the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission, must be put in place before the legislation comes into force. The Mental Health Commission is an agency under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware of the commitments in the new Programme for Government including in relation to keeping families in their homes and avoiding repossessions insofar as is possible, establishment of a new national service to standardise supports available to borrowers in mortgage arrears, establishment of a dedicated new court to handle mortgage arrears and other personal insolvency...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. No further information is required from the person at this time. As the Deputy will appreciate, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the recruitment and training of the Garda Reserve is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that, as of the 31 March 2016, the strength of the Garda Reserve stood at 908 with 18 reserves in training. Applications to become a member of the Garda Reserve can currently be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016 which commenced on 29 April 2016 provides a statutory basis for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children or vulnerable persons. The National Vetting Bureau of the Garda Síochána (formerly the Garda Central Vetting Unit) conducts Garda vetting on behalf of registered...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government acknowledges that long durations in direct provision have a negative impact on family life. The new Government, as set out in our Programme for a Partnership Government, is “committed to reforming the Direct Provision system, with particular focus on families and children”. As outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question 38 of 17th May, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to her, including the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda Stations, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in this matter. The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that a Data Protection Access Request in respect of the person referred to was received by the National Vetting Bureau. On 19 May 2016 the application was processed and returned to the individual concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and training of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and its compilation would necessitate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Annual Reports of the Committee appointed to monitor the effectiveness of the Diversion Programme provide an overview of youth crime in the particular year in question. As such, the reports include details of, inter alia, the number of incidents and individual children and young people referred to the Diversion Programme and the outcomes of such referrals. The reports also include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (24 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. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the information requested is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that, following a review of all allowances in the public service during 2011 and 2012, the Government decided on 18 September 2012 that rent allowance for all new public servants including Gardaí should be abolished. The rent allowance costs €4,600 per officer per annum (inclusive of Employer's PRSI). The Garda Commissioner, who is the Accounting Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am committed to the completion of the review of An Garda Síochána under the Haddington Road Agreement as soon as possible. With that aim in mind my officials are consulting with the Garda representatives bodies in relation to how the review can be progressed in view of the recent resignation of the Chairperson. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of...

Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters Relative to the Cavan-Monaghan Division of An Garda Síochána) Report: Statements (25 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome this opportunity to debate the report of the O’Higgins commission. Mr. Justice O’Higgins is a distinguished retired judge of the High Court, and I take the opportunity to formally record my thanks and appreciation to him for his thorough, thoughtful and clear report on matters which, as we know, were far from clear when this process started. We were fortunate to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (25 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime...