Results 14,221-14,240 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fines Data (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that the number of committals to prison for non-payment of a court order fine for each of the years requested is set out in the following table. It can be noted that the figure for committals in 2016 relates to fines imposed prior to the commencement of the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014. Year Number of Committals for non-payment of Fines 2016 (up to and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Penal Policy Review Group was tasked with carrying out a strategic review of penal policy. The Review Group's Report, which I published in September 2014, made a number of recommendations about sentencing. Adopting an approach similar to the Law Reform Commission in its Report on Mandatory Sentences published in June, 2013, the Review Group recommended that no further mandatory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Standards (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are no plans to develop any new sites for male offenders. I can advise the Deputy that in the joint Probation Service/Irish Prison Service Women's Strategy 2014-2016, An Effective Response to Women Who Offend,published in 2014, the Irish Prison Service made a commitment to explore the development of an open centre/open conditions for women assessed as low risk of re-offending. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Special Criminal Court Establishment (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I firmly believe that trial by jury must be preserved to the greatest extent possible. However the threat posed to the criminal justice process by individuals, terrorist groups and organised criminal groups who seek to intimidate jurors or potential jurors cannot be ignored. Article 38.3.1° of the Constitution allows for the establishment of special courts in accordance with the law in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In relation to the investigation of deaths in prison custody, since 1 January, 2012, the death of any prisoner in custody or on temporary release is the subject of an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons. The Deputy will be aware that the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory independent office established under the Prisons Act, 2007. All death in custody...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a total of 24 dedicated Integrated Sentence Management Coordinators are operational in all prisons and open centres since March 2015. The allocation of dedicated staff in each establishment greatly enhances the effectiveness of the sentence management system and facilitates the growing numbers of prisoners participating in the process. These 24...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: White Collar Crime (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the Deputy's question to refer generally to the question of whether legislation is available or is proposed that allows for the confiscation of the benefits derived from criminal conduct. Having regard to legislation within the remit of my Department, I can inform the Deputy that the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 set out the law in relation to the confiscation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed that the Criminal Assets Bureau, pursuant to its statutory remit, targets wherever possible all proceeds of criminal conduct, including the proceeds of deception, fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption and other types of criminal activity generally understood to fall within the category of white collar crime. Furthermore, the Bureau works closely with the Money...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned arrived in the State on 30 December 2006, registered as a student with the Garda National Immigration Bureau under Stamp 2 conditions on 15 January 2007 and that their immigration permission expired in June 2014. I am informed that a decision letter subsequently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process RIA (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The work of the inter-Departmental Working Group on Corporate Manslaughter was undertaken on foot of a Government Decision which approved, in principle, the preparation of a General Scheme of a Criminal Justice (Corporate Manslaughter) Bill. This is a complex area with wide implications and the group, comprising officials from across the different Government Departments, prepared a Draft...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Proceedings (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Proceedings (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I regret that it has not been possible, within the time allowed, to compile the information necessary to answer this question. I will convey the information to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 9(4)(b) of the Refugee Act 1996 provides that applicants for international protection shall not seek or enter employment or carry on any business, trade or profession during the period before the final determination of their application. This prohibition is restated in the International Protection Act 2015 which is expected to be commenced later this year. The key concern in this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Intelligence Sharing (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that I, as Minister, have no function in relation to the operation of agencies in other jurisdictions or the staff employed by such agencies.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (31 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (31 May 2016)

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 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 resources. The following table sets out the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including the Garda Reserve, 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 all resources.I am informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The following table outlines the annual expenditure incurred by the Garda Vote in respect of the Garda Reserve to the most recent date figures are available. Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 April 2016 Total €473,625 €45,068 €343,386 €522,633 €874,322 €779,971 €883,996 €1,042,100 €592,462 €438,821...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the required information from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy and will revert to him as soon as I have it to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application requesting an exemption to the three year ruling for Volunteers in the State be considered in this case. This application was initially received on 10 February 2016 and was immediately acknowledged with a request for further documentation and information. This documentation was...