Results 14,361-14,380 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that Action 2 of the National Drug Strategy provides a commitment to the establishment of local policing fora in all local drug task force areas. Further to that commitment an audit of local policing fora was undertaken by my Department in conjunction with local drug task forces in April 2012. This exercise identified 24 local policing fora operating at that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. As previously conveyed to the House, preparations for the phased commencement of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 are already underway. In keeping with normal procedures this will be formalised in a series of Statutory Instruments. A necessary first step in preparation for these commencements is the appointment of the Legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that while the number of checkpoints are recorded on the PULSE system, the numbers of invalid permits identified at such checkpoints and the penalties imposed are not recorded in such a manner as to be in a position to readily provide the Deputy with the specific information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications Data (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of vetting applications received for the requested time periods is set out in the following table. However, the more detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and its compilation would necessitate a disproportionate amount of staff time and effort. Year Applications received Turnaround times 2014 315,138 4 weeks for 80% of applications received...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department did not incur any expenditure in relation to the purchasing of the Public Sector Times in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department incurred expenditure totalling €14,411.85 on daily newspapers in 2015. In addition the Irish Prison Service (IPS) incurred expenditure totalling €37,798 in 2015 for newspapers and other publications. The IPS amount covers all publications including newspapers and it is not possible to provide a breakdown for daily newspapers only. At present this expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 109 together. I am advised that the baseline number of staff in the Human Resources Division of my Department prior to the introduction of PeoplePoint was 33. There are currently 17.3 full time equivalent staff members in the Human Resources Division who are responsible for servicing approximately 2,000 staff in my Department. In line with the planned...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Staff (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the commencement of each Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices including the permitted staffing levels in the private and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State. These guidelines are expected to be approved by Government shortly. There are currently 3.5...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Company Law (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that the Companies Act 2014, which entered into force on 1 June 2015, has updated and codified company law in this jurisdiction. The Act continues to provide a range of possible remedies for debenture holders and lending institutions in the event of a borrower encountering financial difficulties. These include an examinership process, appointment of a receiver and liquidation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that statutory responsibility for the interpretation and application of data protection law in this jurisdiction is vested in the Data Protection Commissioner under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. The Commissioner enjoys statutory independence in the performance of her tasks and exercise of her powers under this legislation and it would not be appropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda Authorities that they are aware of proposals for such an event and that the appropriate liaison has taken place in this regard. The persons concerned have been requested to notify An Garda Síochána if the event is scheduled to proceed in order to ensure that an assessment can be made of any policing requirements and that the necessary policing arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Should the Deputy wish to provide specific information on the case referred to, I can assure him I will seek an urgent report from the Garda authorities on the serious matters referred to by him. In so far as the role of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is concerned, the Deputy will be aware that GSOC was established to independently examine complaints which may be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has been issued with a letter on 2 June 2016 requesting further documentation in support of her application. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (14 Jun 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 Confidential Recipient (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 to 119, inclusive, together. It has not been possible, within the time available, to compile the information necessary to answer the questions but I will convey the information to the Deputy when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Authority (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The sections of the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 which remain to be commenced contain provisions essentially enabling the Policing Authority to appoint and remove persons from positions in An Garda Síochána. Sections 10, 11 and 13 contain provisions governing the removal of the Garda Commissioner, Deputy Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that no original birth certificates accompanied the applications for naturalisation made on behalf of the persons referred to by the Deputy. There are certified copies of birth certificates for both individuals on file and copies of these can be supplied if required. Queries in relation to the status...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Overseas Students Data (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. In May 2015, the Government announced a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education. These reforms are now being implemented and my Department maintains ongoing contact with relevant stakeholders with a view to ensuring that the new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that arising from an ongoing review of Business, Entrepreneur and Investor  related migration schemes currently being undertaken by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), it was decided to suspend the 'Business Permission Scheme' with effect from 16th March 2016 until further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Records Data (14 Jun 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...