Results 14,781-14,800 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 provides a new framework to deal with the area of legal professional education including in terms of who provides it, who has access to it, and what professional qualifications may apply. This combines regular reporting obligations with the undertaking of a comprehensive review of the issues concerned by the new Legal Services Regulatory Authority....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the provision and allocation of resources for An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda resources allocated throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Industry Regulation (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Private Security Appeal Board (PSAB) is an independent body established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, to consider appeals against decisions of the Private Security Authority. The PSAB is, in accordance with provisions of the 2004 Act, independent in the performance of its functions. I wish to inform the Deputy that the necessary arrangements are currently in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy refers to a case which has been the subject of a review carried out under the Independent Review Mechanism set up by the Government to consider complaints of Garda misconduct. In the case referred to in the Deputy's question, counsel recommended that a non-statutory inquiry should be established to considered the issues raised by the complainant. I accepted the recommendation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I understand that while statistics in relation to fraud offences are produced the breakdown in relation to insurance fraud requested by the Deputy is not recorded...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (5 Jul 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 Promotions (5 Jul 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 keep this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (5 Jul 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 keep this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the Truth and Reconciliation Platform is a recently established group with the aim of providing every victim of the troubles, North and South, an opportunity to tell their own, personal story. I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with the group. There can be no question that the violence of the troubles exacted a tragic human cost across communities on this island...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person in question does not require an entry visa to enter the State, as set out in the Visa Order S.I. 473/2014 as amended. I can only suggest that the person concerned presents the necessary paperwork to the Immigration Officer, at the port of entry, with precise information showing that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 21 October 2015, the previous Government published a roadmap to Ireland’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which outlines the considerable legislative changes to be undertaken to enable Ireland to ratify the Convention, along with the estimated deadline of end-2016 for ratification. The Roadmap to Ratification, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In March 2016 the coronial districts of Limerick West and Limerick City were amalgamated. The acting Coroner for Limerick City became the acting Coroner for the newly amalgamated district of Limerick in accordance with Section 7(1) and 7(2)f the Coroners Act, 1962, as inserted by Section 32(b) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 201. The Coroner for the remaining coronial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As previously conveyed to the House, preparations for the phased commencement of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 are already under way. A necessary first step in preparation for these commencements is the appointment of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority after which the Authority will appoint its own Chief Executive. I can confirm that nominations to the new Legal Services...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penal Policy Review Group (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The document from the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) supplied with this question essentially calls for a 'whole of Government' approach to prevention of offending and re-offending. Such an approach is a key theme of the report of the Penal Policy Review Group which I submitted to Government in November, 2014. That Review Group was established in 2012 in line the recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Records (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are no staff employed by my Department to work exclusively on archiving files. Responsibility for archiving files lies with staff across all line divisions who carry out this function as required in addition to their normal duties. The Deputy may wish to note that staff from the Information Access Unit of my Department engage with the National Archives in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The particular case to which the Deputy refers was amongst those considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, the Independent Review Mechanism. With regard to the Independent Review Mechanism, I would like to emphasise that every case presented to the panel was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities Regulation (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The regulation of the charity sector is a priority for this Government. The Charities Regulatory Authority (also known as the Charities Regulator) was established as an independent agency on 16 October 2014 and is responsible for the registration and regulation of all the charities active in this country. The key areas of work of the Regulator include registration and award of charitable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: My officials and I have had discussions with the Garda Representative Association (GRA) over the last number of weeks aimed at facilitating their engagement with the Lansdowne Road Agreement. Unfortunately, as of now the GRA remains outside the Agreement. The members of the GRA have exercised their democratic mandate and I respect their right to do so, however, the decision not to become...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Livestock Theft (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am of course aware of recent instances of theft of livestock and, clearly, these crimes have a very serious effect on farming families and rural communities. I am assured that An Garda Síochána are taking all necessary steps to thoroughly investigate these crimes and identify the perpetrators. It is of course essential that anyone who may have information about such crimes, even...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (5 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following...