Results 14,901-14,920 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Procedures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the expertise and experience of people such as Professor Shannon. I am sure Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan will agree with me in that regard. One of the main findings of Professor Shannon's report was that the exercise of section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 by members of An Garda Síochána has been necessary, proportionate and legally sound, and that it has been done...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Deployment (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the manner in which the resources of the Garda Síochána are deployed is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team. I, as Minister, have no direct role in the process. I can, however, assure Deputy Thomas Byrne that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Deployment (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am happy to immediately share the table I have in respect of the Meath division with the Deputy. However, Garda strength in the Meath division has recovered to levels last seen in 2008-09. In the past four years, Garda strength in Meath has recovered. There has been an increase of 15% from the low point of 277 in 2015. I do not have a figure for the number of retirees in County Meath...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Deployment (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I note the Deputy's comments on the Garda Reserve. It is somewhat disappointing that its numbers have dropped from a peak of 1,100 in 2013 to 530 in 2018. However, I acknowledge the importance of the recommendations in the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing, which the Government published before Christmas. It is an elaborate and ambitious implementation plan that reviews...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, of my Department that decisions on the grant or refusal of visas are made in a number of INIS visa offices overseas, the visa office in Dublin and at embassies of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which process many visa applications under delegated sanction from my Department. The Deputy will agree there has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not disagree with what the Deputy stated. It is important that every effort is made to streamline the process and reallocate staff to particular locations as the demand or requirement appears to necessitate. Several measures have been put in place to deal with the increased demand, including the assignment of additional staff to cities such as New Delhi and Beijing to help process...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The situation on some parts of the international stage is improving. I acknowledge that there were some challenges. I assure the Deputy and the House that I will continue to monitor the situation and that we will do everything possible to ensure an efficient and effective process.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is fully committed to giving effect to the provisions of the Stormont House Agreement and the Fresh Start agreement. As Deputy Smith will appreciate, the continuing political stalemate in Northern Ireland has resulted in considerable delay in making progress with the legacy framework in particular. The Government remains committed to the re-establishment of the Executive and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Regarding the matter of the Garda compensation scheme and a revised scheme thereto, I advise Deputy Durkan that matters are proceeding; however, it is unlikely we will be in a position to proceed by way of legislative change this term. I am happy, however, to speak directly to the Deputy, and I acknowledge his interest in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Witness Protection Programme (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware,  I recently responded to correspondence from her on this matter and I would like to thank her for raising this issue. I wish to emphasise to the Deputy at the outset that the security of persons who may be or who may have been witnesses in the criminal process is a matter for An Garda Síochána. However, I can assure the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders Treatment Programme (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that there are between 400 and 450 individuals convicted of sexual violence in custody at any one time. A National Programme to reduce the risk of re-offending and enhance public protection to the greatest possible extent, known as the Building Better Lives programme, has operated in the Prison Service since 2009 and is based on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Illicit Trade (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that tackling cross-border crime is a high priority for this Government, the Gardaí and our other law enforcement authorities. There is close cooperation between law enforcement agencies north and south of the border and the two police services work very closely together on a broad range of policing responsibilities. Considerable operational activity takes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Seizures (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the necessary resources to continue to successfully disrupt the operation of criminal groups who carry out gun crimes and who endanger the safety of our communities.  The Deputy will have noted the significant progress made by Gardaí in tackling...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I would like to thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this important public safety issue. The Deputy will recall, on the occasion of his previous oral parliamentary question, that I undertook to update the Deputy in relation to the ongoing consultations conducted by my officials and I welcome the opportunity to do this now. My Department's main focus in the intervening...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, there has been unprecedented investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years, in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement and provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. The resources provided by Government to An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Issues (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I want to assure the Deputy at the outset that it is the firm intention of the Government and the British Government that there will be no diminution in North-South security co-operation in the context of the planned departure of the UK from the EU.  While it is the case that Britain will no longer be part of many EU-wide police information systems, as the Deputy will be aware, national...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that I am conscious of the value placed on CCTV as a means of deterring crime and assisting in the detection of offenders. The main purpose of CCTV cameras located on motorways is monitoring traffic conditions on the national road network, and assisting in the management of traffic on our roads. However, when progressing a criminal investigation An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, there has been unprecedented investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years, in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement and provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. The resources provided by Government to An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Judicial Council Bill 2017 is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas.  The Bill will establish a Judicial Council to promote excellence in the exercise by judges of their judicial functions and high standards of conduct among judges.  A Judicial Conduct Committee established under the Bill will have a central role in considering complaints against judges and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (30 Jan 2019)

Charles Flanagan: On 20 December 2018, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the latest annualised crime statistics which are for Q3 2018.  While I am pleased that, nationally, burglary and theft-related offences were down, I am concerned that offences relating to robbery increased over the 12-month period to the end of Q3 2018, when compared to the end of Q3 2017.  This trend must be...