Results 15,021-15,040 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 to 133, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (19 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 the 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 Stations (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am advised that 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. I have been informed by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (19 Jul 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 keep 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. Tallaght Garda station forms part of the Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and I have no role in the matter. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and I am informed that this question is exclusively within the control of the judiciary. The Courts Service has informed me that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that it is not the general policy of INIS to extend visitor permission in the State. This applies to both visa required and non-visa required nationals. It is only in cases where a person's circumstances have changed since the grant of the visa or entry to the State that an application for an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Commissioner wrote to me on 19 May 2016 asking that I use the legal powers available to me to request the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) to investigate matters alleged to have occurred in relation to a meeting in Mullingar involving certain officers. On 16 June 2016, having consulted with the Attorney General and having sought additional information from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Advisers Data (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Information in relation to the staff in question can be found in the following table: Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Post Name Salary Scale Special Advisor Marion Mannion Principal Officer Higher Scale €93,297 Special Advisor Stephen O'Shea Principal Officer Scale €79,401 Special Advisor Matthew Lynch Principal Officer Scale €79,401 The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Table 1 represents the number of incidents recorded in the Communications Centre for the Coolock and Raheny areas between 1 January, 2015 and 1 July, 2016 as broken down into different categories. Table 2 identifies the different Priority Categories and a description of the type of call which is associated with each category. Table 1- Call...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme Administration (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Immigrant Investor Programme, which was introduced in 2012, is open to non-EEA nationals and their families who commit to an approved investment in Ireland.  Each application is examined on its merits in a qualitative examination by an independent interdepartmental committee. The proposed investment must be beneficial for Ireland, including the creation or preservation of jobs, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff Data (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by my Department that the information on the number of staff who entered the civil service during the period in question is being replied to by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In respect of recruitment to other areas of the Justice sector I am informed that since 2014 a total of 851 Garda trainees have been recruited broken down as follows: 200 in 2014, 350 in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is providing a reply in relation to the cost of implementing the pay increases referred to by the Deputy across government Departments and that reply will include those employed by the Department of Justice and Equality since 1 January 2011. I have been informed that the cost of implementing the pay increases in respect of...

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Say it again.

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Well done.

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have consulted on and given consideration to this matter. The Bill, as initiated, contains sufficient safeguards for affected persons against any potential abuse of the new seizure and detention powers. In the context of justice being seen to be done quickly, I understand where Deputy is coming from but, as I said on Second Stage, persons can apply to the court to have an authorisation...

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It does not have to wait for 21 days, it can go earlier. Deputy Howlin's amendment would make it statutory and the bureau would be obliged to go. However, it can already do this.

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, it can do so at present. That is correct. As the Deputy has acknowledged to the nth degree, criminals convicted of some of the most heinous crimes have used the Proceeds of Crime Act to litigate against the State, at considerable expense to the taxpayer. The High Court and the Supreme Court have, quite correctly, been tied up for long periods in respect of that legislation. That is...

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Howlin was at serious risk of really upsetting his former colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, talking about ringfencing funding for certain projects, as I am sure he is well aware.

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: He knows what the reaction is. The point behind the amendment is to have a redistribution in certain communities but I hope to get this Bill through tonight and that is one reason not to accept amendments. I would not rule out a medium-term review of this legislation to consider all of its implications. I invite the Deputy to make a submission on that point because it is worth considering,...

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This amendment would apply proceeds of crime legislation to conduct which, as it stands, is not criminal. Under current law, neither payment for sexual services nor the receipt of payment for providing such services is a criminal offence. I understand that the intention is to provide in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 for an offence of payment for sexual activity with a...