Results 15,021-15,040 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to has not submitted a visa application. The application process requires the person to complete an application online, and to submit the application summary form and supporting documents to the appropriate Visa Office. Details are included on the application summary form. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As I have stated previously, there are very serious issues to be addressed arising from the Garda Commissioner’s Interim Report on the handling of youth crime cases. They will be addressed through implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I want to emphasise the Government’s commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: 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. An allocation of €1.76 billion has been provided by Government to An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána as well as for decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources, including the resources allocated from the Garda Vote to the Garda Mounted Unit. As Minister, I have no direct role in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together. The information requested by the Deputy cannot be provided in the time available. I have requested the information sought from the Garda Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy on receipt of same.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (5 Feb 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 and I, as Minister, have no direct role in this regard. I am, however, informed by the Commissioner that the additional resources coming on stream has enabled him to assign resources to the Specialist Bureaus that come...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There has been very significant investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. In relation to Garda vehicles, the Deputy will wish to be aware that €46 million has been provided by the Government for investment in the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021, to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet allowing Gardaí to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána, and I, as Minister have no direct role in the matter. I understand that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and requires the gathering and collation of information from each of the 28 Garda Divisions, which I am sure the Deputy will appreciate is...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: No. In short, I am not minded to accept any amendment that would in any way circumvent the judicial appointments commission. That is the import of amendment No. 86c. Indeed, I can say the same about amendment Nos. 86a to 86e, inclusive. I am not in favour of the approach taken in the amendment. I do not believe we should have the type of channel, be it a front channel or a back channel,...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not see provision in the Bill for such a form of communication. I do not see it as being desirable and, therefore, I am not minded to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: It would certainly be undesirable.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not accept the view that aspects of this Bill impinge adversely on the constitutional right of the Government to determine the names for appointment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There may well be circumstances, for example, where the Government could ask the commission to revisit, to readvertise or to rehear. There may be circumstances, under the provisions of the Bill, where the names submitted by the commission will not be accepted. I do not envisage that to be the order of the day but there may well be exceptional circumstances which would and should allow for...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Attorney General, for example, in many of his or her dealings-----

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Attorney General is the legal adviser to the Government, as the Senator is aware. The discretion on the part of the Government to accept or reject the recommendation of the commission under the Constitution still very much stands.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Senator would be led in handcuffs from the Cabinet table, in accordance with the prediction of Senator McDowell.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not have much to add to what we have being saying over recent weeks. It seems Senator McDowell is very much exercised about two matters. The first concerns maintaining the constitutional integrity of the Government’s position, which is important. I have listened carefully over a number of weeks to what the Senator has had to say and I am satisfied there is no infringement or...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not wish to contribute further to what has been a rather circular argument for a number of weeks but I want to acknowledge the importance of the points raised by Senator McDowell, with particular reference to the constitutionality or otherwise of this part of the Bill. I again point to section 40(3) which specifically states that nothing in the section shall be construed as limiting the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Government can accept a recommendation and convey that to the Head of State or it can be at liberty to reject any or all of the names. I note the point raised by Senator McDowell as to what happens in the event of all the names being rejected. It will then be a matter for the commission to take stock and seek further expressions of interest, if that is what it wishes to do. The...