Results 15,461-15,480 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (28 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware periods of temporary release granted can vary greatly from a few hours following a family bereavement to, for example, a requirement to report to the prison every 12 months in the case of a life sentence prisoner who has been released into the community a considerable time ago. It is not possible to provide figures to the Deputy for all forms of temporary release...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (28 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the total female strength in An Garda Síochána as of the 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 3,370 or 26.2% of the total strength in comparison to the figures available for the 31 August 2006 which were 2,323 or 18.5% of the total strength. I was very pleased to announce the commencement...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree that members of An Garda Síochána are essential and pivotal to civilised living in this country. They protect individuals in communities and never know the day or the hour when they may be exposed to violence or asked to make the ultimate sacrifice. The Government views An Garda Síochána as a key strand in Irish life and is committed to supporting it in every way...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. That is why my Department has engaged very intensively with the GRA and it is absolutely open, as am I, to meeting to resolve the outstanding issues. It is in the interest of everybody in the country. It is in the interest of An Garda Síochána, as the Deputy rightly said, and of the legal system across the board. Of course,...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have made it clear that both I and the Department want to re-engage. After many hours of discussions we concluded the negotiations late last Friday evening with an agreement, as we understood it. That was with the leadership but it was not accepted by the broader group, as has been obvious through media reports and interviews in the past number of days. We have not heard anything formally...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue of the rent allowance was raised by the GRA and was a key demand made by it, particularly relating to new recruits. Contrary to what the Deputy said, I am quite sure the rent allowance will be welcomed for new recruits. It was an important support for new recruits in terms of finance. That was something the GRA put on the table. We were able to negotiate to a point where it was...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for his points on the farming community and the challenges it faces, in particular in regard to pricing. The Government is determined that the recovery is felt in every part of the country, and that of course includes rural communities. There is evidence of that beginning to happen but, of course, there is more to be done, as the Deputy correctly said. The IFA briefed...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: We know, and this reinforces the Deputy's point, that on 50% of farms either the holder and-or their spouse has off-farm employment to try and deal with the economic situation they face. Commodity price variation and volatility is an increasing feature of agriculture markets and it is very difficult to deal with. As the Deputy knows, a number of measures have been introduced to support...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: We are all familiar with the demand for home care packages in our own areas and across the country. Of course, it is a very striking feature at present that there is increased demand. There is increased investment as well but there is a huge increase in demand with the increasing number of older people. Our policy is one of keeping people in the community and making sure that they get the...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy raised a number of points. The last point she raised was one of policy in relation to whether there should be a statutory entitlement. The Minister for Health informs me that is in fact being considered by the Department. The second point to make is that the delayed discharges are down this week by 34. Obviously, there is more work to be done because some patients' discharges...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, and the focus is on home care for that reason. That is also the reason we must make the shift from secondary care to primary care, as the Government is committed to doing. This will not happen overnight, however. We need to get the message out to members of the public that investment in home care packages has increased and they are not being cut back. However, demand has increased...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Bill will go before the relevant committee for pre-legislative scrutiny in November.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Law Reform Commission for the work it has done in this area. The Government will consider its work as a matter of urgency to see what legislation is necessary arising from the recommendations the commission has made. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill, which will be discussed in the House next week, addresses some of the points raised by the LRC, for example, online abuse...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the Bill is awaiting Committee Stage and, as such, it is a matter for the committee in question to decide when to take it.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, I understand it is.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy's question did not deal with legislation but what will be in the budget. A task force is working on the issue of insurance, which is an urgent priority for the Minister for Finance.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are 11,000 children in respect of whom a domiciliary care allowance is paid. The Government is committed to ensuring these children will have an automatic right to a medical card. This will certainly be welcomed as a support for the families who find themselves in that situation. It is priority legislation to be dealt with in this term.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy knows, planning permission has been granted for the long-awaited national children's hospital. The Minister will bring the heads of the Bill that is necessary to progress the project to the Cabinet in November.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister for Social Protection to revert to the Deputy on the publication date of the report. I have no doubt that it will inform the budgetary decisions that will be taken in the area of social welfare. The Government is also committed to the development of further appropriate subsidised child care initiatives, particularly for lone parents in order that they will feel...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that both the domestic violence Bill and the victims Bill will be published this term. As the Deputy said, the domestic violence Bill has already been subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. I hope, therefore, that it can be brought to the Dáil directly.