Results 15,541-15,560 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff Data (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 31 January 2019, there were approximately 2,530 civilian staff employed by An Garda Síochána, undertaking a range of administrative and technical duties in the organisation. As of the same date, the total Garda strength was approximately 14,000. In this regard civilian staff now account for approximately 15% of the overall Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Justice and Equality, through the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), has always facilitated and encouraged the registration of and voting by protection applicants in local elections.  Residents are advised what type of elections they can vote in and how they may register with the relevant local authority so that they may vote in elections as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Firstly I would like to reiterate for the house that with regard to the deployment of Garda resources, including personnel, to specific areas, the Deputy will appreciate that this is solely the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner and his management team. The Commissioner has publicly spoken about issues like protecting our most vulnerable and he has highlighted that his priority is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Preparations (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: In common with all Government Departments and State Agencies, An Garda Síochána has been preparing for Brexit and there is ongoing engagement between senior Garda management and my Department in this regard.  Preparation has had a wide-ranging focus on operational requirements, including personnel, infrastructure and technology. I know the Commissioner is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Legislation (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that over the past three years, my colleague Minister of State Stanton who has special responsibility in this area, has led an intensive review of the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act. We hope to publish the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill early in the current Oireachtas session. This will be an interim reform measure, pending the bringing forward of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act allows members of An Garda Síochána to make a protected disclosure to one or more of a number of persons, including to the Minister of the day. Since 2014, my Department has received 24 letters from current or former members or employees of An Garda Síochána in relation to matters which might be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, I have instructed my officials to draft terms of reference for a study about how best to support families in the most caring and effective way in the aftermath of murder-suicides and this work is at an advanced stage. In such tragic circumstances, I fully acknowledge that one of the supports that can be provided to remaining family members is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Preparations (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: In common with all Government Departments and State Agencies, An Garda Síochána has been preparing for Brexit and there is ongoing engagement between senior Garda management and my Department in this regard.  Preparation has had a wide-ranging focus on operational requirements, including personnel, infrastructure and technology. I know the Commissioner is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Poor Box (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, in February 2014 the Government approved the drafting of a Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill to replace the Probation of Offenders Act 1907 with modern provisions dealing with community sanctions and the role of the Probation Service in the criminal justice system. The Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. It is intended...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, I have instructed my officials to draft terms of reference for a study about how best to support families in the most caring and effective way in the aftermath of murder-suicides and this work is at an advanced stage. In such tragic circumstances, I fully acknowledge that one of the supports that can be provided to remaining family members is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that I previously responded to a question which he submitted in January, which raised the issue of burglaries and thefts in Cork city over the Christmas period.  I can assure the Deputy that local Garda management in the Cork region keep all new and emerging crime trends under constant review to ensure best use is made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Data (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal administers the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted (General Scheme).  Under the terms of the Scheme, the Tribunal is entirely independent in the matter of the individual decisions on applications for compensation and I as Minister have no role in the matter. The number of applications received in each of the years...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Alert Programme (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Text Alert Scheme, which was developed with the support of Muintir na Tíre, Neighbourhood Watch and the Irish Farmers Association, was introduced in September 2013. The scheme provides an additional and effective method for Gardaí to distribute crime prevention information and advice. I understand that there are in the region of 200,000 text...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Tackling organised crime activity and those involved in it is an ongoing priority for the Government and An Garda Síochána and the necessary resources will continue to be made available to address this issue. An Garda Síochána is tackling organised criminal activity through a range of targeted measures designed to disrupt and dismantle the operations of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that they expect to recruit in excess of 200 Recruit Prison Officers in 2019.  The assignments of these Recruit Prison Officers are based on the requirements at each prison and are predominantly to the Dublin Region. The recruitment of Recruit Prison Officers by the Irish Prison Service has been ongoing since 2017 and has regard to such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: 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. 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 optimum use is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) does not currently record information in relation to specific instances of time spent in the care of the State for persons in prison custody. However there is evidence available internationally that children in care are much more likely to be cautioned or convicted of a criminal offence. It is undoubtedly the case that many...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.76 billion for 2019.  These resources are being provided in support of the Government's commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Information and Communications Technology (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that Gardaí must have the modern technology and resources necessary to detect and investigate crimes, and to prevent loss and harm to citizens and their property on a 24/7 basis.  The key importance of ICT is also recognised in the report of the Commission on the future of Policing in Ireland and forms an important part of its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (12 Mar 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. 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...