Results 15,741-15,760 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (18 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that Operation Sonnet is an ongoing joint operation by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), with the assistance of other Garda Divisions, undertaken for the purpose of assessing, detecting and deterring unlawful immigration into the State. This year to date the GNIB have conducted two such operations. The most recent was a joint operation on the 3 October...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (18 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Garda authorities for a report on the matter raised by the Deputy and I will contact him directly when the Garda report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (18 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The resources of the Bureau are kept under ongoing review by both the Criminal Assets Bureau and my Department. With regard to staffing in the Bureau Analysis Unit of the Bureau, I can inform the Deputy that my Department has been in consultation with the Chief Bureau Officer to agree the proposed recruitment process for the filling of both a forensic accountant vacancy and a financial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (18 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that the person referred to in her question passed the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care on 13 May 2016 and has been placed on Point 1 of the Prison Officer payscale with effect from that date.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (18 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have outlined to the Deputy and other Members of the House in my Written Reply of 16 September 2016, the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 makes extensive provision in Part 10 for a new and enhanced legal costs regime that will bring greater transparency to how legal costs are charged along with a better balance between the interests of legal practitioners and those of their clients in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (18 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Office of Public Works has the primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard, and I, as Minister, have no role in these matters. The position remains as outlined in my response to the Deputy's question number 76 of 21 June 2016 wherein I indicated that the Office of Public Works is progressing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Council (18 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The recently published Legislation Programme includes the Judicial Council Bill amongst those Bills whose publication this Session is a priority. Work on the drafting of the Bill is continuing in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General and my Department is working closely with that Office to bring that work to a timely conclusion in order to ensure publication within the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (18 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in B.A.C. v Greece referred to by the Deputy. The judgment refers to a case in which the Greek authorities failed to finally determine an asylum application which had been lodged initially by the applicant in January 2002. With regard to the asylum processing system in place in this jurisdiction, the Deputy will be aware...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The incident involving the person to whom the Deputy refers took place in 1989 and has been the subject of correspondence with successive Ministers for Justice going back over a considerable period of time, including legal correspondence. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the incident in question was the subject of a thorough investigation at the time. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ombudsman for Children Remit (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The revised House Rules published by the Reception and Integration Agency in May of last year set out the procedures in relation to the investigation of complaints made by Direct Provision residents and include a provision for an independent appeals officer. I am committed to extending the remits of both the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children to residents in Direct Provision. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer for an Garda Síochána with responsibility for the allocation of Garda resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters. I have requested the Garda authorities to provide information referred to by the Deputy and will revert to him when it is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The procedures in place for the appointment of members of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority are laid out in Part 2 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 to which I would draw the Deputy's attention. This Part, comprising sections 7 to 36, deals with the establishment of the new Legal Services Regulatory Authority, its membership, appointment, functions, staffing and other matters...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits Applications Data (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together. Following the establishment of a task force of Departmental, State agency, Industry and Workers representatives, a scheme was put in place to address the overall situation of non-EEA workers engaged in certain sectors of the fishing industry. The issue of an immigration status constitutes a part of the overall scheme which includes new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Divorce Process (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the reference to "clean break divorce" in the Deputy's question refers to a situation in which financial and other orders made by a court when granting a divorce cannot be revisited or varied after the divorce has been finalised. The institution of marriage is afforded constitutional protection under Article 41.3.1 of the Constitution. Article 41.3.2 (iii) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The current contract at the centre concerned will expire on 3 December 2018. At this point in time, it is expected that the contract will run for its agreed period. As the requirements for accommodation at any time are demand driven, it is not possible to make an assessment on any future contracts at the centre until closer to the expiry date.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Boundary Disputes (20 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Property Registration Authority (PRA) that it is aware of the contents of a 2014 Report entitled "Towards the Registration of Defined Property Boundaries in Ireland" which was prepared by the Inter-Professional Task Force on Property Boundaries. The report contains recommendations concerning the existing non-conclusive boundary model which has been in operation in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Correspondence (20 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that I have received a copy of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. I can also confirm that I have received previous correspondence from the person concerned. My Department has been examining all the correspondence to see what actions should be considered. The Garda Commissioner has been asked to provide a report on all the issues raised in the correspondence received...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since its publication in June, 2015 the Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, has been under proactive consideration; in the first instance by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform and thereafter on an ongoing basis in my Department and other relevant Government Departments...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (20 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy entered the State on 02/10/2011 and registered on 18/11/2011 under Stamp 2 student conditions. This person most recently had permission to be in the State as a student until 31/10/2016 under Stamp 2 conditions. The person concerned does not have an application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (20 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy entered the State on 05/08/2012 and registered as a student on 27/08/2012 where they were granted Stamp 2 student conditions. This person most recently had permission to be in the State until 04/10/2016 under Stamp 2 student conditions. The person concerned does...