Results 15,781-15,800 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Topical Issues: Garda Industrial Relations (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As he stated, the negotiations are at a sensitive stage. For the moment, we must concentrate on securing a satisfactory resolution to the ongoing talks. I assure the House that every effort is being made to resolve the dispute in the only way that it can be resolved, namely, through negotiation. Intensive discussions are taking place....

Topical Issues: Garda Industrial Relations (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for the approach he has taken. The Government understands the very real anger that is out there which, as I said, is shared by many in the public sector and the public at large because of the very tough decisions that had to be taken in recent years and the impact that has been felt so deeply by many people, including gardaí, who feel it very deeply. However, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 to 79, inclusive, and 100 together. On 21 October 2015, the previous Government published a roadmap to Ireland's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which outlines the considerable legislative changes to be undertaken to enable Ireland to ratify the Convention, along with the estimated deadline of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Services for People with Disabilities (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 154 together. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 completed its passage through both Houses of the Oireachtas on 17 December 2015 and was signed into law on 30 December 2015. The Act provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. Commencement of the Act will take place on a phased...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Valuation Office (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 to 86, inclusive, together. The Commissioner of Valuation, who is independent in the exercise of his functions, has overall responsibility under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 for the maintenance of valuation lists of all commercial properties in the State. This is done by using two statutory valuation processes known as “revaluation” and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 101, 105 and 121 together. The levels of service to be provided by the Garda Síochána are set out each year in the annual policing plan. The independent Policing Authority is required under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (the Act), as amended, to determine priorities and targets for the Garda Síochána in performing its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Regulations (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that Rule 62 of the Prison Rules 2007 allows for the removal of prisoners from structured activity or association on the grounds of maintaining good order or safe and secure custody. The rule stipulates that the period concerned should be no longer than absolutely necessary. In accordance with Rule 62 (4) where a direction is still in force, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Regulations (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that in accordance with Rule 63 of the Prison Rules 2007, a prisoner may at his own request, or when the Governor considers it necessary for the maintenance of good order and safe and secure custody, be kept separate from other prisoners who are reasonably likely to cause the prisoner significant harm. The Governor is required to keep a record of all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I, as Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of resources is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of members is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 143 together. The particular case to which the Deputies are referring was amongst those considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which were made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, or other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Admission to An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in accordance with the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013. Recruitment of trainee Gardaí involves a competitive process undertaken by the Public Appointment Service on behalf of the Commissioner and, for successful candidates, further fitness, medical and vetting tests...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of resources is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 97, 107, 120 and 122 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Regulations (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the management of prison visits is a matter for the Irish Prison Service and in this case the Governor of Wheatfield Place of Detention. Under Section 36 (9) (a) of the Prison rules 2007 a Governor has the discretion to ban any visitor from entering his/her prison if he/she feels it is necessary in order to prevent the entry into prison of controlled drugs...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 128 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 108 and 109 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, including the Garda fleet, and I, as Minister, have no role in this matter. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis, and vehicles are allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that there is no particular delay in the Garda employment vetting process; rather there has been a very significant improvement in vetting processing times in recent months. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that at present 80 percent of vetting applications are processed by the Garda National Vetting Bureau in under five working days. This represents a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to was created on-line on 19 August, 2016. The application was submitted to the Irish Embassy in Ljubljana on 29 August, 2016 and then forwarded to the Visa Office in Dublin where it was received on 13 September, 2016. In accordance with the Policy Document on...