Results 16,901-16,920 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inspector of Prisons (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Office of the Inspector of Prisons, led by Ms Patricia Gilheaney, who was appointed as inspector last year, has a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of the prison system. I strongly support the office and recently met the inspector with my officials to discuss a range of issues relating to her office, including resources. Following her appointment in May 2018, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inspector of Prisons (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy of my interest in this issue. I represent the constituency of Laois-Offaly and I live in Portlaoise so I am very aware of the existence of two major prisons within that town. I am keen to ensure the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is adequately resourced in order to allow her to perform her duties in respect of current inspections of prisons. It must be borne in mind...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inspector of Prisons (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that the Inspector of Prisons has furnished me with a copy of the report into the investigation carried out under section 31 of the Prisons Act 2007, in line with what is regarded as both accepted and standard practice. I am giving that report careful consideration in consultation with the Attorney General and I am keen to publish it in accordance with section 31 of the Act. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, of my Department that decisions regarding the grant or refusal of visas are made in a number of INIS visa offices overseas, the INIS visa office in Dublin and at over 80 Irish Embassies around the world. The embassies, which are under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, process certain...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge that while the visa issue is primarily one for my Department, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has an important role and function in processing applications for work permits. In the processing of visa applications through my Department, we must consider a broader range of issues dealing with immigration. I invite the Deputy to agree with me that there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the Deputy that management is kept under review on a regular basis. Staff resources available for processing are organised in a timely way. 12 o’clock A number of measures recently have been put in place to deal with a significantly increased demand for visas to Ireland, including the assignment of extra staff. I assure the Deputy that INIS, under my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that An Garda Síochána initiated a review of homicide classifications, initially for the period 2013-2015 but later extending the review to cover the period 2003-2017. An Garda Síochána is currently working, in conjunction with the CSO and the Policing Authority, to resolve this issue. This is obviously a time consuming and complex process but it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Preparations (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, he is working closely with all Ministers and Departments, including my Department, to address in a joined up manner, the many challenges Brexit will present. In keeping with Government policy, there are no plans to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Postal Codes (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I want to thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am assured that An Garda Síochána, and other emergency services, consider the use of Eircodes to be of vital assistance in locating the position of emergency callers, particularly in rural areas where non unique addresses can be a significant issue. Eircodes can assist on a practical level with preventing crime. An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána including personnel matters. 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 made of these resources. The Deputy will be aware An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána including personnel matters. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 30 April 2019, the total Garda strength was approximately 14,000. As of the same date, there were approximately 2,650 Garda Staff employed by An Garda Síochána undertaking a range...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 62 together. 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. However, I can assure the Deputy that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner and his management team are responsible for the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, and I have no role in such matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is not proposed to establish a specialist or dedicated transport policing unit of An Garda Síochána to police the rail network and that effective...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. The Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 includes the development of new Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. Very significant capital investment is also being made in Garda ICT, the Garda fleet and the Garda estate - in total, the Garda capital allocation has increased from €61 million to €92 million in 2019, which represents a 50%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that investing in the capacity of An Garda Síochána to tackle criminals and enforce the law effectively is a key objective of the Government's response to tackling crime. The Government has dedicated very significant resources to support An Garda Síochána in tackling the activities of criminal gangs, including mobile criminal gangs, that seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that sickness absences are recorded on the Sickness Management Absence System under the following categories: - Ordinary illness - Occupational injury/illness arising from duty - Critical illness I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I intend to publish proposals in 2019 for a new approach to handling family law cases in Ireland at District, Circuit and High Court levels. A Family Court Bill will be introduced to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structures. These courts will have new procedures aimed at less adversarial resolution of disputes and will have appropriate facilities and case...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (26 Jun 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There has been an unprecedented level of investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years. An allocation of €1.76 billion has been made to An Garda Síochána for 2019 and very significant capital investment is also being made, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021; and investment of €46 million in the...