Results 17,201-17,220 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Committee Report on Garda Oversight and Accountability: Motion (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: December.

Committee Report on Garda Oversight and Accountability: Motion (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all Members for their contributions to what has been a very balanced debate. I also take the opportunity, as Deputy Jim O'Callaghan did, to welcome Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, with Mr. Toland and other representatives of GSOC. I thank them publicly for their work and leadership. As everyone has agreed, oversight and accountability are extremely important. Equally, members of An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Common Travel Area (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Common Travel Area has been in existence since Irish independence and has its origin in the close historic relationship between Ireland and the UK. While not addressed in a discrete piece of legislation, or one formal agreement, both jurisdictions have made administrative and legal provisions over many years as necessary to give effect to its operation. Of particular note, insofar as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána does not charge a fee for the processing of Garda Vetting applications by the National Vetting Bureau. The question of fees, if any, that may be charged by a given organisation for the administrative services it provides to applicants is a matter for the individual organisation concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Report (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This question appears to relate to two separate ongoing actions relating to the operation of Ex Gratia Magdalene Restorative Justice Scheme administered by my Department. The first involves Judicial Review cases currently before the High Court taken by two applicants who were refused compensation as neither had been resident in one of the 12 specified institutions provided for under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ground Rents Abolition (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As regards the abolition of ground rents, the position is that this matter was examined in detail by the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution in their Report entitled 'Private Property'. The Committee took the view that a ground landlord's ground rent is a form of property right which is constitutionally protected and that abolition of such rents would be unconstitutional in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 to 52, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (2 Feb 2017)

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 Units and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme was undertaken with the objective of identifying opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation and concluded that a revised district and station network commensurate with the organisation’s resource base...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Registration (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Jury Service (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, there is no statutory requirement for gender balance on juries. Section 11 of the Juries Act 1976 as amended provides that each county registrar, using a procedure of random or other non-discriminatory selection, shall draw up a panel of jurors for one or more courts within a jury district from the register or registers delivered to him under section 10 (omitting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, 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, which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no direct role in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to refer the Deputy to reply given to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 31 January 2017 from Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice the text of which is as follows:I can confirm to the Deputy that the establishment of a dedicated new court to sensitively and expeditiously handle mortgage arrears and other personal insolvency cases continues to be examined by my Department. As the Deputy will also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Re-examination (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is the subject of a deportation order made on 17 January 2013. Representations were received from the person concerned requesting that the Deportation Order be revoked, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). The documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State in 2001. This permission was renewed on a regular basis with the latest permission expiring on 6 February 2016. A request for renewal of residency is being considered by the relevant Section of the INIS. On 31 January...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that INIS has no record of an application by the person concerned to remain in this State based on their relationship to the EU national mentioned by the Deputy. The Deputy will appreciate that INIS is not in a position to review residency and facilitate registration where no residence application has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Re-examination (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned has not submitted written representations. The position in the State of the person concerned will now be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, as stated in my reply to previous parliamentary question number 55 of 24 November 2016, the first person mentioned by the Deputy entered the State on 28 April 2005 and was granted a maximum 90 days visitor's permission at the point of entry. The second person mentioned by the Deputy entered the...