Results 17,381-17,400 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the position remains as stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 15 December 2016. As outlined then, it is open to the applicants to make fresh visa applications at any time. It would be advisable to address the original refusal issues and provide any additional information they...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation relating to disclosures by members of An Garda Síochána: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Members of this House for agreeing to statements being taken on this important matter in the House today. As the House will be aware I have laid the relevant material before the House to give full effect to the recommendations of Mr Justice O'Neill. However, before moving to seek approval for the relevant motion I believe it is sensible that we discuss these matters here first. I...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation relating to disclosures by members of An Garda Síochána: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Members for their contributions today, which I have noted, on this important matter. Before finalising the terms of reference, I was very keen to hear the views of Members of the Dáil and Seanad. I am open to making improvements that can be agreed to the terms of reference. I have already indicated that I am open to accepting amendments that will clarify the two issues which...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear, hear.

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: He wants to convict before he hears the evidence.

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is outrageous.

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I did not.

Order of Business (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: One will scupper it.

Order of Business (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The spokespeople.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, they will be circulated.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome this opportunity to put on the record of the House certain matters. I want to deal with the events of last week. Last Tuesday, I brought a memorandum to Government to seek approval for the establishment of a commission of investigation under Supreme Court judge, Mr. Justice Peter Charleton. That memorandum arose in the context of protected disclosures which had been made to me by...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I got a phone call from Deputy O'Callaghan at about 6.30 p.m. last Wednesday. He asked me if I would meet him and I left the parliamentary party meeting and went to meet him. We had a discussion for about 12 minutes. Deputy O'Callaghan informed me that there was a "Prime Time" programme the next evening. He used the word "documentary" in relation to Maurice McCabe and the allegations. He...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy O'Callaghan made an extremely strong case that he felt the way the terms of reference were formulated as the judge presented them - because they were the judge's words - regarding the allegation of a smear campaign in Superintendent Taylor's protected disclosure was too narrow. The Deputy spent most of the time talking to me about how it circumscribed the investigation too much and...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The first point I would make to Deputy O'Callaghan is that if he was so concerned about Tusla being included in the terms of reference, why did he not raise it himself? Why did he not raise it in his speech? I came in here last Thursday and asked for statements so I could take on board the point of view of everybody here. I was completely flexible in terms of what I wanted to include in...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was not aware of what was in the Tusla file prior to the programme being broadcast and neither were my officials. Nobody had brought it to my attention.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have said consistently, in terms of the facts as they emerged on the programme regarding false allegations, the first time that I heard of those details was when I went home and saw the "Prime Time" programme. I had never been briefed on a Tusla file. I did not know whether there was any Garda involvement, for example, with Tusla in regard to Maurice McCabe. I never knew there was a...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Many whistleblower cases come to my attention. I cannot investigate them myself but I have the responsibility to pass those on to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. It has been noted publicly, and I can confirm, that in one of those cases there was a mention of Tusla and that was passed on to GSOC for investigation.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: No.

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: First of all, let me correct Deputy Coppinger. It would be illegal for me to read the transcripts of the O'Higgins commission. They are meant to be under lock and key for 30 years except that GSOC went to court a few weeks ago to have access to them because I had asked GSOC to investigate and the court decided it could access those records. Just be very clear, I would have no right to read...

Clarification of Statements made by the Taoiseach and Ministers: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me clarify this. With regard to Sergeant Maurice McCabe and the various issues he has unearthed, I must agree with the Deputy. I have already spoken in the Dáil about the changes he has brought about, for example, with regard to penalty points and the issues that arose subsequent to the O'Higgins commission where a huge amount of action has followed given the points he raised...