Results 17,481-17,500 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Retention (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 to 654, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the law in this area continues to evolve in light of emerging jurisprudence in the national courts of the Member States and the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Ireland, along with many other Member States, is currently intervening in the European Court of Justice in a number of important...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the primary purpose of the employment vetting, carried out by the National Vetting Bureau, is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.  It is carried out by An Garda Síochána, primarily in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016, and is, as I am sure you...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: My Department engages external service providers to carry out independent assessments and investigations on disclosures received, relying on an Office of Government Procurement national framework and contractual terms which clearly set out the protections provided to persons under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.  This includes a confidentiality clause.   ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can advise the Deputy that the person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order signed on 7 September 2018. Representations have been received by the Immigration Service of my Department on behalf of the person concerned, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), requesting that the deportation order be revoked.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can advise the Deputy that comprehensive guidelines for all types of visa applications are published on the Immigration Service website ().  The guidance for a visa for the purpose of joining family members residing in Ireland refers applicants to the Government Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification.  The criteria set out in that policy is used in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the 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), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that addressing local community concerns in relation to public order and anti-social behaviour is a key focus for An Garda Síochána.  I would remind her that the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing placed a particular emphasis on the importance of community policing, in which front-line Gardaí are visible and engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cyber Security Protocols (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: My Department employs dedicated professionally trained cybersecurity personnel and recruits additional specialists when needed.  The Department also retains external cybersecurity expertise and utilises this service as necessary. A risk register is maintained within the Department and any breaches to security are reported to management for evaluation and response.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Operations (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Department has in place arrangements and communication protocols to be utilised in extreme weather or other events that render workplace environments inaccessible.  As part of this, the Department has established remote working provisions for key staff to ensure the continuity of core business activities and customer services in emergency situations. The Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme Applications (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 663 and 664 together. I am informed by the Immigration Service of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy made an application under the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) on 24 May 2019, which is currently being processed. Successful applicants under the IIP and their nominated family members may be granted a residence permission in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the manner in which the resources of An 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 understand that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Procedures (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: First, I note that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.  The allocation of Garda resources is also a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: General Data Protection Regulation (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) is the national independent authority responsible for upholding the fundamental right of individuals in the EU to have their personal data protected. I can confirm that the Data Protection Commission is currently engaging with the company/s in question in relation to the issues raised in the recent media coverage.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy may know, section 23 of the Betting Act 1931, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance,  currently governs this area. The Act provides that "no licensed bookmaker – land based or remote - shall make a bet or engage in a betting transaction with a person under the age of eighteen years whether such person is acting on his own behalf or as agent for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed by the Immigration Service of my Department that the person concerned has an on-going application for temporary and limited permission to remain, which was received on 12 August 2019. The Deputy will appreciate that, in the interests of fairness, applications are dealt with in chronological order. I understand that the application is currently under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms and Ammunition Security (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to confirm for the Deputy that a number of regulations are already in place in relation to storage of firearms and ammunition in Ireland. The Firearms (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 2009 (SI No. 307 of 2009) introduced regulations governing the secure storage of firearms in the home.  These regulations set out the minimum security standards in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Regulations (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can advise the Deputy that while I am aware of the organisation’s concerns in relation to this particular issue, the matter is outside of my remit as Minister for Justice and Equality. As my Department has no function in the matter, I would encourage the organisation in question to raise this matter directly with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Dealing (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Garda authorities that there have been increased seizures of cocaine and evidence of increased circulation of the drug in Ireland. The same trend can be observed in other European countries, which is an unfortunate and worrying development. As the Deputy may be aware, from a health perspective, cocaine remains the third most common drug reported...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 677 to 679, inclusive, together. The Garda Commissioner has responsibility for managing An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the manner in which Gardaí are deployed. As Minister I have no direct role in that matters. I understand however...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (6 Sep 2019)

Charles Flanagan: There has been very significant investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years.  €1.76 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019, in addition to capital investment amounting to €92 million this year.  I would remind the Deputy that the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote.  He is...