Results 17,541-17,560 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I met with the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, last Monday, 6 February in London. Discussions between the Home Secretary and myself focused on the ongoing co-operation between Ireland and the United Kingdom on criminal justice and security matters. These meetings form part of the regular engagement my Department has with our counterparts in the UK to support ongoing co-operation on these...

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It has long been the case that as part of the common travel area arrangements, Ireland and the United Kingdom co-operate very closely on jointly securing the external border of the common travel area. We will continue to co-operate and strengthen that co-operation in the future. The common travel area has been in existence since Irish Independence. It allows freedom of travel between the...

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I said, it has been an absolute priority at every engagement Irish Ministers have had with their UK counterparts to highlight our priorities regarding Brexit. They are about the common travel area and maintaining the peace process. We have had a variety of statements from UK Ministers highlighting how much they value the common travel area. Article 50 has not been triggered yet. There...

Other Questions: Policing Issues (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The UK's undercover policing inquiry was established by the British Government in 2015 in order to investigate and to report on the undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968. It is chaired by Lord Justice Christopher Pitchford. That was a matter solely for the British Government in accordance with UK law. It is established...

Other Questions: Policing Issues (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have already told the Deputy what the situation has been when other countries requested it. The Home Secretary, having considered the representations, decided the terms of reference of the inquiry would not be amended. That is the first point, which is a really practical point on the UK approach to any extension of the terms of reference. The Deputy mentioned a particular person....

Other Questions: Policing Issues (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: If somebody has been raped of course I would have concerns, whatever the context. If there is evidence of this, clearly it should be brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána. I would assume if it has there will be a file and an effort to investigate it if there is evidence to be pursued in the courts. Asking me whether I would have concern about a woman who has been raped,...

Other Questions: Garda Reports (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Commissioner’s report explained that the assistance of police officers from other jurisdictions in intelligence gathering may be a necessary tactic in the circumstances where external activists whose identities are unknown to local police seek to engage in certain activities that need to be investigated. The report also stated that the capacity of An Garda Síochána to...

Other Questions: Garda Reports (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy has spoken about a rape allegation by a particular person, whom he has named. I cannot and will not start discussing individual cases. Where information is brought to my attention about operational matters relating to a crime, I will ensure it is passed to the relevant people, as I have done, for proper investigation and follow-up.

Other Questions: Garda Reports (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the Deputy wishes to correspond with me directly on these points, I will be happy to come back to him on them.

Other Questions: Road Safety (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I have discussed road safety already today with Deputy O'Callaghan. I am deeply conscious of the serious issue of road safety and mindful of the increase in 2016 of road traffic fatalities and the consequences for everyone. The Deputy will be aware that I have no direct role in the enforcement of road traffic legislation, which is an...

Other Questions: Road Safety (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: An Garda Síochána has announced that there will be a 10% increase in the traffic corps in the course of this year, which should greatly help with enforcement. At the meeting I referred to, An Garda Síochána said it was intended to have a stronger focus on road traffic enforcement in the training provided to new recruits at Templemore. This is important given that we are...

Other Questions: Industrial Relations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Just a few days ago, in fact, I had a meeting with one of the Garda representative associations to discuss this important issue. The Government has made it clear that it is committed to introducing legislative change to give Garda associations the right of access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. We are certainly not resiling from that commitment, as I assured the...

Other Questions: Industrial Relations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is an issue about which there was much concern and discussion given the events of last year. It is one of the many complex issues that will have to be considered carefully. It is critical that we have effective and robust mechanisms in place for industrial relations in An Garda Síochána. The question of a trade union is one of the key issues but there are a number of other...

Other Questions: Industrial Relations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The working group considering these matters is to report by 31 May. Receipt of that report will allow for the drafting of the heads of the Bill to be undertaken. We must have this legislation in place by the end of the year, so this might be something for the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality to consider. I totally agree with the Deputy that this is a topic for consideration by the...

Other Questions: Garda Equipment (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for his question. I think I have put this on the record before. I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently some 178 stations that are not connected to the Garda network. 5 o’clock Members in non-networked locations can contact the Garda information services centre 24 hours a day to log an incident or access information from the PULSE system...

Other Questions: Garda Equipment (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is essential that we get to the point where gardaí have access not only to PULSE but to broader mobile technology solutions. It is essential. I have seen in other countries how police can access a whole range of information on their mobile phones. We must get to that point here. I knew when I became Minister that we needed this new investment. That is there and the issue is one...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: GSOC is a very important body and Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring is the chairperson. I thank her and the other commissioners for their work. It is very important that we have confidence in its work and that An Garda Síochána has confidence in it too. That means the public will have confidence as they need to know that very important role is being carried out effectively and...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The review is at a very early stage. I only met the judge a few weeks ago. However, it can be done in the short term and we can consider the various issues the Deputy raises. The legislation will go to pre-legislative scrutiny. I intend to take on board the various points the judge has made and which the justice committee discussed with her. I want to identify how we can move ahead...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Certainly.

Other Questions: Equality Policy (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act that creates an obligation on a public body to have regard to the need to promote equality was something I dealt with in the Seanad. I accepted an amendment because I thought it would a very useful power for the Irish Human Rights and Quality Commission to possess. In conversations with the chair of the body, she confirmed...