Results 17,561-17,580 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Equality Policy (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have been busy too.

Other Questions: Equality Policy (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: A number of other initiatives come under the positive duty to promote equality. Last week we launched the integration strategy which has been widely welcomed by groups working on integration around the country. It is important that we have a strong integration policy because if we do not we will build up problems for the future. It is a very comprehensive integration strategy. I...

Other Questions: Garda Operations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We had a discussion on the points the Deputy made. We need to make sure that An Garda Síochána is resourced in a way that enables it to conduct effective policing in line with the best policing methods. As the Deputy said, that includes more resources. In his question the Deputy has described what he thinks is needed. There needs to be better use of mobile technology. We...

Other Questions: Garda Operations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will make a particular inquiry regarding what the Deputy has mentioned. The investment we have provided so far has been used to provide the Garda with additional high-powered vehicles, marked and unmarked patrol cars and motorcycles to ensure they can be mobile, visible and responsive. Some €46 million has been allocated under our capital plan for the Garda fleet for the next...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Partnership Government states that "Long durations in direct provision are acknowledged to have a negative impact on family life. We are therefore committed to reforming the Direct Provision system, with particular focus on families and children."I can therefore assure the House and the Deputy that the rights and needs of children are at the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Authority (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The establishment of the new Policing Authority has been both a welcome and, I think, necessary addition to the policing landscape in the State. It has brought a dedicated layer of public accountability to the operation of policing services and it represents one of the most significant and progressive reforms to the justice sector over recent years. Indeed, the recent transfer of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems Provision (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very conscious of the value that communities, especially rural communities, place on CCTV as a means of deterring crime and assisting in the detection of offenders. Indeed, as far back as 2005, my Department launched a Community-based CCTV Scheme to provide financial assistance to qualifying organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Report (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Magdalen Laundries Restorative Justice Ex Gratia Scheme was initiated following the publication of the report in February, 2013 of an Inter-Departmental Committee set up to establish the facts of the State's involvement with the Magdalen Laundries. It was chaired by then Senator Martin McAleese and it is commonly referred to as the McAleese report. The material in the Report relates to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government, in its Programme for a Partnership Government, identified community policing as the embodiment of An Garda Síochána. Community policing provides a means of recognising that every community, both urban and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. The Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government, in its Programme for a Partnership Government, identified community policing as the embodiment of An Garda Síochána. Community policing provides a means of recognising that every community, both urban and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. The Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 is intended to professionalise, modernise and renew An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in a number of provincial court offices. However, in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Before the migrant crisis escalated, my predecessor introduced a Syrian Humanitarian Admissions Programme (SHAP) subject to certain conditions, including economic dependency, being met. This was superseded by the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) which allows for Syrians and other nationalities to benefit from resettlement and relocation schemes, and offers them protection in Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Issues (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Maintaining the Common Travel Area (CTA) is one of the four headline priorities for Ireland following the UK departure from the EU. The Common Travel Area has been in existence since Irish independence. It allows freedom of travel between the two jurisdictions for Irish and UK citizens, and provides for largely reciprocal benefits of citizenship, in terms of entitlements to reside, work...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (16 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 Investigations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have sought a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter in question and I will respond directly to the Deputy when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: To coincide with the first anniversary of the publication of the McMahon Report on June 30, 2015, an audit of progress on the implementation of the recommendations was compiled. When Minister Stanton and I published this audit of progress, I gave a clear commitment that the process of implementation would continue, and I was pleased to note the considerable progress made at that stage. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the statistics requested by the Deputy and I will contact the Deputy directly upon receipt of the relevant information.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Action Number 76 of the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, "Realising Our Rural Potential", published on 23 January 2017, provided a commitment to conduct a revaluation of commercial properties in nine rural counties to ensure fairness and equity in the levying of commercial rates on business with a view to rolling out to further counties in 2017. The Valuation Office is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Applications for refugee status and subsidiary protection were until 30 December, 2016, investigated by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). On 31 December, 2016 the International Protection Act 2015 was commenced. The Act has introduced a single application procedure within our international protection process bringing Ireland in line with other EU States. Under the...