Results 17,921-17,940 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Transfers (8 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The transfer of sentenced persons and transfer of execution of sentences Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Council. The Bill once drafted will include provisions to give effect to certain European Union obligations regarding the transfer of Prisoners as well as to certain agreements between Ireland and other states. It is expected that when drafting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (8 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is the policy of the International Protection Office (IPO) to ensure that the special needs of vulnerable applicants such as those with reading difficulties and with disabilities such as visual impairments, are addressed at various stages of the investigation and determination process in that office. This includes when an application for international protection is first made and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies Reports (8 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The report to which the Deputy refers is a draft interim Internal Audit Report of the financial procedures in the Garda College prepared by the Internal Audit Section of An Garda Síochána. My Department received a copy of the draft report from An Garda Síochána's Head of the Internal Audit on 16 September 2016. I understand that the draft report was sent to all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Transfers (8 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As referred to by the Deputy, I understand that this matter relates to an Irish national serving a sentence in England and who was released recently with a requirement that he wear an electronic monitoring device until the end of March, 2017. I can only advise that if the person referred to wishes to return to Ireland they should contact their probation office in England to inform them...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (8 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of Public Works Properties (8 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The general position is that the properties which serve as Garda stations are owned or leased on behalf of the State by the Office of Public Works (OPW) which also has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. The Garda Station located at Upperchurch, Shevry, Co. Tipperary, is owned by the OPW which also has responsibility for the maintenance of the property.

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I join the Deputy in extending my sympathies to the families, the young children, the mum and her friend, who is seriously ill. I was saddened to hear about the tragic fire in Clondalkin and the circumstances surrounding it. My thoughts are with all of those involved, their relatives and friends. I am sure I speak for everyone in the House when I extend our sympathy to all the families. I...

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The first key point I will make to the Deputy is that we are investing more in the National Ambulance Service. I quite agree with Deputy Haughey that we do not want to lose any of the excellence and experience that has been built up over the years. We have a series of recommendations that will be discussed and considered by both Ministers. The funding considerations will form part of those...

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government plans are ambitious and funded. The Government recognises the significant challenges facing the housing market in Ireland. That is why we brought forward Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, which sets out a very practical and absolutely readily implementable set of time-based actions. This is what we are actually doing. It is a plan that will...

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are some other statistics that Deputy Ó Broin could have quoted, but which he would, of course, never quote, about the increased investment in this area. Budget 2017 provides for a 40% increase in the level of funding allocated nationally for housing authorities to manage homeless services - funding of approximately €98 million, compared to an initial provision of...

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Clearly, there is enormous demand, but there are several other statistics which I have given the Deputy today, such as the €32 million available for the repair and leasing scheme. That will bring back into use 800 vacant properties as new homes for families on local authority waiting lists.

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This funding is a front-loading of the €140 million being made available for the scheme over the next five years, and it targets 3,500 properties. Those are statistics the Deputy ought to be quoting.

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: These initiatives are helping real families find sustainable homes and they are taking families out of homelessness.

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy. As we know, PKU is a very debilitating condition and sufferers must have an extremely low-protein diet to avoid the worst effects of the disease. In Ireland we have a very comprehensive screening programme because, as the Deputy rightly said, there is a very high incidence compared with other countries. What is a needed is a lifetime management process for patients who...

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Kuvan is the other name for the drug I mentioned earlier. That was first sought in 2009 and it was refused due to lack of evidence of cost effectiveness at that time. As I said, a new application is currently under way. The Deputy asked about domiciliary care allowance, which is payable in respect of children under 16 years with a severe disability requiring care and attention. Of course,...

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: With regard to the Bill before the House, the idea of a €1 sanction for the intentional destruction of human life and of a Bill that would take away all discretion from a judge who would be dealing with such matters is not the direction we should go in. I believe that taking away all discretion from a trial judge is completely wrong. I believe that that Bill would protect abusers and...

Leaders' Questions (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let us look at what the Government has done already. The matter has been referred to the Citizens' Assembly. The timeline we are operating to at present is that we will have the report from the Citizens' Assembly in the first half of 2017. It will then be referred to the committee, which will be expected to report back within six months. That is the current timeline that we have, which...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Every action is being taken by the Minister and the Department of Health to deal with the ever-increasing demand on our health services. I will offer one example. Previously, 25,000 referrals used to be made per month by general practitioners. The figure is now at 35,000 per month for specialist services. People have higher and higher expectations, but of course we are all concerned about...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Howlin asked about access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. The Garda associations will meet the working group in the next fortnight to discuss in detail the various issues and the approach. My understanding is that there is no similar legislation planned for PDFORRA or the Defence Forces. Deputy Howlin asked about the particular issue of the payment of...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, has taken responsibility for the gambling legislation. He is hoping to prioritise it over the next couple of months. He has been meeting the various stakeholders. He is considering certain elements of the legislation that might be brought forward separately because the planned gambling control Bill is rather large. However, I will ask the Minister of...