Results 17,981-18,000 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of Public Works Properties (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the land referred to by the Deputy was purchased by the Office of Public Works in 2007 and that its Property Management Services Unit is responsible for the lands and any rental contracts.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 6 December 2016 and the written reply to that question. While the position remains the same, it is, of course, open to this individual to seek independent legal advice in relation to their concerns if they so wish. Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 93 on 6 December, 2016. I am advised that the matters referred to have been the subject...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, following the approval of Government for the drafting of the Heads of a Bill to afford the Garda Associations access to the Workplace Relations Commissions and the Labour Court, a Working Group to assist in the consideration of these matters was established. In addition to the technical legislative changes that will be required, a number of important and complex...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the person concerned made an application to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) at the end of January 2017, for permission to remain in the State as the spouse of an Irish National, and that this application is currently being processed. All applications are dealt with in strict chronological order and the processing time can take several months. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It has not been possible to finalise this reply in the time available. I will provide the information sought by the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Decisions on valuation appeals are a matter for the Valuation Tribunal which is a statutorily independent body established to hear appeals against determinations of the Commissioner of Valuation. I, as Minister for Minister for Justice and Equality, have no role in either of the decision-making processes. The revaluation provisions in the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Time Zones (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, Winter time begins at 1:00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on the last Sunday in October every year when clocks are put back by one hour. Winter time ends at 1:00 a.m. GMT on the last Sunday in March of the following year when clocks are put forward one hour, signalling the start of summer time. These arrangements are set out in the Winter Time Order 2001 which gives...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiries into Garda Activities (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Inquiry to which the Deputy refers is to be established following my acceptance of a recommendation by the panel of the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), the role of which was to review complaints of Garda misconduct or failings in investigations carried out by An Garda Síochána. Arising from its recommendations, I have decided, in the case mentioned, to establish an inquiry...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiries into Garda Activities (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The particular case to which the Deputy refers was amongst those considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). A panel consisting of two senior and five junior counsel was established for that purpose. I would like to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate it is the responsibility of Government to decide polices for the management of migration and the control of our borders in the public interest. The simple fact that someone may wish to settle here as a retired person does not, of itself, create an entitlement for that person to do so. Over a number of years retired persons seeking to come to Ireland to live has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Facilities (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has commenced the repurposing of the Training Unit Place of Detention (on the Mountjoy Prison Campus) to a dedicated Unit for older prisoners. A key action of the current Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan (Action 2.5) is to ensure that older prisoners are identified as a specific group who have particular needs within the prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government has, in its Programme for a Partnership Government, recognised the importance of community policing. It commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and responsive policing in every community throughout the country in order to provide reassurance to citizens and prevent crime. This commitment is underlined by very significant investments...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT, 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: Prison Facilities (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has commenced the repurposing of the Training Unit Place of Detention (on the Mountjoy Prison Campus) to a dedicated Unit for older prisoners. A key action of the current Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan (Action 2.5) is to ensure that older prisoners are identified as a specific group who have particular needs within the prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, including in relation to Garda stations. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme gave rise to the closure of some 139 Garda stations, including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the training of its members and civilian staff and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. The Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 commits An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies Contracts (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together. I can confirm that my Department and its agencies have not entered into any contracts with the company in question.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Assets Bureau takes actions under the Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996 to 2016 to deprive or to deny persons of assets which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly from criminal conduct; or the benefit of such assets. Sections 2 and 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 provide the mechanism under which the Bureau can apply to the High Court seeking to freeze or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have asked the CSO to forward the available statistics in relation to the information requested directly to the Deputy.