Results 18,001-18,020 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 368 together. My Department has no role in the processing of individual vetting applications. The Garda National Vetting Bureau is led by the Chief Bureau Officer (Superintendent). There are also five Sergeants attached to the Bureau, in addition to its complement of Garda Staff personnel. The Garda authorities have informed me, as of 30 September...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Immigration Service of my Department has no role in the regulation of immigration consultants in what is a private arrangement between an applicant and any person they wish to engage to advise them. There are no current plans to introduce a system of regulation; however, the matter will be kept under review. I understand that a significant number of such consultants operate outside of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insurance Fraud (5 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Garda Commissioner has responsibility for management of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands. The Deputy will appreciate that the Commissioner is solely responsible for the allocation of personnel as well as organisational matters including the nature/number of Garda units involved in investigating any given...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Certificates (6 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Persons making an application for a certificate of naturalisation are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a current valid passport and may include other original supporting documents, such as a previously held or out of date passport, birth certificate and marriage certificate. In rare circumstances where an...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 87 and 94 together. It is a requirement under the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) that applicants submit detailed business plans. The Plans for Investment projects involving construction set out, in detail, the number of units to be constructed. In 2017, 5 nursing home projects and 566 social housing units were approved. In 2018, 4 nursing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Status (6 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together. I am aware that the recent judgment of the High Court relating to continuous residency under Section 15(1)(c) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 (as amended) has given cause for concern. The matter remains before the courts, with the Court of Appeal reserving judgement on the appeal on 8 October, and the matter, therefore,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (6 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Family Law Act 2019 was signed into law by the President on 25 October 2019 and makes a number of amendments to existing laws in relation to divorce in Ireland. The Act comprises 3 Parts in all, with Part 1 pertaining to the short title and commencement of the Act. Part 2 of the Act provides for amendments to Acts relating to family law. The main provision in Part 2 is section 3....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (6 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 specifies that, not later than 3 years after its commencement, the Minister for Justice and Equality shall cause a report to be prepared on the operation of Section 7A of the Act and cause this report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. This report is required to include information as to the number of arrests and...

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

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy is provided below in two separate tables. Applications for each of the options under the Immigrant Investor Programme made in the years 2017 and 2018. 2017 2018 Enterprise Investment 197 317 Investment Fund 81 32 REIT 1 1 ...

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

Charles Flanagan: The statistics requested by the Deputy are detailed in the table below. The Deputy should note that these figures are based on the date that a decision on the application was made and will include applications made in the preceding year. Number of grants made from 1 January 2017 to 31 August 2019 2017 2018 2019 (31 Aug) Total ...

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

Charles Flanagan: I take it that the Deputy's reference to visas refers to a permission to reside in Ireland rather than a permission to travel to Ireland. A visa would normally be placed in a person's passport by an Irish consular official outside the State to allow that person to travel to Ireland for a stated purpose. It may be necessary to issue a visa to a potential investor prior to the completion of...

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

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that my Department introduced enhanced due diligence checks in 2018 on all applicants to the Immigrant Investor Programme. This involved the utilisation of best in class compliance databases including politically exposed person checks. Further control measures were introduced from 1 January 2019 . All applicants must now provide a third party due diligence report from...

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

Charles Flanagan: The payment of fees by a charity or enterprise is a commercial matter to be decided upon by the responsible parties of the organisation and the policing of this is not a matter for this Department. The Charities Regulator is the competent authority with responsibility for the charities sector. My Department has, however, made it clear through information updates and engagement with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (6 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, and this includes the provision of information on the courts system. I have referred this question to the Courts Service. The Courts Service have advised they are compiling the requested...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I reject that in its entirety.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the deliberations in this House which gave rise to the passage of the legislation in question in the course of the summer months. I had a meeting with the Courts Service this morning. Obviously, there are issues involved in the setting up of a new board. In this regard, I assure Deputy Pearse Doherty and the House that the council will be set up by the end of the year.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh (Atógáil) - Questions on Promised Legislation (Resumed) (7 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am very pleased that this Bill will be enacted. I spoke to Senator Ó Céidigh last week, and I appeal to Deputy Troy that, when the matter comes before the House in the next few weeks, we can rely on his full co-operation to ease its passage through the House at the earliest opportunity. I expect that with the-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh (Atógáil) - Questions on Promised Legislation (Resumed) (7 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I expect that with the co-operation of Deputy Troy, we can have this Bill on the Statute Book by the end of this term.

Topical Issue Debate: Gangland Crime (7 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Fergus O'Dowd for again raising this matter. I condemn the violent loss of life that occurred on Monday last in Bettystown, County Meath. As Deputies will be aware, An Garda Síochána is conducting a full investigation into this matter and I am limited in what I can say about an operational matter. Deputy O'Dowd has been unstinting in his advocacy on this issue over...

Topical Issue Debate: Gangland Crime (7 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge what the Deputy said in respect of the administrative issue. I trust it is an operational issue that will be dealt with positively by An Garda Síochána. Over the past three years, and due to Government funding, the Garda strength in the northern region has increased to approximately 1,500. I take this opportunity to assure the Acting Chairman, Deputy Breathnach, and...