Results 18,061-18,080 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We all know what the country has been through and what decisions were necessary. As soon as the economy had recovered and we were in the position to invest again, this Government showed its goodwill to those services by investing. There was an 11% increase this year and a 13% increase last year and Bus Éireann received a 21% increase in PSO funding in 2016. I do not believe what the...

Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy well knows, Bord na Móna is a commercial State company and the management and operation of briquette factories is an operational matter for the company and not one in which the Government has any direct role or function. However, I recognise the points the Deputy has made on the concerns of the employees in both places at present. Bord na Móna is facing significant...

Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister to liaise directly with Deputy Lowry on this issue. It is planned to run further biomass production trials alongside peat briquette production in the next few months, with a view to completing a detailed business case for this product. The business case will consider the location for the commercial scale biomass plant. If or when this product is developed, it will...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The heads of a commercial rates Bill are due in April. I will ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, to contact the Deputies specifically on the classification of the equine industry, on which I do not have details. Given the concerns raised by the Deputies, I will ask the Minister to communicate directly with them on the reasons for...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katherine Zappone, will publish the report by the end of this month. The Minister will address all the relevant issues at that time and the Government will consider them at that point.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister to liaise with the Deputy directly on where that programme for Government commitment is at.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, the relevant Minister.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We are all concerned to ensure that all premises are secured as much as possible, including this one. I assure the Deputy that the safety and security of locations around the country, including this one, is of prime concern to An Garda Síochána and it has all relevant initiatives under way. The recruitment of 800 gardaí this year is an important part of having a proper...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the work the Deputy has put into this Bill and its importance. It is in the lottery for Private Members' Bills and we will await it emerging from there.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007. They are a matter in the first instance for the Garda Commissioner. I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that this case is ongoing and that the matters referred to in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible the allocation of all resources, including personnel, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I have requested the specific information sought, from the Commissioner and when it is to hand I will forward it to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda College (23 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 the College and its facilities, and I as Minister have no role in the matter. The Deputy will be aware that the College is in the ownership of the Office of Public Works which has the responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and distribution of Garda resources and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter. I have asked the Commissioner for the specific information requested by the Deputy and, when it is to hand, I will inform him accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the tables. Private Security Authority The Private Security Authority (PSA) uses Mediavest, the organisation that holds the Department contract for the purpose of running all information campaigns in the print and broadcast media, to conduct its radio broadcast campaigns. On this basis the PSA does not pay such broadcasters directly and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (23 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: Garda Data (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including to the Garda Traffic Corps and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Commissioner that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (23 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to these matters and I will contact the Deputy directly when the report is to hand.

An Garda Síochána: Statements (28 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome this opportunity to address these important and very disturbing issues. First of all I want to stress again, as I have already and as the Taoiseach did during Leaders’ Questions, the utmost seriousness with which the Government and I as Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality regard these issues. It is essential that the Government, the Oireachtas and all our...

An Garda Síochána: Statements (28 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Have we changed the procedure? Are there not statements now?

An Garda Síochána: Statements (28 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Whatever the Ceann Comhairle likes.