Results 18,201-18,220 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: In fact, he has a direct familial link in that area - again, importance by way of assistance. The systems must also have received the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner. I do not believe this is an issue of mirth-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: -----but I would be very keen to assist any local groups that Deputy Byrne believes would like to avail of assistance from the Department of Justice and Equality. I would be keen to ensure that any community group, provided it meets the legal requirements, may be assisted under what is an attractive grant aid scheme.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Advice (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am acutely aware of the particular difficulties victims of sexual offences encounter during the investigation and prosecution process. This question concerns section 26(3A) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as amended, which provides for legal advice to be made available, free of contribution and without any means or merits criteria, to complainants in prosecutions for rape and certain...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Advice (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I would be happy to take serious note of any point raised by Deputy Pringle or any other Deputy if there is a scheme of further information that might be applied in certain circumstances. The legal advice, the legal aid service, is available right throughout the country. The Legal Aid Board provides legal aid and advice primarily through the network of law centres and the solicitors...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Advice (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I reject the Deputy's assertion that the law in this area is so outdated as to be less than relevant.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Advice (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I point, for example, to the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, which has extended the circumstances under which legal aid and advice may be proper to alleged victims and complainants, and to the Victims of Crime Act 2017, which has created a number of statutory rights for victims of crime, including the rights to receive comprehensive, timely advice, and to access appropriate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Law Reform Proposals (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I will do it within the time provided. I welcome the recent publication of this very comprehensive report of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, of which the Deputy is a member and which is chaired by Deputy Ó Caoláin. I acknowledge the importance of the committee's work and congratulate the committee on the important level of public engagement that has taken place in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Law Reform Proposals (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The development of sensible, comprehensive and sensitive family law procedures, particularly for vulnerable families, will be central to the new system. I will be proposing to Government within coming weeks that these procedures should encompass access to appropriate information and advice regarding the law and the important matter of alternative dispute resolution services such as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Law Reform Proposals (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I want to see the Hammond Lane project started and completed at the earliest opportunity. I met people from the Courts Service about this last week. Deputy O'Callaghan will understand that there are a number of interested parties, including the Office of Public Works, the National Development Finance Agency, the Courts Service and my own Department. I am keen to ensure that we see progress...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wards of Court (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been fully commenced. As Deputy Connolly will be aware, the High Court has jurisdiction in wards of court matters. Management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. To be of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wards of Court (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wards of Court (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am very conscious of the point raised by the Deputy and I am also very conscious of her interest and that of others in this House in this area of law over several years. I am very keen to see progress on the implementation of the legislation as enacted. The commencement of Part 8 of the Act, which provides for a legislative framework for advanced healthcare directives, is a matter for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wards of Court (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am sure the Deputy will agree that it is necessary that all the appropriate administrative processes and support measures including the setting up of the DSS within the Mental Health Commission are put in place before the substantive provisions of the 2015 Act can be brought into operation. Indeed the substantive provisions will be commenced when the director of the DSS is ready to roll...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Dealing (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I share the Deputy's concern about the destructive impact which anti-social behaviour and drug-dealing can have on communities and the importance of tackling such behaviour effectively, both for the communities and for those involved in drug taking which leads to so many drug-related deaths in our communities. Government policy is guided by the national drugs strategy "Reducing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Dealing (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The House will appreciate that my responsibility is within the criminal justice area. I remind the House of the work of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, a body that is having significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland as well as organised crime groups. Since its establishment in March 2015, the bureau, which now has 105...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Dealing (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I mentioned the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and its importance. I will not repeat my comments in that regard but I will add that the divisional drugs units, to which more than 220 Garda personnel are currently assigned, are also tackling drug-related crime on a local basis throughout the country, supported, as needed, by the national bureau. Targeted intelligence-led...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Visits (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that high level visits to Ireland are of significant importance in the development and maintenance of our relations with other States.  Such visits are to be welcomed and offer important opportunities to us, as a small outward-looking State, for positive engagement with partners.  In terms of the cost associated with the visit to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: 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 been advised by the Courts Service that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cyberbullying Issues (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I appreciate the deeply harmful effects which cyberbullying can have on persons who experience that or other harmful online behaviours.  These experiences can be devastating for those concerned. In that context, I welcome the successful conviction last week in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of a man for a sustained campaign of harassment conducted against a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (20 Nov 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together. As the Deputy will be aware, Tom O’ Malley, Senior Lecturer in Law at the National University of Ireland, Galway and member of the Law Reform Commission, is chairing the working group carrying out this review. He is joined by representatives of the Garda Síochána, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the...