Results 18,221-18,240 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Underage Drinking (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is there are robust provisions in place regarding the sale and the consumption of intoxicating liquor by persons under the age of 18 years. The law in this area was most recently amended by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, which amended the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 with the aim of reducing access to alcohol and at the same...

Other Questions: Underage Drinking (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree with the Deputy. As a mother of three sons who are thankfully now older, I can empathise with her concerns about young people. We have to approach this on a number of different levels. Enforcement is one part. My own view is that the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is really important legislation. I am struck again and again by the ambivalent attitudes often displayed in this House...

Other Questions: Underage Drinking (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The antisocial behaviour we can see on streets and in estates and communities is very upsetting for local residents. The Deputy made that point very clearly. It is a very important part of local policing. There are now some new initiatives in the parks. The police are working where young people are gathering and getting to know them, and they are interrupting anti-social behaviour. We...

Other Questions: Stardust Fire (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Judge McCartan began his work on Monday, 27 March, and it is hoped that he can conclude his assessment process within the 90-day period. The Government agreed on 7 March to appoint Judge McCartan to assess any new and updated evidence uncovered by the Stardust Relatives and Victims Committee in order to recommend whether there should another commission of investigation into the Stardust...

Other Questions: Stardust Fire (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have set up this part of the work very much based on what was discussed in the context of the Dáil motion. What is important now is that Judge McCartan has offices, support and an e-mail address. I have made it very clear about the evidence the committee may have, the fact it can get representation and that we would hope to deal with the historical issue. Judge McCartan will now...

Other Questions: Stardust Fire (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let us be very clear. The Government agreed to appoint Judge McCartan to assess new and updated evidence uncovered by the Stardust Relatives and Victims Committee in order to recommend whether there should be a commission of investigation into the Stardust tragedy of 1981. It will be done completely independently of Government. Obviously, the work that was done in the Dáil and the...

Other Questions: Garda Recruitment (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will circulate the details to the Deputy on the numbers in the Cork west division. In 2014, the personnel strength was 271, in 2015, it was 276, in 2016, it was 281 and it is now 282. Five of the newly-attested gardaí were stationed in that area in 2015. I made the point earlier to one of the Deputy's colleagues that as recruitment continues and as we have more newly-attested...

Other Questions: Garda Recruitment (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The years during which Templemore was closed as a result of the economic situation had a very serious impact right around the country. The Deputy quoted the figures for her own area. Closing Templemore had a huge impact because recruitment was stopped. If recruitment is stopped, we do not have the people to station in areas like the Deputy's. We had to deal with that situation when we...

Other Questions: Garda Recruitment (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take the Deputy's point. Decisions were taken on the best way to provide policing in this country and stations were closed. However, the key point is that it was the Deputy's party which presided over the economic recession that led to the decision to close Templemore. That is the reality of the situation. Fianna Fáil closed Templemore and I opened it. The Government is investing....

Other Questions: Garda Stations (30 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 her, including in relation to Garda stations. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána district and station rationalisation programme, which we have just been discussing, gave rise to the closure in 2012 and 2013 of 139 Garda...

Other Questions: Garda Stations (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Clearly this is a decision that will be made by An Garda Síochána. I have no doubt that the needs of a whole variety of areas will have to be taken into account, but equally when the Inspectorate is looking at what areas ought to have resources, they will be taking into account precisely the points the Deputy has made. They will be taking account of the changing environment in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Promotions (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Policing Authority is an independent statutory body established on 1 January 2016 to, amongst other things, oversee the performance of the Garda Síochána in relation to policing services, to promote public awareness of policing matters and to promote and support the continuous improvements in policing in Ireland. A key function of the Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Malta Declaration, agreed by members of the European Council on 3 February, 2017. The declaration seeks to reduce migratory flows and disrupt smuggling networks along the Central Mediterranean route by working with the main country of departure, Libya. The European Union (EU) will seek to, inter alia, build capacity for the Libyan coast guard...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Report (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In February, 2013 the report of an Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of the State's involvement with the Magdalen Laundries was published. That report was chaired by then Senator Martin McAleese and it is commonly referred to as the McAleese report. The material in the Report relates to 10 different institutions which were run by 4 different Orders of nuns over a period of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As outlined in my previous response, the Legal Aid Board is committed to providing all international protection clients with early legal advice and to support this function the Government provided funding to the Board for additional staff. The budget assigned to the Board for the use of private solicitors where necessary has also been increased. I am informed by the Legal Aid Board that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my response to her Question No. 62 of Thursday, 16 February in which I explained Ireland's obligations under the Geneva Convention. Persons who claim protection in the State will have their application fully considered under the International Protection Act 2015 which gives effect to the State's obligations under the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (30 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 her, 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 in 2012 and 2013 of some 139 Garda stations, including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Procedures (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been very clear in expressing my very serious concerns over the past week in relation to the extent of the road traffic enforcement issues highlighted by An Garda Síochána and the significant numbers of errors involved, not to mention the considerable number of individuals who are affected by these errors. As we have seen from the figures released over the past week by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (30 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...