Results 18,481-18,500 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I have an open mind. The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, who works most assiduously in this challenging area, and I are anxious to look beyond the private sector. We are now looking at State lands and premises across the public sector estate to explore the idea of the public sector playing its part in making suitable premises available, if possible. It is important that at all times we...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to speak about this legislation. I appreciate the committee making time today not only for the Supplementary Estimates, but also for this Bill. I acknowledge that this meeting falls in the middle of a busy week, and indeed, that any time is a busy time for this committee. I very much welcome this opportunity. I am joined by my senior officials: Ms...

Scouting Ireland: Statements: Drugs Dealing (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I take very seriously the points raised by Deputy Crowe and I acknowledge his work over many years on behalf of communities in his constituency. Tackling the sale and supply of drugs is a key priority for the Government and An Garda Síochána. The Garda is pursuing a number of strategies to tackle drug trafficking by organised criminal gangs, including the following: gathering...

Scouting Ireland: Statements: Drugs Dealing (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not at all doubt the seriousness of the issue the Deputy raised. I stress that Ireland's national drug strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to the problem of drug and alcohol use in Ireland and adopts a balanced, health-led approach, aiming to reduce demand for, as well as access to, illicit drugs. I acknowledge the leadership in this regard of my colleague, the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Vehicle Registration (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is examining this matter and a response will issue directly to him in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached record levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion, increasing to an unprecedented €1.88 billion for 2020. The capital budget for An Garda Síochána has also been significantly increased. The capital allocation for 2019 amounted to €92 million, representing a 50%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I regret that the information requested by the Deputy could not be compiled in the time available but I will respond directly to her when the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: A visa appeal was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in the Visa Office in Dublin on 24 May 2019. Appeals are processed in the chronological order in which they are received. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of appeals received, the resources available to process them and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, a judgement of the High Court in July of this year in respect of the application of the continuous residence requirement under Section 15(1)(c) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 (as amended) resulted in a pause in finalising applications for citizenship through naturalisation. The decision was appealed to the Court of Appeal which handed down...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) defines an agency worker as an individual employed by an employment agency under a contract of employment by virtue of which the individual may be assigned to work for, and under the direction and supervision of, a person other than the employment agency. My Department employs seven agency personnel to provide telephonist/receptionist services in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 has been widely recognised as a landmark piece of legislation dealing with consent and exploitation in sexual activity. For the first time, it set out in statute what consent actually means - a free and voluntary agreement between people to engage in sexual activity. The 2017 Act also set out a non-exhaustive list of circumstances where consent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Garda Youth Diversion Programme is a statutory programme under Part 4 of the Children Act 2001, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which focuses on preventing criminal behaviour as well as diversion from the criminal justice system and rehabilitation of children between 10 and 18 years of age. The programme is an essential part of Government strategy to help tackle youth crime,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Question Heading for question(s) 139 (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, under this Government, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) was established on 1 October 2016. One of the key functions of that new body is to review and make recommendations to the Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to the availability and quality of the education and training for the solicitors’ and barristers’ professions....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Expenditure (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy may be interested that the total gross allocation for the Irish Prison Service has increased by €24.3 million in Budget 2020, which brings total gross allocation of over €383 million. This increase demonstrates the Government’s commitment to provide adequately for the Prison Service and meet the demands arising from higher prisoner numbers and costs associated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached record levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion, increasing to an unprecedented €1.88 billion for 2020. Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached record levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion, increasing to an unprecedented €1.88 billion for 2020. The capital budget for An Garda Síochána has also been significantly increased. The capital allocation for 2019 amounted to €92 million, representing a 50%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received in my Department from the person referred to by the Deputy on 18 September 2017. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. If any further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that the person concerned does not hold a current permission to remain in the State. An application for permission to remain, on the basis of parentage of an Irish citizen child, has recently been received from the person referred to. The application is one of a sizeable number of applications on hand, and will be given full consideration in due course. If...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can advise that the persons referred to by the Deputy have no application for Family Reunification with my Department. However, I can confirm that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received in my Department from the person referred to by the Deputy on 12 December 2018 and from the person's spouse on 8 November 2018. Both applications are at an advanced stage of...