Results 18,541-18,560 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is very critical. We have seen with recent controversies, for example, that when they are identified one can put an IT solution in place. Of course, one would prefer if some of those IT solutions had been there beforehand because then the problem would not have arisen in some instances. It is one element of capturing things correctly, and it is very important. This area was hugely...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We had an estimate of €50 million.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take the point on the refurbishment of courthouses, particularly those in the centre of towns which play an important role. I am familiar with the issue in Tralee and have met the group in question. The cost of refurbishment can be an issue and it can be extraordinarily expensive.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Courts Service makes the decision. I have undertaken to ask the service to look at the different costs of a greenfield site as compared to refurbishment. Over €200 has gone into courthouses, not counting the €20 million for the Central Criminal Court, so there is a very serious investment programme but there are an awful lot of courthouses across the country. The...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is available once the decision has been made. It is a tender process. The Deputy would be very familiar with that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is what I said.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not in the Votes. It is held in a separate account by the Courts Service for the wards of court because it is not public money, it is other people's money. That is the way it is handled.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is in the courts' annual report but it is not captured here.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: For elements of the staff who would form part of that service, yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Justice and Equality.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is an area that will require more and more resources. With the new general data protection regulation there will be more work. It will have 100 staff by the end of this year. It has had a 59% increase in budget. We will continue to work with it on whether there are additional requirements. For now, we have responded to the points it has made to us about its needs this year and for...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It continues to be included but the management board of GSOC is examining what approach it will take to that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes and some upgrades, temporary refurbishment, need to be done to that as a priority but it will be replaced entirely.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is ongoing engagement with the Department of Health which has responsibility for this. This involves the Mental Health Commission taking over and setting up the office but we have agreements on the recruitment of the chief executive officer, CEO, for that. I will come back to the Deputy with a date. Various actions have been taken to expedite this. I take the Deputy's point, it is...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It does fall under the Department of Justice and Equality.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have visited it. The building is very old. I presume there will be some use for it. Conditions are very cramped but I am sure it will be possible to use it or the site in the future.

Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me give another perspective to what Deputy Troy has said. The Irish economy continues to grow strongly. Growth is broadly based across the country and employment continues to grow in all sectors. Earlier this week, the Government published our draft stability programme update and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, will present that document to the Select Committee on Budgetary...

Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: All the points I raised relating to increasing employment in this situation impact on rural Ireland as well. The Labour Court is expected to make a recommendation today, and we want to see our transport services in place again as soon as possible. The approach the Government has adopted to this is that we want to see a resolution while encouraging all parties to be part of that. The...

Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government has been and is taking action. The Minister for Health has a series of initiatives to improve our health service. The first point I would make is that it is the highest health budget ever at €14.6 billion, demonstrating the Government's commitment to investing the gains from the recovering economy I spoke about to improving the health services. There is increased...

Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The initiatives announced by the Minister, on which he is working, have his full focus. The INMO met him this morning to focus on the key issue of recruitment and retention. The plan that has been accepted by over 80% of nurses is important. I am certainly not complacent about the challenges and have said that. I have acknowledged that the distress caused to any one patient waiting on a...