Results 18,701-18,720 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that in 2015, the Department of Justice and Equality, in consultation with An Garda Síochána, considered the question of a domestic violence disclosure scheme (as in place in the UK, commonly referred to as “Clare’s Law”). I understand that the DVDS enables the UK police to disclose information to a victim or potential victim of domestic abuse...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation's (DBEI) Employment Permit Section administers the Employment Permits system. DBEI are also responsible for the policies and criteria surrounding Employment Permits.  However, on the 6 March 2019, I, along with Minister Heather Humphreys announced that the spouses and partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders would be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Legal Aid Board provides legal advice and aid under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2017.  The Board delivers these services through directly employed solicitors in its network of law centres around the country and private solicitors from its private practitioner panels.  There are 30 full time and 12 part-time law centres. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Seizures (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: A core focus of the work carried out by An Garda Síochána is aimed at tackling drug distribution and organised crime. The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard. Since its establishment in 2015, the National Drugs and Organised Crime...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Medical Service (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it provides a health care service for prisoners with addictions in a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to and predominantly involved with the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations. I am further informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the allocation and distribution of resources including the recruitment and training of Garda members and members of the Garda Reserve is entirely a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no responsibility in this matter. I am assured however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for management of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for personnel matters and the distribution of personnel across the various Garda Divisions.  I have requested a report from the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (17 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 and this is increasing further to an unprecedented €1.88 billion for 2020.  The capital budget for An Garda Síochána has also been significantly increased - a total of €92 million was provided this year,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Issues (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I very much welcome the publication of this report. This report feeds directly into initiatives already underway in Government as we implement the key recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, of which Dr Connolly was a member. As Deputies will be aware, the Government in December 2018 endorsed the report of the Commission on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Tackling organised crime, and targeting those involved in it, is an ongoing priority for the Government and An Garda Síochána. Multi-disciplinary approaches are used by An Garda Síochána to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminality are effectively targeted. Such approaches include the use of money-laundering legislation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Law Reform Commission (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the publication earlier this week of an Issues Paper by the Law Reform Commission on the subject of “Capping Damages in Personal Injuries Actions”.  This particular project is included in the Commission’s Fifth Programme of Law Reform which was approved by the Government in March 2019 and arose out of recommendations made by both the Cost of Insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (17 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 and this is due to increase further to an unprecedented €1.88 billion for 2020.  The capital budget for An Garda Síochána has also been significantly increased - a total of €92 million was provided this year,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: It is important to be clear that under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for management of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for personnel matters and the distribution of personnel across the various Garda Divisions.  I have requested...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to inform the Deputy that I met with Attorney General William Barr on one occasion in 2019. I have also met with the US Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Edward Crawford, to discuss shared priorities and concerns and frequently met with Reece Smyth when he was Chargé d’Affairs, pending the formal appointment of an Ambassador. Ireland and the United States have a strong record of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Promotions (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for personnel matters including arranging for appointments to the rank of sergeant and inspector.  As the Deputy will also be aware, the Policing Authority assumed responsibility for appointments to the senior ranks of Superintendent, Chief Superintendent and Assistant Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Applications Data (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Under the Act, the granting of legal aid entitles the applicant to the services of a solicitor and, in certain circumstances, up to two counsel, in the preparation and conduct of their defence or...

Seanad: Criminal Records (Exchange of Information) Bill 2019: Second Stage (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to present the Bill to the House, the purpose of which is to provide for the exchange of criminal record information between Ireland and other EU member states. The Bill will transpose two EU instruments, namely, Framework Decision 2009/315/JHA on the organisation and content of the exchange of information extracted from the criminal record between member states, and its...

Seanad: Criminal Records (Exchange of Information) Bill 2019: Second Stage (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the support of Senators. A number of questions have been raised. As I previously stated, the importance and value of ECRIS cannot be overstated. Our objective is the same as that of other member states and I am pleased there is all-party agreement on the content of the Bill and among Independent Senators as well. A number of questions were raised by Senators Mac Lochlainn...

Seanad: Criminal Records (Exchange of Information) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senator Ruane for her interest in this legislation and for tabling the amendment. I am unable to accept the amendment because it is not open to our national central authority to convert the criminal record information that comes here into our own national interpretation. I consulted with the Attorney General on this and the advice was that it would be imprudent to accept the...

Seanad: Criminal Records (Exchange of Information) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senator Ruane again for her engagement. The legal position is that we are obliged to disclose information relating to spent convictions with our European Union counterparts through the National Vetting Bureau Acts.Similarly, central authorities in other member states share their spent convictions information, where it may exist, with our central authority. This ties in with the...