Results 19,101-19,120 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that there is at present no backlog in respect of Garda vetting applications for persons who are seeking recruitment into An Garda Síochána. I am further informed that the vetting process for applicants to become Garda Trainees may vary depending on the circumstances of each individual application. There may be individual cases...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cyber Security Policy (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that significant steps have been undertaken in this area. The Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill, passed by the Oireachtas last week, is the first piece of legislation in this jurisdiction that is specifically dedicated to dealing with cybercrime. In addition to giving effect to the EU Directive on attacks against information systems,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 and the recruitment and training of An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Recruitment competitions for full time members of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to providing investment in CCTV systems and that I have secured €1 million in Budget 2017 to begin a new round of community CCTV schemes in line with the Programme. In this context, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, on 13 April 2017, I launched the new grant aid scheme to assist community-based...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 to maintain a valuation list of all commercial properties in each Local Authority area, which is used to calculate the rates due from individual ratepayers. Section 9(10) of the Act provides the Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions and decisions with regard to the selection of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Exemptions (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Acts, 2001-2015 and the making of valuations for rating is his sole responsibility. The statute does not accord me, as Minister for Justice and Equality, any function in this regard. The basic premise under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 is that all interests including buildings and lands used...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government Implementation (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have overseen a significant programme of reform in Garda oversight and accountability. I was very pleased to establish an independent Policing Authority. The Policing Authority represents one of the most significant developments in policing since the foundation of the State. It constitutes a major element of the comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. The CSO official recorded crime statistics for Q4 of 2016, show welcome decreases in a number of the main categories of crime that affect all our communities, including: burglary (30%), robbery (18%), theft (14%) and public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the policy as set out in the UK Government's White Paper: The United Kingdom's Exit From and New Partnership with the European Union. The White Paper elaborates on the 12 guiding principles for their negotiations under the Article 50 withdrawal process. One of those principles relates to controlling immigration and states that the UK "will design our...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that certain restrictions on consideration of Irish visa applications from residents of Libya have been in place since August, 2014 due to the political and security situation in Libya. In doing so, all relevant considerations including the ongoing security situation in Libya and the potential economic impact of the restrictions were taken into account. There...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Costs (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Legal Aid Board provides civil legal aid and advice to people who cannot afford to pay for a solicitor from their own resources. In practice, the vast majority of applicants whose sole source of income is the contributory or non-contributory old age pension are likely to be paying the minimum contribution which is €30 for legal advice and a minimum of €130 for legal aid...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to has been approved on appeal. The applicant has been informed. The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Correspondence (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will wish to be aware that access for all staff to web based emails is restricted by security infrastructure deployed by the Department of Justice and Equality. The Department provides a secure remote access service to staff who require access to Departmental systems including emails outside of work hours. I use my Departmental email address to conduct official business...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. The Deputy will be appreciate that the issue of the letters under Section 3 is the start of a process whereby detailed consideration is given to each case taking into account all aspects before a decision is made to grant leave...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the information sought by the Deputy is included in the following tables. It should be noted that persons issued with a notice under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 have their cases considered in accordance with the provisions of the section, following which they may be issued with a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the figures requested by the Deputy are as set out in the following tables. In each instance, the top five nationalities are shown with all other nationalities grouped under the 'Others' category. The Deputy might wish to note that orders effected and revoked in 2016 and 2017 may have been made in an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Voluntary Repatriation Schemes (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), offers voluntary assisted return and re-integration programmes for asylum seekers, failed asylum seekers and other illegally present migrants. Asylum seekers or failed asylum seekers who have not had a Deportation Order made in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and, as Minister, I have no direct role in relation to these matters. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the company concerned is as follows: ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Administration (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. Furthermore the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business are matters for the President of the District Court and the presiding judge who are, under the Constitution,...