Results 19,121-19,140 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. The Deputy will be aware, further to parliamentary question number 64 of 29 March 2017, that I have requested a report from the Garda authorities on the matters raised by the Deputy and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of this report. As I have indicated to the House previously, An Garda Síochána has...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department processes around 250,000 applications each year ranging across a wide range of avenues for immigration. The determination of certain types of immigration permissions are set down in national law, such as, the visa regime or applications for naturalisation under the Citizenship Acts, or linked to employment permits granted by...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of identified operational circumstances and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am, however, advised by the Garda authorities that Garda vehicles are normally retired for a variety of reasons including, for...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 148 together. I wish to assure the Deputy that when developing policy or legislation proposals on policing matters my Department would always have regard to international models. However, owing to a number of unique factors pertaining to the Garda Síochána, including the fact that it is a single national police force which provides a...

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: Garda Equipment (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) review forensic processes on an ongoing basis to accommodate new technologies, ensure compliance with best international practice and to improve efficiencies of service delivery. Progress in this regard is now being constrained in the current facilities at Garda HQ. Hence, my decision to accelerate the start date for the facility at Backweston, Celbridge. ...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including equipment, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to be decided on the basis of identified operational needs and, as Minister, I have no role in relation to this matter. However, this Government is committed to fully resourcing An Garda Síochána to ensure a strong and visible police presence...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Terrorism Measures (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The House should be aware that the primary security threat in the State is that posed by the so-called 'dissident' republican paramilitary groups who continue to oppose peace on this island. Combatting these groups remains a priority for the Government and the Garda Authorities. The Gardaí continue to take actions to disrupt these groups and their activities, and they have had many...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that there is an extensive programme of reform underway arising from reports into An Garda Síochána, some arising from inquiries into allegations of misconduct, others from reviews into aspects of the operation and administration of the organisation. While these have made, and continue to make, an invaluable contribution to ensuring that we have an effective...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: An Garda Síochána is an active member of both Interpol and Europol and, as such, has access to the resources of both organisations in a similar manner as other member countries. Ireland currently has three permanent officers allocated to Europol Headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands including one (1) officer from the Revenue Commissioners and two (2) Detective Sergeants from An...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, 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. An accused person is entitled to be informed by the court in which he or she is appearing of his or her possible right to legal aid. The grant of legal aid entitles the applicant...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistics agency, is responsible for the publication of the official Recorded Crime Statistics. These figures are published on a quarterly basis and I am happy to be able to provide the Deputy with a CSO summary table of the trends in the main crime categories...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have asked the CSO to forward the available statistics in relation to the information requested directly to the Deputy. It should be noted that the Criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Strategies (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that there is a standard operational procedure in place to ensure that upon committal, all offenders are assessed and accommodated appropriately according to their needs and specific security status. Dedicated committal units have been established in all committal prisons for this purpose. The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government committed to taking up to 200 unaccompanied minors (UAMs) from France who were previously resident in the migrant camp at Calais. On foot of the Government Decision, Tusla - The Child and Family Agency, which comes within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, T.D., launched the Calais Special...

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. I am assured by the Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The International Protection Act 2015 was commenced on 31 December 2016 wherein a new single procedure was introduced under which all aspects of a person's claim (asylum, subsidiary protection and permission to remain) are considered together by the International Protection Office (IPO) rather than sequentially as heretofore. The processing of applications under the single procedure and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that it is the responsibility of the financial institutions themselves to decide, in accordance with relevant banking regulations and legislation, what they will accept as valid identification for the purposes of opening a bank account in the State. This is clearly stated in the Guidelines published by the Department of Finance on the Criminal Justice (Anti-Money...

Criminal Justice Bill 2016: Order for Report Stage (24 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."