Results 2,041-2,060 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoners Treatment (11 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that decisions relating to the handcuffing of prisoners both male and female are made on a case by case basis, following a risk assessment and consideration of the operational and security requirements of the escort. In accordance with the IPS Escorting of Prisoners Policy, female prisoners...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (11 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has been granted leave to remain in the State for the period to 20th January 2019. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 20 January 2016. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that Section 33 of the Road Traffic Act 2016 amends section 22 of the 2002 Road Traffic Act to ensure that drivers convicted in court produce their driving licence so penalty points can be recorded on the driver file. The 2016 Act provides for a new requirement for the presiding judge to ask a driver convicted in court for a driving offence to produce his/her licence...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (11 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, judges are independent in matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. The conduct of and decision reached in any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. Therefore, I cannot comment or intervene in any way on the conduct or decision of any individual case which is a matter entirely for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tracker Mortgages (11 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to providing assistance to persons who find themselves in mortgage difficulties and as the Deputy may be aware, the Government last October launched Abhaile, the Free Mortgage Arrears Support Service. That service may be relevant to some home mortgage holders with tracker mortgage difficulties, though it does not provide legal advice or representation in tracker...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Data (11 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position in relation to applications under the Criminal Legal Aid Act 1962, as amended and the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, is set out below. Criminal Legal Aid Under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. An applicant for legal aid must establish to the satisfaction of the court that their means are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (11 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy on receipt of same.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pharmacy Regulations (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that under Section 104 of the Explosive Act 1875 the Minister may declare that any substance which appears to be “specially dangerous to life or property by reason either of its explosive properties, or of any process in the manufacture thereof being liable to explosion, shall be deemed to be an explosive within the meaning of the Act...". The Explosives...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coast Guard Services (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that matters relating to funding of search and rescue organisations falls within the remit of the Irish Coast Guard which operates under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The search and rescue organisation referred to by the Deputy may wish to contact either the Coast Guard or that Department in relation to available funding streams.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Children's Rights (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 contains new provisions regarding the best interests of children which have been in operation since 18 January 2016. One of the Act’s important reforms is to facilitate the hearing of the voice of the child in any court proceedings where the guardianship, custody or upbringing of, or access to, a child is in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems Provision (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very conscious of the value that communities, especially rural communities, place on CCTV as a means of deterring crime and assisting in the detection of offenders. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, following the Report of the Independent Review Group, which identified a series of recommendations, my Department developed a comprehensive implementation plan in the form of its Programme for Change, which has been implemented over the past two and a half years in parallel with similar actions set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan. The Review Group made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Inspectorate Reports (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last July, the Government approved my proposals for a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the report of the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government to increase the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Inspectorate Reports (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Inspectorate was established in July, 2006 under Part 5 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The role of the Inspectorate is to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the operation and administration of the Garda Síochána. The Inspectorate undertakes analysis of policies and procedures in the Garda Síochána and benchmarks them against...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda College (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 to 85, inclusive, together. The report to which the Deputy refers is an Internal Audit Report of the financial procedures in the Garda College prepared by the Internal Audit Section of An Garda Síochána. My Department received a copy of the draft report from An Garda Síochána's Head of the Internal Audit on 16 September 2016. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Registration Authority Data (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The following table details the amounts collected in user fees by the Land Registry (which is managed and controlled by the Property Registration Authority) in the years 2012 to 2016: Year Total Land Registry Fees Collected 2012 €26,031,387 2013 €35,542,830 2014 €45,799,246 2015 €55,761,318 2016 €56,442,554Of those amounts, the following can be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system. In order to be of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reports (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Internal Audit Section (GIAS) conducts periodic and systematic audits of Garda Divisions, Districts, Sections and Units based on professional audit procedures, as well as undertaking thematic audits encompassing issues across the organisation, and conducting value-for-money type reviews within An Garda Síochána on behalf of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy on receipt of same.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Staff Recruitment (6 Apr 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the...