Results 2,161-2,180 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Policing Issues (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government had agreed to engage the services of an independent international expert with a background in policing to carry out a review into issues of culture and ethos in An Garda Síochána, and considerable work had been done to progress the review. The three oversight bodies, the Policing Authority, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Policing Issues (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy and other members of the justice committee had the opportunity this morning for a very detailed discussion with members of An Garda Síochána, which I watched. I saw that the Commissioner said she would provide further information, and I am sure that further information will be provided. I think she also addressed a point, which I think the Deputy is also raising, about...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Policing Issues (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will take up the point about the role of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety because it is a very important one. I met Professor Cusack earlier this week, I think, at the transport meeting and had a detailed discussion with him about the data the bureau has. It seems to me that there needs to be far greater co-operation - "contact" is probably the right word - and exchange of information...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Policing Issues (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I answered questions similar to these comprehensively during the course of the debate yesterday in the House over two hours, and what I said was confirmed at the committee meeting this morning. An anonymous complaint was made to the Road Safety Authority by a person claiming to be a member of the Garda Reserve in the western region, outlining a number of issues, including the operation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Promotions (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Policing Authority is an independent statutory body established on 1 January 2016 to, amongst other things, oversee the performance of the Garda Síochána in relation to policing services, to promote public awareness of policing matters and to promote and support the continuous improvements in policing in Ireland. A key function of the Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Malta Declaration, agreed by members of the European Council on 3 February, 2017. The declaration seeks to reduce migratory flows and disrupt smuggling networks along the Central Mediterranean route by working with the main country of departure, Libya. The European Union (EU) will seek to, inter alia, build capacity for the Libyan coast guard...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Report (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In February, 2013 the report of an Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of the State's involvement with the Magdalen Laundries was published. That report was chaired by then Senator Martin McAleese and it is commonly referred to as the McAleese report. The material in the Report relates to 10 different institutions which were run by 4 different Orders of nuns over a period of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As outlined in my previous response, the Legal Aid Board is committed to providing all international protection clients with early legal advice and to support this function the Government provided funding to the Board for additional staff. The budget assigned to the Board for the use of private solicitors where necessary has also been increased. I am informed by the Legal Aid Board that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my response to her Question No. 62 of Thursday, 16 February in which I explained Ireland's obligations under the Geneva Convention. Persons who claim protection in the State will have their application fully considered under the International Protection Act 2015 which gives effect to the State's obligations under the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (30 Mar 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 Station Closures (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to her, including in relation to Garda stations. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme gave rise to the closure in 2012 and 2013 of some 139 Garda stations, including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Procedures (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been very clear in expressing my very serious concerns over the past week in relation to the extent of the road traffic enforcement issues highlighted by An Garda Síochána and the significant numbers of errors involved, not to mention the considerable number of individuals who are affected by these errors. As we have seen from the figures released over the past week by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (30 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to emphasise at the outset that I have met with the Garda Commissioner and the Chairperson of the Policing Authority in the past days and have communicated my very serious concerns in relation to the significant road traffic enforcement errors that have come to light following the completion of extensive internal audits by An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: British-Irish Co-operation (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The British Government established the UK's Undercover Policing Inquiry in 2015 in order to investigate and to report on the undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968. It is chaired by Lord Justice Christopher Pitchford. As the Deputy will appreciate, the establishment of the Pitchford Inquiry and its terms of reference were...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (30 Mar 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: Policing Authority (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The establishment of the new Policing Authority has been both a welcome and necessary addition to the policing landscape in the State. It has brought a dedicated layer of public accountability to the operation of policing services and it represents one of the most significant and progressive reforms to the justice sector over recent years. Indeed, the recent transfer of the appointment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: British-Irish Co-operation (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, met recently with his counterpart the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire MP, and as part of their wider discussions on issues of mutual interest he raised with him concerns that have been expressed previously in this House on matters relating to the UK's Undercover Policing Inquiry. The Secretary of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Commissioner, who is responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, has indicated in her Policing Plan for 2017 a commitment to increase the number of personnel dedicated to traffic duties by 10% to reflect the increasing numbers of personnel across the entire organisation and which should also lead to better outcomes in relation to road traffic enforcement. An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Chief International Protection Officer (CIPO) who, under the International Protection Act, 2015, is independent in the performance of his functions, that the completion of the Application for Protection Questionnaire (IPO 2) is a matter for applicants who may consult a legal representative as appropriate. As the information sent to applicants for international...