Results 2,201-2,220 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the recent report commissioned by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) and the recent commentary in the media on foot of its publication. I note that the ICSA report is part one in a series of three reports into agricultural crime in Ireland and I look forward to considering the other reports when published. I also want to assure the Deputy that I am very...

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 it...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: At the outset, I wish once again to extend my sympathy to the families of the two people who killed in the atrocity that was carried out in Belturbet in December 1972. Like so many other callous and unjustified acts of wanton violence that took place during the troubles, the bombing at Belturbet robbed two young people of their lives and inflicted untold suffering on their families. I am...

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 of some 139 Garda stations, including Tarmonbarry Garda station, in...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The principal provisions of the International Protection Act 2015 were commenced on 31 December 2016 and as a result, applications for asylum, subsidiary protection and permission to remain in the State are now being examined under the Single Application Procedure, replacing the previous sequential application system and bringing Ireland into line with the processing arrangements applicable...

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: Road Traffic Offences Data (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 33 for answer on Thursday, 16 February, 2017, in which you requested the number of prosecutions in 2016 and to date in 2017 per district court for disqualified drivers driving while disqualified; the number of disqualified drivers prosecuted for failing to submit a licence under section 29(16) and (17) of the Road Traffic Act 2010. As you will recall,...

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 following the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The International Protection Act 2015 was commenced on 31 December 2016. The new single application procedure under the Act, will, in time, significantly accelerate the protection determination process and by extension will reduce the length of time which applicants spend in State provided accommodation. The new system will ensure that all aspects of a person's claim (Asylum, Subsidiary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the Domestic Violence Bill 2017 was published on 3 February and is currently proceeding through the Houses, with a view to enactment as soon as possible this year. The Domestic Violence Bill will particularly improve the protections available to victims of domestic abuse, most critically for cohabitants and parents in crisis situations, by introducing a new...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to made a fresh visa application in the last few weeks to the Irish Embassy in Cairo stating that he is resident in Egypt but has not as yet submitted any supporting documentation. The Deputy can be assured that the application will be considered when the documentation is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Issues (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am satisfied with the Garda Commissioner's ability to lead An Garda Síochána in the very important work they do. As the Deputy will appreciate, the distribution of resources, including personnel, is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am informed by the Commissioner that appropriate arrangements have been put in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 70 together. The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 provide for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property for rating purposes. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Acts and the making of valuations for rating is his sole responsibility. I, as Minister for Justice and Equality, have no...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Return Programme (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Community Return Programme is an incentivised early release scheme co-managed by the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service. It commenced in October 2011 and is now operational in every county and from every prison in the State. The Programme has been supported by the reallocation of resources and key personnel from within both services. The Programme targets well behaved...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Facilities (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has commenced the repurposing of the Training Unit Place of Detention (on the Mountjoy Prison Campus) to a dedicated Unit for older prisoners. It is intended that the Unit will be fully vacated of prisoners and staff in May 2017. A key action of the current Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan (Action 2.5) is to ensure that older...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Data (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service currently has a tender with Vodafone for the supply of mobile phones to Irish Prison Service staff for official business use. This contract was awarded to Vodafone after a competitive tender. An approved business case must be submitted by the staff member for approval by Irish Prison Service ICT Division before a mobile phone is assigned...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Building Programme (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together. By way of extensive background information on the Thornton Hall project, how it arose, the related prison accommodation issues and other relevant factors I would refer the Deputy to the Comptroller & Auditor General Annual Report 2005 which addressed this issue and to the subsequent examination by the Public Accounts Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Inspections (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 87 together. The report of the then Inspector of Prisons, the late Judge Michael Reilly, on the prisoner complaints system entitled “Review, Evaluation and Analysis of the Operation of the present Irish Prison Service Complaints Procedure” was published on 8 June, 2016 and is available on my Department's website - www.justice.ie. His...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Expenditure (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the budgetary allocation for the Irish Prison Service for the years referred to by the Deputy were as follows: 2016 - €332.058m, 2011 - €349.583m, 2006 - €389.572m. The Irish Prison Service operates as an executive agency within the Department of Justice and Equality. It is headed by a Director General supported by five...