Results 2,581-2,600 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Council Legislation (10 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Judicial Council Bill was enacted on 23 July 2019. This is a major landmark piece of reforming legislation which provides for the establishment, for the first time, of a Judicial Council comprising all members of the judiciary. The primary function of the Council will be to promote and maintain excellence in the exercise by judges of their judicial functions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (10 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I refer to the Parliamentary Question No. 293 of 17 September 2019 and the information requested by the Deputy therein in relation to drivers arrested for driving while disqualified. The information was not available for answer on that date but I can now advise as follows. Section 6(b) and (c) of the Road Traffic Act 2014 amends the Road Traffic Act 1961 in a number of respects. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (10 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Road Traffic Acts fall within the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD. I am informed by the Courts Service that a project is underway to provide for electronic transfer of disqualification orders to the relevant agency once the time period to lodge an appeal has passed, and no appeal has been lodged. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Community-based CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006. This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must: - be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee, - have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must also act as data controller, and - have the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Missing Children (10 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. I will write to the Deputy directly once I receive it.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (10 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The identification and protection of victims of human trafficking, and especially child victims of trafficking, is a key priority of my Department's anti-trafficking strategy and of efforts by An Garda Síochána to combat trafficking and crimes against children. In response to the Deputy's question on the number of incidences of suspected child trafficking brought to the attention of...

Scouting Ireland: Statements: Drugs Dealing (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not at all doubt the seriousness of the issue the Deputy raised. I stress that Ireland's national drug strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to the problem of drug and alcohol use in Ireland and adopts a balanced, health-led approach, aiming to reduce demand for, as well as access to, illicit drugs. I acknowledge the leadership in this regard of my colleague, the Minister...

Scouting Ireland: Statements: Drugs Dealing (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I take very seriously the points raised by Deputy Crowe and I acknowledge his work over many years on behalf of communities in his constituency. Tackling the sale and supply of drugs is a key priority for the Government and An Garda Síochána. The Garda is pursuing a number of strategies to tackle drug trafficking by organised criminal gangs, including the following: gathering...

Seanad: Crime: Statements (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the opportunity to discuss a matter of importance to me as Minister. I want to be clear on a most fundamental point: public safety is at the heart of my role as Minister for Justice and Equality. My mandate and that of my Department is to work for a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland. Senators will appreciate the breadth of that mandate and its promise. We want to establish and...

Seanad: Crime: Statements (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: -----is being brought to bear on those behind this violence and related criminal activities whether in Coolock, Dublin city or any other part of the country. I want to reassure not only the people of Coolock and Dublin but the people of this country.

Seanad: Crime: Statements (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge Senators' contributions. This is a most important debate and I am pleased to attend it. I am not sure what Senator Ó Ríordáin was saying about the debate not taking place when he initially tabled the motion. I was not here on Tuesday but was keen to ensure, whenever the debate took place, that I would be in the Chamber to answer it.

Seanad: Crime: Statements (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I do not subscribe to the view that a rota of Ministers of State who do not have direct responsibility for a particular topic is sufficient when it comes to debating matters like this. I was pleased to listen to Senators' views. As far as the Garda Síochána is concerned, I am satisfied that every effort is being made in challenging circumstances. I had the opportunity of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Vehicle Registration (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is examining this matter and a response will issue directly to him in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached record levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion, increasing to an unprecedented €1.88 billion for 2020. The capital budget for An Garda Síochána has also been significantly increased. The capital allocation for 2019 amounted to €92 million, representing a 50%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I regret that the information requested by the Deputy could not be compiled in the time available but I will respond directly to her when the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: A visa appeal was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in the Visa Office in Dublin on 24 May 2019. Appeals are processed in the chronological order in which they are received. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of appeals received, the resources available to process them and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, a judgement of the High Court in July of this year in respect of the application of the continuous residence requirement under Section 15(1)(c) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 (as amended) resulted in a pause in finalising applications for citizenship through naturalisation. The decision was appealed to the Court of Appeal which handed down...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) defines an agency worker as an individual employed by an employment agency under a contract of employment by virtue of which the individual may be assigned to work for, and under the direction and supervision of, a person other than the employment agency. My Department employs seven agency personnel to provide telephonist/receptionist services in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (5 Dec 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 has been widely recognised as a landmark piece of legislation dealing with consent and exploitation in sexual activity. For the first time, it set out in statute what consent actually means - a free and voluntary agreement between people to engage in sexual activity. The 2017 Act also set out a non-exhaustive list of circumstances where consent...