Results 2,641-2,660 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The tragic case to which the Deputy refers was considered under the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) established to review certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which were made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach. The recommendation made by the IRM in this particular case was that I should take no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The appropriate application form for a certificate of naturalisation by a person of full age, including a person in circumstances as outlined by the Deputy, is Form 8. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. The conditions are that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that the establishment of a dedicated new court to sensitively and expeditiously handle mortgage arrears and other personal insolvency cases continues to be examined by my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, the allocation of judicial resources and the scheduling of court cases is a matter for the Presidents of the courts and the judiciary who are, under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Work on the preparation of the General Scheme of a Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is at an advanced stage at my Department. It is anticipated that the General Scheme will contain a range of provisions, many of them technical in nature. These are expected to relate to such matters as electronic courts services and some amendments to gaming legislation along with a number...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Correspondence (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Regrettably, due to an administrative error within my Department this matter was overlooked. The matter is being dealt with and the Deputy will receive a full response before the end of the week.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the management and distribution of Garda resources, including the development of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. During 2011 and 2012, as the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána completed a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Bail Law (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not clear from the question if the Deputy has particular situations or categories of persons in mind where a need for supports might arise. If the Deputy has particular concerns, I would be glad to examine the matter further if he provides more specific details. The Deputy will appreciate that that the operation of the Bail system is a matter for the Courts and I, as Minister, do...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Sentencing Committee was established by the Courts Service Board and is chaired by the Chief Justice. The Committee oversaw the development of a Sentencing Information website, a pilot initiative designed to gather information about the range of sentences and other penalties that have been imposed for particular types of offences across court jurisdictions....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of persons under 18 years of age in Wheatfield place of detention on 28 February 2017 is 4.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Justice Strategy (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 131 together. As the Deputy will be aware from answers to similar previous questions in 2016, it is stated in the Programme for Government that the Government supports, inter alia, the expansion of Garda Youth Diversion Programmes for young people promoting restorative justice. This commitment follows on from the recommendation of the Penal Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Justice Strategy (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is probably aware, Transformational Goal 5 of 'Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, the national policy framework for children and young people 2014 - 2020', is concerned with supporting effective transitions. As such it makes reference to children and young people experiencing transitions in a range of contexts. These include children in transition from living at home to living...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (28 Feb 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: Sentencing Policy (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the statistics being sought are not readily available. The information is currently being collated and I will respond to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Medical Service (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that on foot of the recommendations of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture following its visit of September 2014, the Irish Prison Service has been engaged with the Department of Health in relation to a fundamental review of healthcare in prisons and the provision of healthcare services in prisons generally. It has confirmed that the Terms of Reference for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it does not record data on the aggregate number of persons in its custody who are identified as having serious mental health conditions owing to the requirement that it maintain the confidentiality of the medical records of the persons in its custody. I am advised that the National Forensic Mental Health Service does compile detailed data on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that in-reach mental health services are available in the Dublin and Portlaoise prisons, and Castlerea prison, through collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) to provide forensic mental health sessions weekly in these prisons. I have listed below the personnel employed by the HSE...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Medical Service (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that persons in custody who require residential mental health treatment can be admitted to the Central Mental Hospital following assessment by the National Forensic Mental Health Service on the basis of assessed clinical need. The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that it has access to a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Drug Treatment Services (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that any prisoner who enters the custody of the Irish Prison Service while presenting with addiction issues has access to addiction services, and is actively encouraged to engage with those services. The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that the treatments available are based on the principles of best practice, and are similar to those...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that figures in relation to cell occupancy levels are published on a quarterly basis on their website . The latest cell accommodation census was produced in January this year and showed that on 18 January 2017 there was 3,643 prisoners in custody and 2,007 (approximately 55%) had access to single cells. It is clear, given the current number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that there are currently no plans to commit to a daily minimum of 12 hours out of cell activity for prisoners. I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that it provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to persons in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and...