Results 2,821-2,840 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Industrial Relations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The working group considering these matters is to report by 31 May. Receipt of that report will allow for the drafting of the heads of the Bill to be undertaken. We must have this legislation in place by the end of the year, so this might be something for the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality to consider. I totally agree with the Deputy that this is a topic for consideration by the...

Other Questions: Garda Equipment (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for his question. I think I have put this on the record before. I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently some 178 stations that are not connected to the Garda network. 5 o’clock Members in non-networked locations can contact the Garda information services centre 24 hours a day to log an incident or access information from the PULSE system...

Other Questions: Garda Reports (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Commissioner’s report explained that the assistance of police officers from other jurisdictions in intelligence gathering may be a necessary tactic in the circumstances where external activists whose identities are unknown to local police seek to engage in certain activities that need to be investigated. The report also stated that the capacity of An Garda Síochána to...

Other Questions: Garda Reports (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy has spoken about a rape allegation by a particular person, whom he has named. I cannot and will not start discussing individual cases. Where information is brought to my attention about operational matters relating to a crime, I will ensure it is passed to the relevant people, as I have done, for proper investigation and follow-up.

Other Questions: Garda Reports (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the Deputy wishes to correspond with me directly on these points, I will be happy to come back to him on them.

Other Questions: Road Safety (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I have discussed road safety already today with Deputy O'Callaghan. I am deeply conscious of the serious issue of road safety and mindful of the increase in 2016 of road traffic fatalities and the consequences for everyone. The Deputy will be aware that I have no direct role in the enforcement of road traffic legislation, which is an...

Other Questions: Policing Issues (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The UK's undercover policing inquiry was established by the British Government 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. That was a matter solely for the British Government in accordance with UK law. It is established...

Other Questions: Policing Issues (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have already told the Deputy what the situation has been when other countries requested it. The Home Secretary, having considered the representations, decided the terms of reference of the inquiry would not be amended. That is the first point, which is a really practical point on the UK approach to any extension of the terms of reference. The Deputy mentioned a particular person....

Other Questions: Policing Issues (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: If somebody has been raped of course I would have concerns, whatever the context. If there is evidence of this, clearly it should be brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána. I would assume if it has there will be a file and an effort to investigate it if there is evidence to be pursued in the courts. Asking me whether I would have concern about a woman who has been raped,...

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It has long been the case that as part of the common travel area arrangements, Ireland and the United Kingdom co-operate very closely on jointly securing the external border of the common travel area. We will continue to co-operate and strengthen that co-operation in the future. The common travel area has been in existence since Irish Independence. It allows freedom of travel between the...

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I said, it has been an absolute priority at every engagement Irish Ministers have had with their UK counterparts to highlight our priorities regarding Brexit. They are about the common travel area and maintaining the peace process. We have had a variety of statements from UK Ministers highlighting how much they value the common travel area. Article 50 has not been triggered yet. There...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: With regard to the proposed new station, I am advised that the Office of Public Works is in the process of acquiring part of the site at the former Kickham Barracks from Tipperary County Council. In the meantime - I am sure the Deputy is very familiar with this - a range of refurbishments has been going on. I hope to visit Clonmel in the near future because I am very concerned about the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that it is intended that a new district headquarters will be developed in Clonmel by means of a public private partnership. That is obviously linked to the site acquisition. The proposed new station will form part of a number of stations that are to be built by means of public private partnership. That includes new developments at Sligo and Macroom. We want a new regional...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The intention is to move ahead as speedily as possible once the final agreement is reached on the site. The estimated cost of the Clonmel station is some €7 million. In the meantime, there is some essential refurbishment and upgrading being considered at present, such as the cells. There is also a need for new changing areas as well. Those are interim proposals pending the...

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I met with the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, last Monday, 6 February in London. Discussions between the Home Secretary and myself focused on the ongoing co-operation between Ireland and the United Kingdom on criminal justice and security matters. These meetings form part of the regular engagement my Department has with our counterparts in the UK to support ongoing co-operation on these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Spent Convictions Legislation (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act, only a single conviction under the Misuse of Drugs Acts is eligible to become spent. A range of issues arises if a person has multiple convictions for drugs in terms of these convictions becoming spent. We would have to consider very carefully whether we should allow a greater number of drugs...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Spent Convictions Legislation (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is what is in the law. It does not sound to me as if these are exactly equivalent to District Court offences. I would like the Committee on Justice and Equality to examine the issue.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alcohol Sales Legislation (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am not aware of the particular case referred to by the Deputy. I am not sure what element of the law is relevant to the case. The Deputy might point it out to me. We have a very large body of legislation relating to alcohol. There was a recent joint ministerial meeting on road safety. Clearly, the enforcement of legislation relating to drink driving has been centre stage. I am sure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alcohol Sales Legislation (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is an extremely tragic case. Unfortunately, there were many such cases last year when there was a considerable increase in deaths on our roads attributed to alcohol use. I take the Deputy's point that the enforcement of the law is extremely important. I emphasise that it is a priority area. It should be anyway but it is certainly a priority given the increasing number of deaths on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alcohol Sales Legislation (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can only agree with the Deputy. We all have work to do in this House in respect of the devastating impact of the misuse of alcohol and where it is linked to driving. We are seeing dreadful consequences for individuals and families and increased numbers. This is linked to the fact that there is a greater number of cars on our roads but it is primarily due to the fact that we seeing a...