Results 2,881-2,900 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Applications for refugee status and subsidiary protection were until 30 December, 2016, investigated by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). On 31 December, 2016 the International Protection Act 2015 was commenced. The Act has introduced a single application procedure within our international protection process bringing Ireland in line with other EU States. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Treatment Court (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Drug Treatment Court is aimed at people with drug addiction problems who come before the District Court on minor criminal charges linked to their drug addiction. It is a problem solving court and makes an important contribution, not least as an alternative to prison. The Drug Treatment Court operates on the basis that a criminal matter has not proceeded to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Taoiseach announced at the end of January that he had ordered that a review be undertaken by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Justice and Equality of the operation of US preclearance in Dublin and Shannon Airports, and work has been continuing on the review since that time. My Department agreed to collate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: GSOC’s budget for 2017 is 9.564 million which represents a slight increase on 2016 to account for Lansdowne Road Agreement adjustments. Resources and funding are kept under continuing review to ensure that GSOC is enabled to continue to operate effectively and efficiently and in accordance with its statutory remit. The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 came into operation on 15 July...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the report of 6 December 2016 which I received from Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill of his Review relating to two protected disclosures which were made to me by members of An Garda Síochána in early October 2016. Mr Justice O’Neill was asked to review the allegations of wrongdoing contained in the disclosures, to make any inquiries with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Under this programme, the Government has pledged to accept a total of 4,000 persons into...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Applications (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I stated in my response to Parliamentary Question number 24 of 16 December, 2016, the International Protection Act 2015, which was commenced on 31 December last, restated long standing policy which provides that applicants for international protection shall not seek or enter employment or carry on any business, trade or profession during the period before the final determination of their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The bomb attack on the post office in Belturbet, Co. Cavan in December 1972 was an appalling atrocity which claimed the lives of two innocent young people. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones in such a callous manner that day. These unspeakable murders, like so many other acts of violence, characterised the darkest period in the modern history of this island. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including personnel, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that it is Garda policy that all transfer applications are kept under review. I understand that transfers of Garda personnel are determined by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reports (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, allegations regarding an undercover police officer in this jurisdiction were first made public in 2011. A report was sought from the Garda Commissioner on the matter at that time and that report was provided to my predecessor in March 2011. The Commissioner's report noted that no evidence had been established that the person in question had been involved in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme Data (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Immigrant Investor Programme, which was launched in April 2012, is open to non-EEA nationals who commit to an approved investment in Ireland. The programme is premised on the key requirement that applications are beneficial for Ireland, good for job creation, are in the public interest and that the funds invested are legally acquired and owned by the investor (i.e. not borrowed). It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Office of Public Works (OPW), working closely with Garda management, has primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and, as Minister, I have no direct role in relation to these matters. I understand that Garda management and the OPW maintain meet regularly with a view to progressing matters relating to accommodation. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 58 together. I am on record in the House previously, most recently in June 2016, as saying that I have no plans to introduce a general regularisation scheme for those who are currently undocumented in the State. Any such proposal could give rise to very large, unpredictable and potentially very costly impacts across the full range of public and social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy may be aware that I launched the national awareness campaign What would you do?(if you witnessed domestic violence) in November 2016. A national awareness raising campaign is a key action under the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence; the aims of the campaign being to inform and change attitudes as well as activating bystanders to prevent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Data (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that not all persons in the protection process accept the offer of State provided accommodation which is made when they apply for international protection. In circumstances where an applicant chooses not to accept such accommodation, my Department has no knowledge of the health of such persons. From January 2012 to December 2016, there were 8,870 applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Complaints Procedures (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware the Government proposes to set up a Tribunal of Inquiry into various matters relating to the treatment of Garda whistleblowers and related matters. Resolutions setting out the draft terms of reference for this Tribunal of Inquiry have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and are being discussed by the Dáil today. I am grateful to Mr Justice Peter...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Legal Aid (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Legal Aid Board provides civil legal aid and advice to people who cannot afford to pay for a solicitor from their own resources. The majority of the Legal Aid Board’s income comes from a grant from my Department, which this year is just under €39 million. Other sources of income include costs recovered from the other party to a dispute (where costs are awarded in favour of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (16 Feb 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: Courts Service Data (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Courts Service. I understand that this information is currently being compiled; however it will not be available within the timeframe required. The data will be forwarded as soon as it becomes available, and I shall contact the Deputy directly upon receipt of same.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (16 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government, in its Programme for a Partnership Government, identified community policing as the embodiment of An Garda Síochána. Community policing provides a means of recognising that every community, both urban and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. The Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and...